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

a often over looked but rare option is a 9" rearend from the edsel wagons my grand father collected edsels and we used the rearends from the wagons for a couple 67 stangs and were able to fit d50 rubber with no mods . just another thought !!

 

You are correct the edsel Wagon used the same rear as the ford wagon so it would be a nice fit under a 67-70 mustang.

 

The '63 Falcon V8 was 1/4" shorter than a Maverick.

 

I just got a reply from K&K motors out of Texas they have one from the Lincoln Disc brakes and all for 500.00. I hapen to be shoping for one for my 71 mav. I have found a few all around the 500 range.

 

I paid $300 for mine with a new set of 4.30's and a mini spool. The spool needs to find a new home but other than that I think it was a good deal.

 

I would take that in a hart beat! Anything I get will most likely get a different chunk (or new guts anyway).

 

I bought a narrowed housing with forged bearing ends on ebay for about $100-200 (don;t recall the exact price) Bought a complete 81 Bronco 9 with 3.50's, trac loc and 31 spline axles for $150, new Strange axles (with bearings installed) for $400. Had to later replace the pinion bearings and races, that cost another $50 or so. Add the cost of the new brake shoes and drums for the Bronco brakes. All in all this cost me just about $900-1000.

 

For what you got ? that is a great deal I guess all you gota do is shop and have a little luck. I just want a 9 I don't have to narrow I can deal with an inch or so, with my minitub plans and some offset I'll be good to go. A posi chunk with good gears would be a bonus.

 

He left out the drum brake 9 that was used in some 74-80 Granada's and Monarchs. I've seen two of these, both were in 1980 Granada's. The disc brake 9 was an option in the Granada and Monarch. The first "Versailles" 9 I bought, was pulled out of a Monarch. Since then, I never pass up any of those cars without looking under them to see what's there.

 

I made this corrected copy several years ago and keep it on a Word document. That chart has spread over the net for many years and is filled with errors. The incorrect, incomplete, or misleading items are in red and the clarifications are in blue.

Ford 9-inch Rear End Data
Year & Model Axle Length

65-66 Mustang 57.25 inches
63-65 Fairlane 57.25 inches

67-70 Mustang 59.25 inches

71-73 Mustang 61. 25 inches

77-81 Versailles 58.5 inches
77-80 Versailles 58.5 inches

67-73 Mustang, Torino, Ranchero, Fairlane 59.25 inches to 6 1.25 inches
66-69 Fairlane, Torino 59.25 inches
70-71 Torino 61.25 inches
57-59 Ranchero and station wagon 57.25 inches

66-77 Bronco 58 inches

77-81 Granada/Versailles 58 inches
75-80 Granada, Monarch, Versailles 58.5 inches
67-71 Comet, Cougar, Mustang, Fairiane 59.25 inches
66-69 Comet, Fairlane, 67-70 Mustang, Cougar 59.25 inches

71-73 Mustang 61 .25 inches

64 Falcon 58 inches
64-65 Falcon 57.25 inches

67 Fairlane 63.50 inches coil springs
No such car as a coil spring rear '67 Fairlane
72 Ford Van 3/4 ton 68 inches

73-86 Ford Van 3/4 ton 65.25 inches

57-59 Ranchero and station wagon 57.25 inches narrowest 9" housing

66-77 Bronco 58 inches 5-on-5 1/2 inch diameter bolt circle

67-73 Torinos, Rancheros, Fairlanes 59.25 inches or 61. 25 inches
See above specs

67-71 Comets, Cougars, Fairlanes 59.25 inches
67-69 Comets, Fairlanes, 67-69 Cougars 59.25 inches
75 Mustang II 8" 57.00 inches

74 Maverick 8" 56.5 inches
70-77 Maverick, Comet 8" 56.5 inches

 

Don't waste your money!

Go with the Crown Vic disc brake swap onto your 9" or 8" housings and save yourself cash and unsprung weight!

I've done the Versailles thing and had I known what I know now about the Crown Vic swap (see Technical section thread) back then, I never would have messed with that heavy expensive piece of steel! ( I believe the housing is about 25-40lbs heavier than stock piece!) Versailles gear ratios are always horse crap scrap too! Rarely do you see even a 3.00!

The bearings are from an F250 truck, and all of the brake pieces (rotors, seal kits, pistons) are now made of unobtanium! Including the flex lines!

If the 'Vic brakes will haul down a Highway Patrol car or Taxi from cruising speed....imagine what they will do in a lightweight car like these?!

Cheers!
Steve