Should I build an 8" rear end

[Anonymous]

I have a 65 Mustang with a 200 I6 with a ported 250 head, Holley 5200 carb, Hooker headers, an Isky 256 cam, and a C4. It's my daily driver. I want to upgrade to 5 lug wheels all around, and I'm going to put disc brakes up front.

My old rear is making noise, so I'm assuming it needs to be rebuilt. My question is, should I fix it and get the axles redrilled, or build an 8"? Is it possible to put bigger rear drums on the 7 1/4?

Thanks!

 

[CZLN6]

Howdy Six Packer:

The simplest, least down time, approach would be to find an 8" from a '65 or '66 Mustang V8. It will have 5 lug wheels and be a direct bolt in. Rebuild the new 8" and when it's ready, unbolt the old and replace with the rebuilt. Down time to your daily driver will be minimized.

Plan ahead for new axle hanging hardware, wheels and tires, and brake bleeding stuff.

If you're looking at larger rear drums, have you converted the OEM '65 single bowl master cylinder to a dual bowl system?

Adios, David

 

[Asa]

where are you located?
i know where a complete 8" from a '68 Mustang can be had for about $125-150, don't know what condition it is in though
it should be an inch or two wider than an 8" from your year model

 

[Anonymous]

i've got some noise coming from my differential too and i would like to go to some nice 5 bolt wheels and disk brake up front at least. is the 65-66 v8 mustang rear end the only one that is bolt on to a 66 200ci coupe? are there rear ends from other cars as well that can bolt right on? do any bolt on replacements come with disk brakes?

where can i get a rebuilt one? anyone know a good place in teh SF bay area?

thanks

 

[Anonymous]

I believe the Maverick/Comet (70-77) 8" will work as well, I think the earlier ones had 4 lug axles. I'm pretty sure a Granada/Monarch (75-80) is the right width for a 65-66..

There are no 'bolt in' rear ends with disc brakes in a 8", there is the Versailles rear (the Lincoln variant of the Granada/Monarch) but those are getting pretty rare and expensive, and it's a 9" so it's a bit heavier than a 8" and it's pretty much overkill in most 6 cyl applications.

There are some bolt on rear disc kits, and some pretty inexpensive methods to do this as well.. like Jack's http://fordsix.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1285

I couldn't really tell you where to find one, I know you can probably get one from Currie (they're in the LA area) but that would easily go into the $2000 range. You could try putting a post in the 'Wanted' area, you may be able to find someone who has one on here..

 

[Anonymous]

funny, I ahve noise too...but I wanna stay with the 4 lug rear...


so if anyone finds one of those

 

[Asa]

I believe the Maverick/Comet (70-77) 8" will work as well, I think the earlier ones had 4 lug axles. I'm pretty sure a Granada/Monarch (75-80) is the right width for a 65-66..

i know someone in north Florida who would be willing to part with an 8" from a '77 Granada
lemme know, i'll give him a call, check and see if he still has it

 

[PutPut6]

Would an 8" from a 77 Granada fit a 67 mustang? asa67_stang, I live in the Florida panhandle and wouldn't mind having 5 lugs.

 

[Anonymous]

Mustang196t8,
'Versailles rear (the Lincoln variant of the Granada/Monarch) but those are getting pretty rare and expensive'
Whats the going price for these now?
Local yard owner told me the other day he has four or five.
Will these work under the rear end of a Comet or Falcon?
Or only Mustangs?
Thanks.
DaveP

 

[Asa]

Would an 8" from a 77 Granada fit a 67 mustang? asa67_stang, I live in the Florida panhandle and wouldn't mind having 5 lugs.

i'm not sure exactly
i believe the question has been answered somewhere on here...
but i'll give him a call right now (prolly gonna get his answering machine) and find out if he still has access to it

 

[Asa]

Would an 8" from a 77 Granada fit a 67 mustang? asa67_stang, I live in the Florida panhandle and wouldn't mind having 5 lugs.

i'm not sure exactly
i believe the question has been answered somewhere on here...
but i'll give him a call right now (prolly gonna get his answering machine) and find out if he still has access to it

What he says
he says $200, he'll pull it out, you come to Leon county to pick it up (where highway 90 meets I-10, one of those two truckstops there), gonna need to be a weekend, he could prolly get it out this weekend, so two weeks should be the soonest you could get it


What i say
price is prolly negotiable, meeting place could be changed, rest should be pretty firm, unless you wanna spend a weekend pulling the old one out

lemme know what you think and i'll let you know

 

[PutPut6]

I'd like to put an 8" in but I think I better wait for now. I'm knee deep in car projects already as it is, then there's college, and everything else...
Thanks for the info though.

 

[Asa]

no problem
you might wanna check the For Sale section, there's a sticky in there with 8" rears for substantially less than that

 

[66Sprinter]

Sixpacker...

