56 1/2"= 71-77 Ford Maverick 8" 57"=71-74 V-8 Mavericks 8", All '75-77 6's & 8's Mavericks This may explains why some maverick can't run the same tire & wheel spacing as others.?
The way I'm understanding it all 6cyl up to 74 are 56 1/2" and fron 75 to 77 6cyl & 8cyl are 57". The reason I look this up is I had a 76 maverick 8" 5 lug rearend for sale & the buyer ask me to measure it & it was 57". my 71 maverick 4 lug rearend measures 56 1/2"
You're referring to measurement flange to flange... If housings are same width, then axles are slightly shorter on the 6cyl, four lug setup to allow drums to fit the smaller brakes... By time the 2/3 engines were getting five lugs, likely rearends were same for all...
They're not all centered under the car either. Be that as it may, a 1/2" overall difference translates to a 1/4" on either side, movement of the springs in the bushings pretty much cancels this out.