Rear axle question

[Barnfresh41]

Hi,
We have a 41 1/2 ton and as most of you guys probably know it is a tight fit with a more modern open driveline rear axle. We are in the process of putting a 47 flathead with t-5 and need an open driveline rear end. We picked up a 88 ford truck rear end at a local junkyard, got it home and realized it might be a little bit too wide. We would like to keep the ford 5 1/2 inch bolt pattern. Just wondering what you guys use. Thanks

[3Mike6]

Look for a Bronco rear or an explorer rear...should fit under nicely and keep the 5 on 5.5 pattern

[Barnfresh41]

Thanks for the reply however the 88 truck is the same as the the bronco about 57 inches backing plate to backing plate (Stock is about 51 inches). The explore on the other hand will fit perfect but the bolt but I believe the bolt pattern is smaller.

[3Mike6]

The early Bronco's (maybe called Bronco II's?) were 57 inches WMS to WMS (assuming 3 inch drums would be what you want)...you might be thinking the newer full sized ones?

I thought my 94 explorer had 5 on 5.5" ? But it's been gone for years, maybe I'm mistaken.

[41inWV]

Barnfresh
In my case, on my '41 1/2 ton I'm using a ford 8" out of a '79 Granada. Yes it does change the bolt pattern to 5 on 4 1/2, but I had new wheels made anyway, so that didn't matter to me. I suppose you could run wheel adapters to accomodate the difference in bolt pattern. Not the best solution, but workable.

[46yblock]

I have the same rearend as 41VW, an 8 inch out of an '80 Granada. Also using the '80 drum brakes. It requires a very small backset on wheels, meaning full reverse, to clear the '46 bed. '41 bed is narrower though I think.

[41inWV]

Here's my '41 with the bed back on the frame, the '80 Granada rear 8" axle and drum brake setup. Those are 15 X 8 rear wheels I had made with a 3" backset, wearing 255 diamondback rubber.


Then here it is with the fender in place, we need to length the rear fender brace an inch and a half, but it works !