Quick question, I'm swapping rear ends, is a '72 Ford 9" wider or the same width as my '69 Ford 8", drum brakes included? My rear wheels are 17x8 BS 4.5. 245/45-17... am I in the clear ? Oh, btw, car is a '69 Fastback.
Other than a 9" for a 72 Maverick ( if you could find such an animal) no other 72 Ford 9" rears will fit a 69 ( Stang I presume?) without narrowing. Not all 9" rears were/are the same dimension(s) A 69 Stang 8 or 9" would have been about 58" axle to axle wide.
Based on the chart below it is 2" wider overall, or 1" per side. You should be able to narrow it and use your old axles. Or install it as is and get different offset wheels.
65-66 Mustang 57.25 inches
67-70 Mustang 59.25 inches
71-73 Mustang 61.25 inches
77-81 Versailles 58.50 inches
67-73 Mustang, Torino, Ranchero, Fairlane 9" 59.25 inches to 61.25 inches
57-59 Ranchero and station wagon rears, 57.25 inches
66-77 Bronco 9", 58 inches
77-81 Granada/Versailles, 58 inches
67-71 Comet, Cougar, Mustang, Fairlane, 59.25 inches
71-73 Mustang, 61.25 inches
64 Falcon 58 inches
67 Cougar 60 inches
67 Fairlane 63.50 inches (coil springs)
72 Ford Van 3/4 ton 68 inches
73-86 65.25 inches
57-59 Ranchero and station wagon 57.25 iches (narrowest 9" housing)
66-77 Bronco 58 inches but has 5-on-5 1/2 inch diameter bolt circle
67-73 Torinos, Rancheros, Fairlanes 59.25 inches or 61.25 inches
67-71 Comets, Cougars, Fairlanes 59.25 inches
as latamud stated you can have the housing cut down to the width of your current rearend and use the existing axles from that. even if the one you have us an 8" the axles are interchangeable as long as it is not a 31 spline axle
well, that makes it a little harder then. Ebay often has axles for a 67-70 that aren't over priced. I understand shipping pains. I used to live in Hawaii and it was bad enough there.