After searching all over the internet and on this forum, I decided the only way I will know for sure the widths of the Crown Vic rear is to head to my local pick and pull and measure for myself. This is what I found:

1998-2002 Crown Vic rear end width - mounting surface to mounting surface is 65.5 inches.
2003 and later Crown Vic rear end width - mounting surface to mounting surface is 70 inches.

I have a 57 F100 that I am getting ready to work on. I already have an 03 CV IFS and later model mustang 18X9 wheels that will work perfectly with the CV front. I need something 2 inches wider on each side than the 61.5 stock 57 rear to make my wheel combination work. I found a 2000 Merc Grand Marquis with a 355 traction loc rear that I think I better go back and get since this should work perfectly for what I am doing. I would appreciate any advice you 57-60 truck owners might have in dealing with the CV front and rear end widths from your experience.

Thanks!

 

I say do it. the 1998-2002 is a great fit for our trucks. As for advice in regards to this I don't really have anything for you. Some guys may say that a CV IFS is too wide, but with the correct wheel combination and as long as you don't go too low it works.

D

 

I agree with dman, go and get it. This is the same rear end we used for our project (1985 F150 CV swap) and the width is perfect (it matched the drum 8.8 we removed). We removed all of the brackets and ground the rear end smooth before ordering a Ruff Stuff Specialty 8.8 install kit:


It comes with everything you need to install the 8.8, shock brackets and all. One thing to note about the rear end we used, yours may or may not be the same-Ours has the same rear brake caliper part number for both sides as one of them mounts on the back of the axle and the other mounts on the front. When we went through and freshened ours up, we noticed that the rear brake plates/parking brake assemblies were in bad shape. I called Quick Performance and was able to get some new backing plates,- but both of these have the rear mount calipers (so you have a right rear caliper and a left rear caliper). I did not notice this until I started to re-assemble the rear end. If you go with the same setup, you can use the rear calipers for a 2000 Ford Explorer (you will have to use Explorer brake hoses with these calipers, we used 2 right rear Raybestos BH380528). These bolt right up to the new backing plates, use the same rear rotors and work perfect. Then all you will need is some brake cables to make the parking brakes work.

 

Thanks for the tips! I did go back to the u-pull salvage yard and spent 3 hours removing the rear end from the 2000 Grand Marquis (same as Crown Vic). I think this rear will work perfectly for what I plan to do. Good way to get a 3.55:1 rear gear, traction lok, disk brakes and 5 on 4.5 mounting surface for my Mustang wheels, and hopefully the perfect width if I measured correctly. Probably not going to be easy though with all the cutting to remove the old brackets, welding on the new etc. Now if I can just find time to get to work on it. By the way, this new rear does have the same calipers on each side one mounted on the back and the other on the front side of the axle. Thanks again!

 

Don't let those brackets intimidate you. A few cutting discs and a once over with a flap wheel will have that thing ready to mount in no time.