The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Rear end transmission options 1950 3/4

New to the site.

I know you guys have covered this over and over. And I've read so many articles about engine, transmission, and rear end.

I just brought home a 47-55 3/4 frame with the mustang ii suspension work already fabricated.

First question:

Even though the 3/4 ton rear end was shorter than the 1/2 could I still use an explorer rear end and adjust the tire width? With that in mind I'd like to also point out I would like to use a 383 stroker or 454 back by a muncie 4 speed (would love a t56 or tko600 but they're not in my budget). Everywhere I go they say good and bad thing about different combos. I'm not trying to race or anything but i want the hp to be there.

For safety and other considerations it is best not to put overly wide tires and wheels on a half ton rear axle. GM 14 bolt rear axles (6 or 8 lug) are cheap, plentiful, lots of ratios, disc brakes.

Ford 9" axles would work with IFS, too.

Ed

Thank you for the response. I know everything that will work on a half ton truck. But can I use the 60" rear end on a 3/4 ton AD? I know the 3/4 came stock with a 52" rear. But in theory if the box is the same width as a half ton it shouldn't matter, right? Maybe I'm missing something.

Brandon

Thanks for the reply. I guess my real question is, will I be able to use a 60" on a 3/4 ton bed/frame. The 3/4 stock were 52" but if the width of the bed is the same as a 1/2 it shouldn't present an issue, right?

I'm actually doing something similar as you with my 54 3600. IFS, Explorer rear.

You shouldn't have any trouble with the Explorer rear. There's probably a few thousand vintage trucks running around with them.

You're right, the bed is the same width on the 3100 up to 3800 trucks. The big difference is in the frame. The 3600 trucks have a narrower frame in the rear and they are spring-over axle vs. spring under axle.

With the narrower axle, you'll have to go conservative on your wheel backspacing and tire width, unless you plan on tubbing the bed or widening fenders. I haven't got my rear installed yet, just the IFS, so I can't really help on what backspace you'll need.

Thank you for your Input. That's exactly what I was looking for. It's been tough trying to find answers to my questions about 3600. Get me updated if you run into any other issues. Likely for myself the IFS was already installed in fabricated on the frame So that Avoids that headache

I sincerely hope that M-II setup isn't one of the ones that puts the front bumper a couple of inches off the ground. Besides making the truck look like a hound dog that's just had a close encounter with a skunk, it won't really matter what kind of rear axle you install. The truck will be a hazard to navigation at any speed above parking lot cruising.
Jerry

The Explorer rear is 58" wide which is 3" wider on each side from a 52" rear. If heavy loads are in the picture you might consider going with the "C" clip eliminator kit. we have had good luck with the 8.8 Ford rear, both open and limited slip. The book shows a lot of different ratios but the ones we get are usually 3.73.

I'm looking at the same Gear ratio in the one I'm buying. I'm not really looking to do any hauling I have a work truck for that. I've looked into the eliminators but found with the disk brakes they are not necessary.

The 8.8 is plenty strong. My 2009 truck with an 8.8 has a GAVW rating of 6900 lbs. In my book, not too shabby. I know Ford de-rated the Explorer 8.8 slightly because they use the smaller 5x4.5 wheel and tire combo, but everything else about the axle is equivalent. We're putting them in a 3500lb truck, I think it'll do just fine. Even an older 28 spline version will do the trick. The Mustang guys beat up on them for years. As far as the C-clip eliminators go, I don't see the point unless you're doing a 10 second pass or rock-crawling.

Jerry, it's a stock mustang 2 its. Not lowered. I'm not looking to scrape my driveway with my freshly built truck. If I does then I will definitely address it asap. That's just not my style.

Brandon