Somthing that has always bugged me about my 66 is the rear wheels set narrower than the front wheels with the same rim and tire on them. Guess it's cause of the dana 44 locker rear end, Has anyone use wheel spacers to widen the rear stance ? and if so how big 1 " ,1.5" or 2" or is it just however much you can get in the wheel well ?Thanks-Jav

 

Jav, The axle widths were the same until 65 when Ford went with the Twin I-beams and corrected the issue in 73. You can swap in a 73-86 9" rear axle for the same length of the front if you like. I like that better than spacers.


John

 

1957/67 9" rear axleshafts are 29 11/16" long / the rear brake drums (not the shoes) are 2 1/4" wide.

1968/72 9" rear axleshafts are 29 15/16" long / the rear brake drums are 2 3/4" wide.

1973/79 9" rear axleshafts are 31 13/16" long / the rear brake drums are 2 3/4" wide.

All things considered, how can you use a 1973 and later 9" rear end in a 1965/66 F100?

1973 and later: The two axleshafts combined are 4" longer, then add another inch + for the two rear brake drums.

1973 and later 9" rear ends will not fit 1965/66 F100's without modifying the Stylesides quarter panel wheel openings.

And...if that is done, the wheels will stick out past the quarter panels.

 

Thats great info but I dont have a 9" rear I have a dana 44. Are the mesurements the same ?

 

Ford didn't use Dana 44's after 1967 as a rear axle till 1977/78, and then only for these two years.

Parts catalog sez for Dana 44's axleshafts:

1965/66: 29 9/32" long / 1977/78: 32 7/32" long.

The brake drum widths are the same as posted earlier.

I do know this, ppl swapping 9" rear ends into 1948/56 F100's can't use the 1973 and later 9" rear end because it's too wide. 1957/72's are what they use.

 

Hate to say it Bill, but I installed a rear axle from an '81...its was approximately 3" wider and the wheels fit perfect. Keep in mind the widths of pickup beds hasn't changed much...there's 4' between inner fenders on my '65 same as an '05. You can take brake drum widths out of the equation since we are only concerned about the flange to flange width, the drums are inboard of those.

 

if you used a stock size tire seems as the the wider rear should work,I put 10" wheels and 10/15s on my '66 and never had any problem
the brake drums don't even come into play as they are the same thickness that goes between wheel and axle

 

Look ya big Dummy, Who give a rats azz over 1/4", I have the larger 68 brakes and drums on the end of my 66 axle. How about that Dummy book man????

I also have a 66 chassis with a 76 9" rear axle bolted under it and the bed sitting on it and the wheels are not rubbing. What does the Dummy book have to say about that?

Must you **** on every post that someone makes a recommendation for???

 

Don't use wheel spacers they can cause all sorts of problems. Over time they can start to pull your wheel studs through the hub causing the wheel to fall off. Plus I work for Discount Tire and we won't touch a vehicle that has wheel spacers installed so if you put them on, you won't be able to purchase tires from us (if thats where you get your tires). If you have aftermarket wheels, I would recommend a different offset.

 

My neighbor has a 69 f100 that he put a rearend out of a rear end out of a 73 under. The tires don't rub, but they definitely stick out way too wide. It really looks kind of goofy. You could get rear wheels with a different offset to make them track the same. I am pretty sure on his, since they are a stock offset wheel (8" i believe), the outside edge of the tires is outside of the fenderwell.

ROb

 

My thoughts, getting a 73-79 9-inch will give you the look your wanting plus you'll end up with a stronger rear end to boot. Win-win situation. Unless your crazy like me and plan on trying to put your axle on top of your springs. With the 15 X 8 wheels that I have I must keep the narrower housing to keep the tires (275/60R-15's) from rubbing. I'll post pics when I'm done.

 

Man Brother John.. ya gettin a little riled there.... Calm down.....

The "axle shaft" has no meaning as it is the housing that sets the "width" If you have a stock 65 9" housing at 54 1/4 inches and add five to get the face, another 1/4" for the 2 drums brake drum and overall width is 59 and 1/2" 73 and up are around 63 inches to 79 and get wider from there.

If it has axles and is from a 73 to 79 and a nine inch it uses a standard 2.50" face of flange to housing backspace. It is the same width with stock 3 and 3/8" backspace rims as the front I beams to eliminate the narrow azz crab walk look. All you need to do is change the perches for the leaf springs inboard. or SWAP an entire 73 to 79 chassis under the 65 66 sheet metal. The bed width has changed little from 64 to 96 they all take a 4x8 hunk o plywood and outside fender lip. Most change is in the wheel tub area with Unis being Euuuuge and 64 to 72 being smaller. it opened up for 73 to 79 and beyond with an integral double wall stamping.

They also fit under the 61 to 63 uni's quite well with stock rims, just peek in my gallery at the unibody short bed installed on a 79 frame behind my Suicide Crew....

Garbz

 

Getting back to the OP. I'm not a fan of wheel spacers. So, as mentioned I would go with the 10" wheels, or swap in the later rearend. But, if you are absolutely stuck on using spacers, I'd suggest a 1.5" spacer..it kinda depends on the back spacing on the specific wheel you are running. Run a straight edge across the face of the tire up to the fender lip. I have about a 1/2" between the tire sidewall and the rolled lip and have never had any rubbing...even at extreme articulation with a full load of fire wood.

 

Thanks, sounds like wheel spacers are not the way to go, and I dont want to swap the rear end. so I will look at new rims, I like Chrome Reverse with Baby moons anyways.
Very 60's