Maverick Rear End Into 65 Fastback

[65-Fstbk]

I'm doing an I6 to V8 conversion on my 65 Fastback. I've found a 1972, 5 lug rear axle (8") from a Maverick. Apparently these work quite well as a direct bolt in. I'd like to get some feedback from all you experts before I proceed.

When finished the car will be pushing 325HP from a 67 289. The 8" rear will be rebuilt with 3.55 Posi. So should be fine to handle the HP.

Is the Maverick rear end a good choice?

 

[12sec67]

I think an 8" from a maverick is a little shorter then an 8" from a 66 stang or was it 67...

 

[65-Fstbk]

Yep you're right. The Maverick rear is approx 3/4" narrower than the stock 65/66
8". Means I can run wider rims I hope. I'm a newbie to the rear end thing so I'm trying to figure this out.

 

[ratio411]

As far as 8" rears go, the Maverick rear is as strong as they come.
In 72 it would have been behind a V8.
An I6 car would have had 4 lugs in 72.

Other than those comments, sounds like you know what there is to know...
It is a direct bolt in and is roughly an inch narrower than your original rear.
I don't remember exactly, but it is more than .75" overall. It is closer to .75" per side.

 

[ultrastang]

'65/'66 Mustang rear is 52¼" wide (bare housing --with no brakes, no axles installed).

Maverick/Comet rear is ~51.5" wide (bare housing). That would be ~3/4" overall narrower, or ~3/8" per side narrower than stock '65/'66 rear end housing.

 

[ratio411]

'65/'66 Mustang rear is 52¼" wide (bare housing --with no brakes, no axles installed).

Maverick/Comet rear is ~51.5" wide (bare housing). That would be ~3/4" overall narrower, or ~3/8" per side narrower than stock '65/'66 rear end housing.

Well, I guess I stand corrected...

 

[ultrastang]

Well, I guess I stand corrected...

You were in the ball park.

 

[nemlio65]

I wish I new that long ago and I would have put a mav 8" in my 67 fast back.And of coarse built it with 3.50 trak loc and then bolt on a disc brake kit.

 

[65-Fstbk]

Hi Guys,

Ok I picked up ther rear from a guy in Washington State this weekend. When I measure it inside flange to inside flange it's 50 11/16". I thought they were a little wider than that but narrower just means more rubber heh heh.

Ok here's another question. One of the backing plates is a little bent so I was going to buy a new one but then.....DING.. the little light went on and I thought...why not put disc brakes on this rear while it's out of the car. Can anyone tell me what I need? The backing plates would go in the garbage wouldn't they?

Thanks for all your help.

 

[ratio411]

The Crown Vic rear discs off 8.8" rear are supposed to fit 8" rears and small bearing 9" rears.
They are said to fit really well at that.
The drum inside rotor parking brake setup is supposed to mate right to drum brake cables.
I have a set, and I have the Maverick rear, I just haven't had time to mate them, so I am not going on experience yet.

Also, I don't see you getting more rubber under the car because of the narrower rear. All it means is that you will have to get rims for the rear that have less backspace than a stock Stang rear would take.

 

[68EFIvert]

Here is a brake kit you may have an interest in. It has been in Craigs list in Portland, OR for a couple months. The price seems very reasonable.

http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/pts/402063208.html

 

[ultrastang]

The Crown Vic rear discs off 8.8" rear are supposed to fit 8" rears and small bearing 9" rears.
They are said to fit really well at that.
The drum inside rotor parking brake setup is supposed to mate right to drum brake cables.
I have a set, and I have the Maverick rear, I just haven't had time to mate them, so I am not going on experience yet.

Also, I don't see you getting more rubber under the car because of the narrower rear. All it means is that you will have to get rims for the rear that have less backspace than a stock Stang rear would take.

The '91-'02 Crown Vic/Mercury Grand Marquis rear discs will bolt onto the small bearing 8- & 9-inch rear end housings, but it's not a direct swap without some spacers (thickness dictated by what year model Crown Vic brakes are being used) to go between the axle bearing and the caliper's anchor bracket. You will also have to cut the bottom portion of the axle housing's end flanges off, and you will need rotor centering rings to center the rotors on the axle flange hubs.

You also do not use the existing drum brake cables with the Crown Vic swap. You will have to use the cables from the Crown Victoria, and connect them into the existing cable setup.

You would also have to fabricate a means for mounting the caliper's brake hoses, and run a hardline to the them.

This is a rear disc brake setup from a '98 Crown Vic police interceptor I got from the wrecking, some time back, that I was playing around with:

1. http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/5944/crownvictoriareardiscbrmx4.jpg

2. Trimmed axle flange:
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/5928/crownvictoriareardiscbrua0.jpg

Axle stub showing bearing spacer;
3. http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/7976/crownvictoriareardiscbrcz1.jpg

4. http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/2903/crownvictoriareardiscbrpw1.jpg

5. http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/3718/crownvictoriareardiscbrau8.jpg

6. http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/9034/crownvictoriareardiscbrxs2.jpg

There are also these conversion alternatives I put together for rear disc brakes too:

1. http://www.ultrastang.com/Ultrainfo.asp?Page_ID=11

2. http://www.ultrastang.com/Ultrainfo.asp?Page_ID=17

3. http://www.ultrastang.com/Ultrainfo.asp?Page_ID=18

There are also a lot of aftermarket companies with various disc brake conversion offerings as well.