I did the same already. I bought my 66 mustang V8 rear for $100 and put another $150 into for a complete clean, rebuild and another $150 into new drums, brake hardware, lines and it bolted directly on with no problems what so ever.... The 8" has 3.25 gears. you can check my web site for some before and after pics.

 

[Anonymous]

where did you get the rear end and v8 spindles from? junk yard? ebay?

 

[Anonymous]

Man, $100 for an 8" is a great deal! Out here in California I don't find anywhere near the junkyard deals you guys find. I'm looking at $325 for a for a 8" out of a 65 Mustang. That's WHEN they get one in.

Is the 8" really a bolt in? I talked to Arnold at Mustang's etc and he said I would need the drive shaft and slip yoke out of an 8-cyl as well. Also the E brake cable. He usually knows these things.

Also, I thought the axle tubes would be the same size, so I could reuse my u-bolts. Do these need to be replaced just for maintenance? How about the shock plates?

No one's sticking up for the 7 1/4? It seems like the lighter one would be better for handling, if it's strong enough.

 

[Asa]

Is the 8" really a bolt in? I talked to Arnold at Mustang's etc and he said I would need the drive shaft and slip yoke out of an 8-cyl as well. Also the E brake cable. He usually knows these things.

Also, I thought the axle tubes would be the same size, so I could reuse my u-bolts. Do these need to be replaced just for maintenance? How about the shock plates?

i just recently did mine, go take a look
http://fordsix.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18336

i didn't hook up the E-brake cable cause i didn't have all the hardware for it in the drums, but i don't think i'll need another cable, possibly though

and the 7.25" is ok, i believe MustangGeezer is still using his, but parts for it are getting scarce, and trying to get a better ring/gear set and a locker? you better be prepared to wait for a bit

 

[Anonymous]

'Versailles rear (the Lincoln variant of the Granada/Monarch) but those are getting pretty rare and expensive'
Whats the going price for these now?
Local yard owner told me the other day he has four or five.
Will these work under the rear end of a Comet or Falcon?
Or only Mustangs?

I couldn't really tell ya the going price in a yard, around here we have self service yards and all rears are the same price... everytime I see a Versailles in the yard it's rear is already long gone... I know about 6-7 years ago a friend of mine paid $400 for one complete, but he had more money than time and just wanted to do what was easier. If you can get one pretty cheap, then it may be worth it.. but make sure it's complete, all the little stuff would be expensive to replace... except for maybe rotors, pads and possibly, calipers. The lowest gears the came with is 3.00, and the yoke they have on them is funky, so you may just want to swap out the 3rd member (center section) for one with better gears and the right yoke, as long as it's 28 spline it'll bolt right in.
I believe the Versailles is the right width for a 65-66 Mustang, I don't know about for a Falcon or a Comet (depends on the year). I think the 64-65 Falcon/Comet is the same width as a 65-66 Mustang (or not?) you'd have to check...

Also, I thought the axle tubes would be the same size, so I could reuse my u-bolts. Do these need to be replaced just for maintenance? How about the shock plates?

65-66 Mustangs (and Falcon/Comets and probably the earlier cars as well) have narrower axle tubes, so the u-bolts and shock plates are different. If you got a rear with the larger axle tubes you would need a set of u-bolts and shock plates from a 67-70 Mustang, or possibly a Maverick/Comet. Granada/Monarchs/Versailles have staggered shocks (one shock goes one way, the other one goes another) so they have different shock plates and will not work. I have also heard of people slotting the holes on the shock plates for the larger tube/u bolts, I guess it would work... but it's probably best to find the right ones if possible...

 

[Anonymous]

Mustang196t8.
Thanks.
I currently have a 73 Mav,64 Fairlane, and 78 Mustang,64 Comet and 72 VW at this junkyard already paid for. Oh and 72VW donor and F150 rear end!
Now it looks like I'm going to be the owner of some more rear ends!
I'll spec them out first before I jump into this.
I've been buying whole cars from this fellow for anywhere from $250 to $400. Some with titles others not. (72 VW w title for $400as an example)
Parts cars I don't care.
I'll measure the Falcons and the Comet and see how the Versailles stacks up.
Have a pretty good workshop so assembly shouldn't be too terrible.
When I told him I was looking for some Granada discs he suggested these Versailles, so we'll see I guess.
If they turn out to be useful I guess I'll go from there.
Thanks again for the very informative answer.
DaveP

 

[66Sprinter]

Evren+Six

Yes $100. I kept my impulse in check and kept looking. Found the rear at Gateway mustang in st. Louis while looking for other parts. If you saw my web site then you know that it was stripped bare, but the cleaning, new seals and rebuild left only the paint. the biggest cost was redoing the hardware and drums. I found them cheap at a local parts store rather than any mustang shop.

Yes..I had to modify my shaft..but I wanted the beefier universal. That was it...everything else really was a bolt in.