Hi All, I managed to snag a complete 9" axle from a 70 Ford F-100 (too bad it has 28 spline axles). After doing some measuring, it appears that by narrowing only the driver's side tube (and axle), this rear ends up being the perfect width. If you're on a budget, you could buy just one new DR side axle. This axle has the early style big ends, but that can be changed. I made up a scale drawing in Corel and it all works. I'm gonna run it by Moser next week and be sure about the axle lengths... Russ
Keep us informed. Neat drawing too. That will save a couple of bucks, especially for a street car. Although I run 28 splines on my race car too. Maybe I need more HP, lol. Jerry
It would be cool to totally narrow a rear and get everything custom, while having HD axles and such... However, when the word 'budget' come into play, there is probably no cheaper way to do it than to put the 9" housing pumpkin into you 8" rear. That way you already have the axles perfect, the right housing ends, brakes, and the spring pads are already in position. With this method, all that needs welding is the axle tubes. The only parts needed are the donor housing, which can be had cheap/free, and a 28 spline chunk. Done. Costs about 150-200 bux in my neck of the woods. (labor)
Where will the pinion be in relation to the drive shaft? Sounds like it might be too much offset. You need need to find the dimensions of the stock 8" and compare.
This looks like a good concept. I am thinking of doing the same thing to an Explorer 8.8. Lots of 3:73 limited slips out there, but the driver side tubes are long. I want shoot for a 58 inch overall width because my wheels are close to stock offset and you can stuff more tire that way. Contrary to what a lot of people believe, a little bit of offset is necessary for u-joints to work properly. If you aimed a driveshaft straight from the trans to the pinion it would wobble badly. This can be as little as a 1/4 inch, and it can be side-to-side or up-and -down relative to the output shaft of the tranny. If the motor is set higher or lower than the pinion, it accomplishes the same thing. Obviously, you don't want too much offset either. I read somewhere that 12 degrees is the upper limit.
Just to widen the search 1961-1972 1/2 ton Fords use the same housing all with the same length axle tube on the left and right side.I'm going to have to go out in the shop and measure up my 64.
