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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

Rear ends? And I don't mean the pretty kind.

  • Thread starter Thread starter WORTH
  • Start date Start date Jun 27, 2025

WORTH

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#1
  • Jun 27, 2025
  • #1
Gentlemen, I'm running out of sources from parts I know so I'm widening my search. I've never played with Fox body stangs, so this is just a crap shoot. I need a replacement rear end for a 1963 Falcon I have. It is a very light POS and NG. It is 56.75" long, hub to hub, and has a 4-4.5 bolt pattern. I was trying to keep it mostly original so, I'd like to stick with that bolt pattern. Does the Fox body have anything to offer? What is the bolt pattern, and how long is it threw the years ? Also what rear do they use? 8.8?
 

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done
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#2
  • Jun 27, 2025
  • #2

QPF9LeafHA-QP Custom Built Leaf Spring 9 Inch Housing & Axle

www.quickperformance.com
 

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done
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#3
  • Jun 27, 2025
  • #3

QPF9BAREHA-QP Bare 9 Inch Housing & Axle Package

www.quickperformance.com
 

AeroCoupe

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes
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#4
  • Jun 27, 2025
  • #4
All 79-85 cars and 86-93 four cylinder cars have 7.5 rear ends.
86-93 V8 cars have the 8.8

https://lmr.com/products/mustang-8-8-rear-end-differences
 

WORTH

20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 18, 2002
2,166
44
98
Cape Cod, Ma.
Jun 28, 2025
#5
  • Jun 28, 2025
  • #5
limp said:

QPF9LeafHA-QP Custom Built Leaf Spring 9 Inch Housing & Axle

www.quickperformance.com
Click to expand...
Limp, have you used these guys? There prices are very good. I actually need another axle for my '55 T-bird build as well, but wont decide on the gears until after I drive it. I'm swapping in a 4 speed wide ratio Ford trans.
 

Noobz347

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#6
  • Jun 28, 2025
  • #6
WORTH said:
Limp, have you used these guys? There prices are very good. I actually need another axle for my '55 T-bird build as well, but wont decide on the gears until after I drive it. I'm swapping in a 4 speed wide ratio Ford trans.
Click to expand...

What is is powered by?
 

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done
5 Year Member
Oct 4, 2020
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#7
  • Jun 28, 2025
  • #7
WORTH said:
Limp, have you used these guys? There prices are very good. I actually need another axle for my '55 T-bird build as well, but wont decide on the gears until after I drive it. I'm swapping in a 4 speed wide ratio Ford trans.
Click to expand...
Yes I have and I will again.. If you need help they are there.... Good people.
Check out their website... Quickperformance.com
 
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WORTH

20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 18, 2002
2,166
44
98
Cape Cod, Ma.
Jun 28, 2025
#8
  • Jun 28, 2025
  • #8
Ya , I went threw their website, just nice to hear from some-one that have actually used them. Thanx.
 

EP429

Member
Jun 30, 2007
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Aug 13, 2025
#9
  • Aug 13, 2025
  • #9
WORTH said:
Gentlemen, I'm running out of sources from parts I know so I'm widening my search. I've never played with Fox body stangs, so this is just a crap shoot. I need a replacement rear end for a 1963 Falcon I have. It is a very light POS and NG. It is 56.75" long, hub to hub, and has a 4-4.5 bolt pattern. I was trying to keep it mostly original so, I'd like to stick with that bolt pattern. Does the Fox body have anything to offer? What is the bolt pattern, and how long is it threw the years ? Also what rear do they use? 8.8?
Click to expand...
There's something familiar about that beard....
I transplanted a Fox 8.8 into my 68 a few years back after I kind of broke my 8 inch. Fox body rears are ~59.25" wide if I recall, putting each wheel 1.25" closer to the quarter panel given your dimensions. Not sure if the Falcon even has that much clearance, but if stance is important to the original recipe you want, it'll show. You can always shorten the tubes & get shorter axles, but that's a whole extra can of worms to crack open. Aside from that the 8.8 is lighter than the 9 inch and offers lower parasitic power loss. With a little grinder action for bracket removal & welding on new perches, it's a fairly painless swap into a vintage platform.
 

AeroCoupe

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes
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Aug 13, 2025
#10
  • Aug 13, 2025
  • #10
If you narrow it just put 9" ends on it and move on. No more c-clips and all kinds of disc brake options for those ends.
 
Reactions: General karthief

rednotch

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The 4x4.5 bolt pattern makes it near impossible without custom axles and brakes. Fox body is 4x4.25 most with falcon swaps will cut down explorer 8.8's and swap to 5 lug, shorten the driver side tube and run two passenger side axles, the explorer housing is offset.
 

EP429

Member
Jun 30, 2007
125
5
18
Central Texas
Aug 14, 2025
#12
  • Aug 14, 2025
  • #12
rednotch said:
The 4x4.5 bolt pattern makes it near impossible without custom axles and brakes. Fox body is 4x4.25 most with falcon swaps will cut down explorer 8.8's and swap to 5 lug, shorten the driver side tube and run two passenger side axles, the explorer housing is offset.
Click to expand...
Given the the mostly original + same bolt pattern goal, it's going to require a bit of cutting & aftermarket axles regardless of the donor 8.8 source, unfortunately. Very doable project, just a little more complicated in keeping the original bolt pattern. Any decent machine or driveline shop should be able to drill out the shorter aftermarket axles and existing drums to accommodate new studs in 4x4.5 pattern.
 

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done
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#13
  • Aug 14, 2025
  • #13
EP429 said:
Given the the mostly original + same bolt pattern goal, it's going to require a bit of cutting & aftermarket axles regardless of the donor 8.8 source, unfortunately. Very doable project, just a little more complicated in keeping the original bolt pattern. Any decent machine or driveline shop should be able to drill out the shorter aftermarket axles and existing drums to accommodate new studs in 4x4.5 pattern.
Click to expand...
I used this drum kit.. https://www.quickperformance.com/Ford-9-Inch-Drum-brake-kit_p_4031.html
 

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done
5 Year Member
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#14
  • Aug 14, 2025
  • #14
AeroCoupe said:
If you narrow it just put 9" ends on it and move on. No more c-clips and all kinds of disc brake options for those ends.
Click to expand...
 

EP429

Member
Jun 30, 2007
125
5
18
Central Texas
Aug 14, 2025
#15
  • Aug 14, 2025
  • #15
limp said:
I used this drum kit.. https://www.quickperformance.com/Ford-9-Inch-Drum-brake-kit_p_4031.html
Click to expand...
The OP is looking to adapt to a 4-lug & older 4x4.5 bolt pattern. Throws a wrench into the usual simple fixes.

** I missed the "None of these" option, this could probably work.
 

Noobz347

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#16
  • Aug 14, 2025
  • #16
It doesn't seem like it's too awful difficult to order axles any way you want them these days.

There might be some wait time but I don't think it's much more expensive than ordering pre-made.
 

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done
5 Year Member
Oct 4, 2020
5,467
2,902
173
Florida
Aug 14, 2025
#17
  • Aug 14, 2025
  • #17
EP429 said:
The OP is looking to adapt to a 4-lug & older 4x4.5 bolt pattern. Throws a wrench into the usual simple fixes.

** I missed the "None of these" option, this could probably work.
Click to expand...
The drums are drilled for multiple patterns.. Not sure for a 4 lug, but a call to Quick performance would find out..
 
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