Thread: Bronco II Rear verses 65 Ranchero Rear

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Some one had a dimension chart with the widths of the Rear ends.
Does anyone know how wide the Rear end is in the bronco II.
I know its a 9 inch but I am not sure what they measure out at.
I have a chance to pick one up cheap, but if it won't work I don't want to have to move it. It's gonna be going under my 65 Ranchero if it will fit.
Thanks Kurt

Your thinking of the early Bronco rear, which is 58" and the same width as the early Falcon chassis

Bronco II '83-'90 used the same 28 spline 7.5" axle as the Ranger at the time the BII was produced

Thanks Matt; I had been told the Bronco II's had 9 Inch rear ends in them.
Kurt

Originally Posted by vara4

Thanks Matt; I had been told the Bronco II's had 9 Inch rear ends in them.
Kurt

Nope, heres a good site to learn about the different 9 inchers, how to spot the smaller 8 inch too. the second one has your years and what they came in.
Kevinstang's Ford Nine Inch Differential Page +
Rear End Widths

Vara, here`s some info I had found and had posted on another site a while back...
For those that are thinking about the F**d 8.8 not nessarily the explorer but the mustang, there are several models to choose from, some will have four lugs, but you can change them out with ranger left side axles only, or you could get lucky to pick up a five lug axle heres a list from Randys ring and pinion of the models keeping in mind that the larger wehicles will use the offset pinion and wil require housing / axle change. They did however use a lot of posi units in the ranger trucks, mustangs, t-bird and couger turbo coupes, 4/5 lug.
Aviator: 2003 - 2005 (Rear)
B3000: 1991 - 2002 (Rear)
B4000: 1991 - 2002 (Rear)
Bronco: 1987 - 1996 (Rear)
Capri: 1986 - 1986 (Rear)
Cougar: 1988 - 1996 (Rear)
Crown Victoria: 1992 - 2006 (Rear)
E150: 1983 - 2006 (Rear)
E250: 1983 - 1998 (Rear)
Expedition: 1997 - 2003 (Front)
Expedition: 1997 - 2003 (Rear)
Explorer: 1990 - 2003 (Rear)
F150: 1959 - 1987 (Rear)
F150: 1983 - 2006 (Rear)
F150: 1997 - 2006 (Front)
F250: 1997 - 1999 (Front)
Mark LT: 2006 - 2006 (Front)
Mark VI: 1980 - 1983 (Rear)
Mustang: 1986 - 2005 (Rear)
Navigator: 1998 - 2005 (Front)
Navigator: 1998 - 2006 (Rear)
Ranger: 1990 - 2005 (Rear)
Thunderbird: 1987 - 1995 (Rear)
Town Car: 1981 - 2005 (Rear)

and some more...
If you are wondering what type of rearend or even what size it is this should help. You can find the axle code on the tag that is mounted directly on the axle housing. Another sopt is a white sticker located in the doorjamb there is either a number or letter under axle. Conventional or "open" rear ends break down as follows: 8-2.73, Y-3.08, 5-3.27, F-3.45, 6-3.73. Locking or "Traction Lok" break down as follows M-2.73, Z-3.08, E-3.27, R-3.45, W-3.73.

'79 5.0L Mustangs and Capris did not have Traction-Lok. Traction-Lok was first available in Mustangs and Capris in the '81 model year, and it was optional with the V8, not standard. It became standard with the 5.0L V8 (still optional with the 4.2L v8) starting in the '82 model year.

5.0L mustangs and Capris could not be ordered with a ratio higher than 3.27:1.

There was a 2.26:1 and a 2.47:1 ratio available with a V8 early in the Fox years.

Thunderbird Turbocoupes in '87 and '88 had an 8.8" rear, 3.55:1 with a manual transmission and 3.73:1 with an auto.

Lincoln Mark VII's came with an 8.8" rear, Traction Lok was an option

The only Mercury Cougar that came with an 8.8" rear was the XR7 models and was a Traction Lok with at least a 3.08 gear all others were 7.5"

