My name's Ausitn and I have a 73 Maverick that I'm gtting ready to start some serious work on. I'm 19 y/o and this was my first car. It has a good running 20 inline that I'm going to pull and replace with a built 302. What I need help with is figuring out the rear end set up with a 9" Ford posi-trac 5-lug set up. What car would be a good match for the Mav? Also I'm trying to update the interior dash area in the Mav from a newer car (Mustang hopefully). I'm looking for an updated dash with the center console the extends down to the floor shift and center arm rest. Has anyone else tried updating the dash with that of a newer car.
the closest widthwise is the 1965-66 mustang 9 incher. next is an early bronco. only about 1 inch wider total and centered 3/4 inch off center which shouldn't be a problem.. only problem is you either have to redrill the axles and drums for 5x4 1/2 pattern (they are truck pattern), get replacement axles and drums in 5x4 1/2, or just buy 2 rear wheels in the truck pattern. 67 up rears are 2 inches wider (adds 1 inch on either side). later fairmonts i'm not sure about.
You have to use the '66 - '77 (what is known as the early model) Bronco rear end if you go that way. In 1978, the Bronco was sized up to be the same frame as a short wheel base F-150. The early bronco rear ends are readily available on E-bay. Do a search for Bronco. I've bought 2 that way and watching a third.
My 9" came out of a 57 or 58 Fairlane station wagon. Seems like it was only about an inch wider than the original Mav rear end. These older rears are getting harder to find because the street rod guys snag them up as they have a smooth pan. They also have the big 3" axel bearing and a drain plug in the bottom. I still see them around sometimes. Cleaver
