66 Original Shelby Axel Housing Question

mean stang · Jan 12, 2006

Was the 9" axel housing that was 52" from hub to hub, with tapered ends just like all 65-66 axel housings only used on the 66 Shelby GT350 cars. Were there any other cars that used this tapered axel housing (like 65-66) with a 9" rearend.

gjz30075 · Jan 12, 2006

Well, any 'K' code '65/66 Mustang had them; because Shelbys were derived from 'K' codes. But I believe they were unique to the Mustang.

1320stang · Jan 12, 2006

Yes there were and I can't remember what they came in, but I think the width was wider on them. My chassis shop buddy had one hanging on his rack of 9" rears years ago and he said he was holding onto it waiting for the day someone would need a 9" rear for an early Shelby. IIRC it was a smooth center with two dimples in line with the axle tubes. But it had the tapered housing ends, I just don't recall what they were in. If I can get ahold of him, I'll ask him, but as I understand, if he were to narrow this housing, it would look original.

danny clemens · Jan 12, 2006

What about the K code Fairlanes. I don't know but just wondering. I know the spring perches would be in different locations but did they have the 9" with tapered axle tubes?

mean stang · Jan 12, 2006

gjz30075
Well, any 'K' code '65/66 Mustang had them; because Shelbys were derived from 'K' codes. But I believe they were unique to the Mustang.

All 65-66 mustangs even with the K code or A code came with an 8" rearend with the tapered ends. The shelby's were the only ones that came with a 9" in the 65-66 years. I was just curious if any other car had the 9" housing that measures 52" from the inside of the axel flange to the other inside with the spring perches 4.5" from the axel flange to the spring perch center.

Pbum5 · Jan 12, 2006

57-59 Rancheros have the same width as 65/66 Stangs.

The tube is bigger (not tapered), so you have to use larger U-bolts and spring plates.

This site has a lot of info on the 9”

http://www.kevinstang.com/Ninecase.htm

mr-fixit · Jan 12, 2006

mean stang said:
gjz30075
All 65-66 mustangs even with the K code or A code came with an 8" rearend with the tapered ends. The shelby's were the only ones that came with a 9" in the 65-66 years. I was just curious if any other car had the 9" housing that measures 52" from the inside of the axel flange to the other inside with the spring perches 4.5" from the axel flange to the spring perch center.

You better recheck your sources. K code 65-66 Mustangs were factory equiped with 9 inch rears. I have one in my garage. Shelby did a lot of mods to his K code mustangs to make them shelbys, but replacing the rear was not one of them.

LMan · Jan 12, 2006

mean stang said:
All 65-66 mustangs even with the K code or A code came with an 8" rearend with the tapered ends. The shelby's were the only ones that came with a 9" in the 65-66 years.

No. K-codes came with 9-inch rears standard.

dennis112 · Jan 12, 2006

Pbum5 said:
57-59 Rancheros have the same width as 65/66 Stangs.

The tube is bigger (not tapered), so you have to use larger U-bolts and spring plates.

This site has a lot of info on the 9”

http://www.kevinstang.com/Ninecase.htm

Actually any full sized 57-59 Ford rearend is the same width as the Mustang AND they are 9". Station wagons (and perhaps the Ranchero) will have larger bearings.

I have a 59' full sized passenger car rear in my GT and the U-bolts are larger than the Mustang, mine are 3".

All K code Mustangs had 9" rears, not just the Shelby.

dewdrop · Jan 12, 2006

Dennis,??

I have a 57 rear end putting in my 65 Mustang. I know I need the 3" U bolts, what bottom spring pad (and shock mount) did you use? I don't have the 57, thought about slotting out a 67 - 70 pad? Any hints

1320stang · Jan 12, 2006

Okay, I talked to my chassis buddy, he said what these guys do is take the early 9" dimpled rear end center section and the 8" tapered axle tubes and weld them together to create a faux Shelby 9" rear end, which is actually how Ford made them to begin with.

dennis112 · Jan 12, 2006

dewdrop said:
I have a 57 rear end putting in my 65 Mustang. I know I need the 3" U bolts, what bottom spring pad (and shock mount) did you use? I don't have the 57, thought about slotting out a 67 - 70 pad? Any hints

I've always used traction bars that provided the mount and shock pad. The first set of traction bars was slotted just like you mentioned and I had no problems with them. Now I have Caltracs and they were made to fit the 3" bolts--don't remember if they are slotted or not.

Slotting the pads you have should work just fine. Just be sure to use a large flat washer on each tang before spinning a nut on it.

dennis112 · Jan 12, 2006

1320stang said:
Okay, I talked to my chassis buddy, he said what these guys do is take the early 9" dimpled rear end center section and the 8" tapered axle tubes and weld them together to create a faux Shelby 9" rear end, which is actually how Ford made them to begin with.

Interesting, I never really noticed that my early 9" dimpled rear end didn't have the tapered axle tubes. It is strange that Ford added the tapers to the later housings when the early stuff bolted up just fine (with the right U-bolts/spring pads.)

As a side note, for those who are interested, the 8" 65/66 Mustang axles/bearings/backing plates and brakes all directly swap onto the 57-59 passenger car 9". I did it and had no issues.

The early station wagon (and I assume the Ranchero) got larger bearing housings. Hmmm, I wonder--did they also get larger axles to match??????????

fasttback · Jan 12, 2006

dewdrop said:
I have a 57 rear end putting in my 65 Mustang. I know I need the 3" U bolts, what bottom spring pad (and shock mount) did you use? I don't have the 57, thought about slotting out a 67 - 70 pad? Any hints

I did this swap with my '66 Mustang. The 57-59 Ranchero/station wagon will bolt right up with no problems (flange to flange and spring perch to spring perch).

My '57 rearend has the larger bearings that will not allow your 8" backing plates to bolt on. I went with some early Bronco plates. Finding rear disc brakes might be a problem.

Also, as already mentioned, the 3" tubing to the flange requires new bolts. As for spring pads, I used the originals and slotted them to match the new u-bolts (mostly done with a die grinder).

The vent tube is about 3" closer to the brake drum. This causes no problem for the vent line, but can cause problems for the rubber and metal brake lines that mount to it (over axle exhaust might hit rubber brake line).

Here is another site with Ford rearend widths for comparison: http://www.carnut.com/specs/rear.html

dennis112 · Jan 13, 2006

fasttback said:
The vent tube is about 3" closer to the brake drum. This causes no problem for the vent line, but can cause problems for the rubber and metal brake lines that mount to it (over axle exhaust might hit rubber brake line).
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It has been over 20 years since I did the swap, but I remember that I had the same problem with the brake lines. I simply tranplanted the 8" Mustang stuff to the 9".

To mount the distribution block, I welded a nut to the housing in the appropriate location and simply ran a bolt through the block.

danny clemens · Jan 13, 2006

dewdrop said:
I have a 57 rear end putting in my 65 Mustang. I know I need the 3" U bolts, what bottom spring pad (and shock mount) did you use? I don't have the 57, thought about slotting out a 67 - 70 pad? Any hints

I'm putting an early Ford 9" in my 66 too. I tried some 69 Cougar spring plates and the shock attachment hole is positioned a little different. It would probably still work though. I decided to weld the holes in my original 8" spring plates and redrill them. I'm waiting for the paint to dry right now then I'll put them on. I don't forsee any problems but if I have any I'll let you know.

dewdrop · Jan 13, 2006

Thanks

Thanks to all on the 1957 swap info. Big help.

66 Original Shelby Axel Housing Question

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