Originally Posted by 406Rich

Vara, here`s some info I had found and had posted on another site a while back...
For those that are thinking about the F**d 8.8 not nessarily the explorer but the mustang, there are several models to choose from, some will have four lugs, but you can change them out with ranger left side axles only, or you could get lucky to pick up a five lug axle heres a list from Randys ring and pinion of the models keeping in mind that the larger wehicles will use the offset pinion and wil require housing / axle change. They did however use a lot of posi units in the ranger trucks, mustangs, t-bird and couger turbo coupes, 4/5 lug.
Aviator: 2003 - 2005 (Rear)
B3000: 1991 - 2002 (Rear)
B4000: 1991 - 2002 (Rear)
Bronco: 1987 - 1996 (Rear)
Capri: 1986 - 1986 (Rear)
Cougar: 1988 - 1996 (Rear)
Crown Victoria: 1992 - 2006 (Rear)
E150: 1983 - 2006 (Rear)
E250: 1983 - 1998 (Rear)
Expedition: 1997 - 2003 (Front)
Expedition: 1997 - 2003 (Rear)
Explorer: 1990 - 2003 (Rear)
F150: 1959 - 1987 (Rear)
F150: 1983 - 2006 (Rear)
F150: 1997 - 2006 (Front)
F250: 1997 - 1999 (Front)
Mark LT: 2006 - 2006 (Front)
Mark VI: 1980 - 1983 (Rear)
Mustang: 1986 - 2005 (Rear)
Navigator: 1998 - 2005 (Front)
Navigator: 1998 - 2006 (Rear)
Ranger: 1990 - 2005 (Rear)
Thunderbird: 1987 - 1995 (Rear)
Town Car: 1981 - 2005 (Rear)

and some more...
If you are wondering what type of rearend or even what size it is this should help. You can find the axle code on the tag that is mounted directly on the axle housing. Another sopt is a white sticker located in the doorjamb there is either a number or letter under axle. Conventional or "open" rear ends break down as follows: 8-2.73, Y-3.08, 5-3.27, F-3.45, 6-3.73. Locking or "Traction Lok" break down as follows M-2.73, Z-3.08, E-3.27, R-3.45, W-3.73.

'79 5.0L Mustangs and Capris did not have Traction-Lok. Traction-Lok was first available in Mustangs and Capris in the '81 model year, and it was optional with the V8, not standard. It became standard with the 5.0L V8 (still optional with the 4.2L v8) starting in the '82 model year.

5.0L mustangs and Capris could not be ordered with a ratio higher than 3.27:1.

There was a 2.26:1 and a 2.47:1 ratio available with a V8 early in the Fox years.

Thunderbird Turbocoupes in '87 and '88 had an 8.8" rear, 3.55:1 with a manual transmission and 3.73:1 with an auto.

Lincoln Mark VII's came with an 8.8" rear, Traction Lok was an option

The only Mercury Cougar that came with an 8.8" rear was the XR7 models and was a Traction Lok with at least a 3.08 gear all others were 7.5"

Hey Rich, did they happen to include the width from WMS to WMS for these rearends?

Randy i`ll see what I can find, I had dug up this info on `09 the ranger was a good choice because of width (58 inches ), and most all were 5 lug with gears, but the jeepers and rock crawlers and mustang owners picked them over for the axles, other than that next inline was the mustang / or t-bird turbo coupe width wise. They are relatively strong, just not as strong as the true 9-inch. The 4x4 housing is narrower than the standard pickup housing from what I`m told.....

Another option to consider is the 8 3/4 mopar, espescially from an A-body, although you`ll have to change out the axles because most were 4 inch pattern.
A-body 66-72 -------------------------- 57 1/8"
B-Body 62-63 -------------------------- 58 1/2"
64-67(except 64 Max Wedge) - 59 1/2"
68-70 -------------------------- 60 1/8"

the best third member to get is 489 housing next being the 721, both came in suregrip or the cone style ( not as good ) ratios from 271 to 430 in street form.
Google Image Result for http://www.sweptline.com/tech/reardif2.jpg

This might help.
Rear End Widths

Thanks Thegrappler,406Rich, Randyr, Dlotraf33; I know how to I.D. the 9in rears with no problem, I was just told by someone that the Bronco II had the 9 inchers in them.
I'll be in the middle of my move in a month from now, back to Nevada and have already found a nice junk yard a couple miles from my new home.
I have a nice 9 inch rear right now, but it will still have to be narrowed if I decide to use it, I actually tore it down to narrow my self.
But thanks to some great members on here, told me I could not do what I had planned with out the proper alinement tool So thanks again Dave Severson.
Anyway if I get out to the new home and find a Dana 60 for a decent price $$$ I may go that way instead of the 9 in.
I'll just narrow that instead and I have had good luck with Dana 60 in the past and I seen a couple big Dodges in that junk yard.
My 351 cleveland will be putting out over 800 hp with nitrios, so I was told I needed a 35 spline axle to keep from breaking them.
So what ever I use will have to be plenty strong, I will also be running the small block C6 trany as well.
Thanks again guys for your input and help, If you can think of any good tips to keep me from breaking stuff, I'll take it.
Well just short of not putting my foot in it real good. HE! HE! HE!
Kurt

I don't know much of anything about Internationals, but is there a possibility that some Scout/ Scout II's used Dana 60 axles? I know most used 44's...

Another option is to find an offroad club that might possibly know someone with an early Bronco.. Bronco's are so narrow they roll easy. lot of them find wider axles to widen the track, and it's possible they have the original kicking around.

Thanks Matt; I'll find something that will work.
I'll be in about the best place to look for old used stuff.
I'll be near the boarders of Cal, Arizona,and in Nevada.
Kurt