32 Plymouth rear end vs Ford 9"

I have finally gotten the body off of the 32 Plymouth. I had thought that I had a Ford 9" rear end. Now that I look at it better, I think it is the original Plymouth rear end.
I would like to use a Ford 9" for my hotrod. I know nothing about how to go about selecting one. I am looking for some advice here. I assume I can get the housings with different lengths from different types of cars. I measured my axle and from the inside of the brake drum backing plates is roughly 53"
Thanks,
Brad

 

A much better way to measure the rear is From wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface



That is because brake drum width vary a good bit ... so a 1 inch difference in a brake drum REALLY means 2 inches in overall width ( 2 brake drums )

The old standby 9 inch for most Hot Rods is the 57/58/59 Ford rear end. It is roughly 58 inches wide ( WMS to WMS ). A 66 to about 76 Bronco also is a good candidate at about the same width. A little known fact is that some 77 - 81 Ford Grandas had a 9 inch rear ( but are fairly RARE ... most were 8 inchers ) and they are also 58 inches wide ( WMS to WMS )

Go here for a list of Ford rears and their widths

http://www.mustangsandmore.com/ubb/FordRearDimensions.html

You might also find this link educational helpful.

http://www.kevinstang.com/Ninecase.htm

Randy

 

The Ford explorer diff is a good swap into a Mopar - similar widths and the right stud pattern - plus it gives you late model disc brakes for no extra work - something with a 3.55 : 1 ratio is a good choice and plenty strong for most s/b engines. Its a common diff in the wrecking yards and relatively cheap.