Hot Rods Period Correct Rear End 1965 & eairlier

Just a quick question.
I want to build my Model A sedan as though it was built in 1965, I have already
decided on the front end, brakes, engine, tranny, but what rear end could
have been swapped in? 9" Ford? Olds? Buick? Lincoln? I don't know enough
about what years certin rears were first used in production cars.

I woul'd like to have self adj. juice brakes, and a good source for brake parts
and what not. I'm looking for what everybody used and what else was
available in 1965?

My engine will be a stock inline 6 & three speed.

Thanks Jeff

 

Everything was available in '65 !!

9" Ford, 8" Ford, 8 3/4 MoPaR, 10 Bolt Cehvy '55-'64, Olds/Pontiac '57-'64.

Hell, With a 6 you can run whatever you want cus unless its BUILT your not gonna break it.

I am Partial to the '57-'64 Olds/Pontiac My self, Next choice would be an 8 3/4 MoPaR, '42-'46 Ford truck open drive Banjo.. Many Early Rears are plenty for what you want.

What are you running in front ??

Ford 9 or 8 is on my "LAST RESORT" list as the have Way off set pinion's & i think they just look like Shit in an early application..... Plus EVERYONE is in love with them & i dont follow the Crowd.

Please look past the latest Trend of useing Shitty Ass New car rears like the 8.8, S-10, Explorer, ETC ...... None of those are Hot Rod Parts in my book

 

You couldn't go wrong with a Dana 44, an early round back 9", 50-64 Olds or Pontiac, 55-63 Chevy, 1949-56 ford car or a banjo rear with an open drive conversion.

 

Thunderbirds have a 9".

The Data plate helps ID what is in the car;

<table bgcolor="#ffffaa" border="1" cellpadding="5"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td>1961</td><td>1
3
6
A
H
F</td><td>3.00
3.10
3.00
3.00 (Equa-Lock type)
2.91 (Locking)
3.10 (Equa-Lock type)</td></tr> <tr valign="top"><td>1962-1963</td><td>1
2
3
6
A
B
H
F</td><td>3.00
3.10 (M-series only)
3.10
3.00
3.00 (Equa-Lock type)
3.10 (Equa-Lockw/M-series)
2.91 (Locking)
3.10 (Equa-Lock type)</td></tr> <tr valign="top"><td>1964-1966</td><td>1
3
4
6
A
D</td><td>3.00
3.20
3.25
2.80
3.00 (Equa-Lock type)
3.25 (Equa-Lock type)</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

Thanks TBird, that will help with my period correct '62 built Roadster.

 

Olds/Pontiac rears were the ticket for hot engines, but most guys with street cars ran 55-57 Chev rears because they were easy to get, cheap to buy, and had a good gear selection. Dana 44's from F100's were there too. The 9" and Mopars were all available, they just weren't used as much around here.

 

Even the 12bolt was out in '65. But my vote would be the '55-'57 axle housing, which was by far the most popular at the time, at least on the street. The guys with strip cars or wicked street cars took those out and used Olds or Pontiac. I guess the Ford guys always used 9".

 

My Front is standard I beam, 40 Ford spindles, F-100 juice brakes.

I would also like to stay away from the more common 9" ford. Which of
the other choices Buick, Olds, Chevy, Truck, would be the closest in
width to be an approite fit under the A?

Jeff

 

In my part of the world the 55-64 Chevy rear was the hot lick in a hot rod for the street. Mostly because it was readily available and lower ratio pumpkins didn't cost a months wages.

Gasers and heavy duty street racers used the Olds rear. I'm sure the 9" Ford was used by many back then but in my area they were not as popular as they have become.

 

Nothing has beat the Ford 9 inch for durability. When properly built they have no problems and unlimited amount of ratios to choose from. Parts never a problem as is complete availibility.

 

as others have said olds for the strip, chevy for the street. i have a 57 chevy going in my coupe.

