What are my options for a 9" rear axle swap on a 71 comet?

What are the easiest options from top to bottom? I see the thread below was talking about a wagon being a direct bolt in, any others?

 

57 ford ranchero or station wagon is a direct bolt in. early Mustang 9"is just a hair wider but can be used with a little more offset on the wheels. Problem is that these are getting really hard to find. Granada or Monarch, I believe, may also fit. I think most others will need to be narrowed. Maybe someone else will chime in with others that might fit.

 

Lincoln versailles also have 9" and just like the monarch and granada its an inch or 2 wider than stock 8" rear ends. I think those 3 cars 9" rear ends came with disk brakes, mine did, but finding the parts (calipers rotors e-brake cable) are hard to find.

 

I have a '77 Lincoln Versailles that I am planning on using the rear end. I believe I was told it was an inch wider than stock, so that should not be an issue. Yes, it also has disc brakes. They are getting pretty hard to find nowadays. I just happen to get lucky and found one about 10 minutes away from my house.

 

I got lucky and found mine local too and for a good price. Only got the rear end but a few months later I lucked out again and found all the brake stuff for $100! Now if only I can find a Boss 302 and 4spd top loader I would be one happy camper!

 

Some of the Granadas & Monarchs had drum brake 9's. I've seen two 1980 Granada's that had these. The disc 9's overall width is 1 inch wider than a 65-66 Stang and an inch less than the 67-70 Stangs. But if you convert a disc 9 to drums, it's the same width as the 65-66.

 

can i get a year range for "early"

thanks for the reply

 

65-66 are early Mustangs...71-73 are the big Mustangs

 

what is a good price for a 78 lincoln versailles 9" with the disc brakes? Found one locally

 

I paid $400 for mine about 9 months ago. I thought it was worth it because I got the whole car and figured I could use the rear end, disc brakes, engine(302), center console, aluminum wheels for recycling and a few other miscellaneous parts.

 

thats better than i found

so the perches and everything match up to go in my comet? cause im assuming if it does i can just get rims with more backspacing. speaking of which, i wonder what the biggest tire i can fit with this setup will be?

 

Mine has not been installed yet so I can't be positive, but I was told it should pretty much fit right in.

 

9 inch ford

I have a 57-59 ford 9inch in my 72 grabber and I am running 15x8 wheels with a 4.250 back space and 255-60-15 tires with no issues I think I can go to 265' s or even 275's I hope this helps.

 

Yes, the rear will bolt in, but........................you will need to either enlarge the spring pad bolt holes to accomodate the larger U bolts needed for the 9,or install Lakewood traction bars that have the spring pads built in to replace the stock pads. Plus adapt the brake line and parking brake cables (this part can be skipped if you live in the flat lands. The width difference isn't really enough in most cases to cause concern fitting your wheels and tires, unless you're going for the widest wheels and tires possible. It's a bolt in deal, but as you can see there are some minor issues to deal with in doing one.

 

No stock rear is as narrow as a stock Maverick playing with off set wheels can get the width right ,the Maverick is 56.5 " the closest is a 1965 -66 mustang and 1959 ford = 57.25
1964 falcon & 66-77 bronco- Granada-Verasilles drum brake =58" disc = 58.5

On my maverick I took a 9" housing from a 1969 cougar and cut the axle tubes to fit the length of my stock maverick Axles. I used the stock Axels tube ends backing plates drums and Axles. the cougar rear was used because that is what I had and the Axle tubes are the same size as the stock maverick so the ends fit . Both ford 8" and standard 9" use the same 28 spline axle so the axle from the maverick will fit the 28 spline 9" diff.