[blastfurnace]

I just bought a '66 coupe, and it is awesome, of course!

But, there is one thing I am having trouble figuring out.

The rear axle has drum brakes, 15"x7" Torq Thrust rims with a 4" back space and Goodyear GT 215/60R15 tires. According to sizing charts, these should fit up into the wheel well, but the are sticking outside by about 1 1/2". I have not measured the flange to flange width yet, but know it should be 57.25". The guy I bought it from put a 4.11 gear in there instead of the stock 3.00, but that was it.

The tag that came off the rear is as follows:

WCZ-F. 3EB
3.00 8 931C

Which would indicate the rear end was manufactured in 1963, right?

In any case, I would like to get the wheels tucked in where they belong. So, I have a couple of questions:
1) I don't think the WCZ-F code rear end even went into production before 1964.
2) IF the flange to flange is greater than 57.25", what are my options?
-Different tires and rims? This car has brand new tires and rims
-Exchange the whole rear end to stock?
-Live with it?
-Roll the fenders?

Advice, suggestions, etc?

 

[Jonk67]

My guess is it's a different rear end than stock and too long, jack up the rear end, remove the tires and take a flange to flange measurement to answer that question. Then if it were me I would put the correct length rear in 8" or 9" whichever you can find and cheaper if the car isn't going to be raced. Those rims should fit perfect under there with the right rear end I believe, why buy new stuff to fix a problem when you can fix the problem is the way I look at it.
Jon

 

[blastfurnace]

Here is a real newbie question, then...do I need a complete rear end, or can I get the correct housing and take my new gearing and put it in the new housing. A new or used rear is pricey and mine has been completely refurbished...except for being the wrong one!
Or, I suppose I could sell it...too bad no one seems to know what it IS exactly.

 

[nolan_speed]

You should be able to take your rebuilt center section (pumpkin, third member, or whatever you want to call it) and put it into the correct width housing plus the correct axles. Do you have an 8" or a 9"? If it's an 8" you should be able to find a used housing without too much trouble but if it's a 9" you'll need to either get an after market one or shorten yours (or any other 9" housing)

 

[blastfurnace]

Well, I turns out my flange to flange measurement (taken from the outside of each drum) is 61"! No wonder the tires are sticking out.

nolan_speed,
I think I have an 8"...isn't that what the "8" stands for in my tag ID?

Again, newbie question: How does who determine at the differential if it is an 8" or 9"?

I put new shocks in last night and that all but eliminated the rubbing over bumps, so at least there isn't damage to the car being done.

 

[Jonk67]

These links should help identify it and tell you what rear to look for that'll fit:
The Ford 9-inch Rear End

http://home.comcast.net/~stangg/vmf/rearend_chart.jpg

http://discbrakesrus.com/housingflange.gif

Ford nine inch differential cases +

Will you be attending the MCA event at the Biltmore Labor Day weekend? We're driving down with my '67 (hopefully) and I'm trying to get the wife to drive her '09 Warriors in Pink Mustang. Already have our room, can't wait to see the Mansion, grounds, winery, etc. and tool around Asheville. Know any 'must see' sites in Asheville?
Jon

 

[nolan_speed]

The easiest way to determine if it's an 8" or 9" is to try to put a socket with an extension on the lower nuts holding the center section into the housing. If the socket will slip over all the nuts without a problem, then you have an 8" if you can't get a socket onto the lower stud nuts and you'd need to use a standard box end/ open end wrench to get to them, then you have a 9". Otherwise the 8" and 9" look very similar, the design is essentially the same with the 9" being slightly larger and heavier duty.

 

[blastfurnace]

Well, I took some pictures today, and that, in combination with great info from nolan_speed and Jonk67 leads me to believe that my rear end is at least a 67 8" case. This would explain the 61" hub to hub width, too.
See the pictures...what do you think? Now, I guess I need to get a 8" 66 housing and axles, move over all the rebuilt differential, and get the tires back to where they need to be, huh? I am completely new to all this, so not sure what to do or how to do it...

 

[Githerz]

Feel fortunate thee rearend you have is more common than my suprise 7.25, lol.
It sprung a leak and a replacement was not findable. Needless to say since we just got new tires and didn't want to come up with a couple hundred for the new rear end so we had it repaired at a local weld shop. They did an excellent job, btw. it's so shiney. lol