 

I always like to see the big olds rears in 60's or earlier style rods.

 

Every type of QC would be fine Midget, v-8, and champ

 

Save the Olds and Pontiac rears for us drag car guys...throw a '55-'57 Chev rear in it and go cruising...

 

I guess I can do that.

Jeff

 

i run a 55-57 in my 32 chev sedan and it fits nice with 8" rims and 255/70/15 tires--the rearends are interchangable but i believe the axle brg on the '57 is different than the 55/56 and both are a bit expensive,and do go out

 

Hell, I even got a '57 housing, axles, backing plates and drums I could sell ya to start you off...get a center section, brakes, bearings and seals and you're done...I was saving it to build a replica of the car in my avatar, but if you need it I can let it go...

 

what about a 55 ford truck? i just got a complete rear hub to hub given to me.. are they any good.. i was told it had 3.23 gears in it..

 

On my last trip to the yard I found a few that might work.
Any truck rear will be easier to get a hold of, but I do know quite a few 55-6-7 Chevy
guys I could get a complete setup from.

Anyway here's some pics of a few of the choices I've got at the junkyard:

Anybody have a guess at what the last one is?

Jeff

I also have a rear + TT/drive shaft from a 64 Rambler, if I wanted to
retain the TT look.

 

Thanks for the advice, I'l probly be running a 16x4 original Ford W/T combo.
I haven't nailed down my W/T combo for sure,
But at least I know the rear should fit with out narrowing.

How did you mount the rear?

Thanks Jeff

 

That's why I chose the 9".

 

If it's cheap I'd grab the 58 Ford rear even if you don't need it. They are one of the narrowest 9" rears and their getting hard to find these days. It might be two narrow for you though depending on whether you are building a highboy or a channelled car. The last rear end looks like a Buick and is not very desirable.

 

Even though I'd like to try somthing different than a 9" I can't turn my
back on cheep parts. I my just have to follow the crowd on this one.

I'll take my tape measure and checkbook next time I'm up there.

Would this '58 still have the 5 on 5.5 bp?

Thanks Jeff

 

That sure is a nice setup. What year 9" did tou use?

 

Jeff,
Since your not running High Horsepower & your are going with F-100 brakes i think i would try to get a rear with the 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern like the front.

'42-'47 Open Drive Banjo Ford Truck would be cool, Also '50s Chrysler Imperials had an 8 3/4 with 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern.

You can also look at International products, Early Ford Trucks & Jeep Trucks .. They have the Dana 44 and any 4x4 shop has replacment gears.

You can also change bolt patterns if that matters to you or run mis-matched bolt patterns... Thats kinda a Voo Doo with me, I like MATCHED bolt patterns.

In your pics the Early Pontiac Rear will be plenty strong, Also if you can get the 9" out of the '58 Ford CHEEP you can re-sell it for good $$ to put back into your Rod. FORGET that Buick Rear & the Rambler rear you speak of.

What other old cars are at that yard ? Any Cool Old Engines ?

 

I thought the open drive banjo's were 48 truck only??? could be wrong though... I was wrong once before.

 

'48 was the first year of F-1 ... No open drive Banjo i am aware of in '48.

I have had 2 Open Drives, One come from a '46 Truck & one had '42 truck shocks attached.

 

Actually its a Currie 9" but i don't know what year they modeled theirs from. Here is a little better picture:

 

What width rear end did you get from Currie--overall width?

 

Your right I'd like to keep it all 5x5.5, I seem to have started collecting
quite a few 5x5.5 wheels and I gotta use them some where.

I've definatly got Jeep parts !!!!!
I'll be running a Jeep motor and Trans. in the A anyway.

The yard has alot of older trucks but a few cars here and there
I posted some pics a couple weeks ago:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=360948
I'll try and get that 9" just for ease of gear selection, but if not i'll fall
back on the good old Jeep parts.

Jeff