Will a '68 Galaxie rear end fit under my '61 Econo?

It's 63" drum to drum.

What width rear end should fit under my van? What vehicle would be an ideal fit besides another Econo? I'm sure this info is out there, but I can't seem to find it.

here u go= http://www.carnut.com/specs/rear.html

As far as I know only the Econo rears fit right. Others are either wider or narrower.

Vanishing may be correct of that fitment- yet?? I do believe the falcons, comets -early year =64-66 also have same rear end widths. Believe i do have some spare rear ends complete here - all are 3.00-1 ratios I think? These are the small 7" i believe ??

I don't think so. They are all off by a couple of inches. That is why we always look for Econo rears.

@Twinpilot001 thanks for the chart! Either I'm blind or the width for a '61 Econo isn't on that chart...

I don't think my van has a factory rear end. What is the width of the factory rear end?

It isn't on that chart and I don't remember the width. There were two rearend for the Econoline, the small "peanut" and the bigger 9". Both the same width.

I have a 9" out of a 67 econoline and it is 61 1/2 drum face to face hope this helps

http://www.jedi.com/obiwan/jeep/d44swap.html

Something else maybe to look at.

Thanks for the info everyone!

I may be wrong but I think that chart has a few typos. Our vans have a rear that is 56" from the brake plates. The early mustang 8" is 52 1/4" and will not fit. The 68-69 Torino is 54". There is no direct bolt in rear that can be used in our vans. You use a Torino rear but the pads and mounts have to be moved and the tires will be right up on the leaf springs.

57 Ranchero is the narrowest stock 9 inch and I've been told it will bolt right in but it's rare as hell.

If the Ranchero is the same size as the fairlane it is very close to the same size as the 65-66 Mustang 8 and 9". 52 1/4" brake flange to flange. I just pulled a set of 57 fairlane axles out of my stash last week to match up the lengths for a 52" axle we cut and installed in my sons Ranger. The axle in my Supervan is 50" and I had to move the leaf springs in to make it fit.

57 Ranchero is 52.25 flange to flange. Thats 2 " narrower than Mustang.

Hey guys, I don't want to stir the pot here! I'm a newbee and just trying to pass on as much helpful info as I can. So lets be friends and agree to disagree and I will continue to build what works for me.

I wasnt aware we were disagreeing. I was just providing info that I ve researched in the past before doing my own axle. My buddy is a Mustang freak and he says they all like the Ranchero axle for their Mustangs. He actually had one available but I wanted to narrow mine even more so I took 9 inches off the Econo axle instead. I wanted that vintage deep dish mag look.

I have found, in the past, that I surely don't know it all. To many times I have been fooled by my beloved Fords. As far as I know the 1957, 58, 59 52.25 is the narrowest axle I have seen and is the same width as the 63 and up Falcon and Fairlane 8 and 9" and 64 1/2, 65, 66 Mustang. In 1967 everything started getting wider with the 68,69 Torino at 54" But I've been fooled before. Just trying to keep the peace brother!

Here's just one of several charts available on the net. I agree with what you are saying for the most part. The chart shows the 65-66 Mustang as the same width as the Ranchero one. Like we both said, 52.25 is the narrowest. We may have crossed words somewhere along the way but are saying the same thing.

http://www.mustangsandmore.com/ubb/FordRearDimensions.html

No problem buddy!

I would suggest that you start looking for a good parts van.... If you're planning on vanning for life like me it's the smartest choice you'll ever make!!! I have already used enough parts off of my parts van to pay for if a few times over....

"I would suggest that you start looking for a good parts van.... If you're planning on vanning for life like me it's the smartest choice you'll ever make!!! I have already used enough parts off of my parts van to pay for if a few times over...."

That's what I did when I needed a new front axle. Found a '66 E sitting in the woods. Owner wouldn't sell me just the front axle, so I bought the whole thing. Best thing I could have done, and when I got it home turns out it had a 9" rear, so both of it's axles now reside under mine. Salvaged a bunch of other odds and ends, and sold some parts to other vanners.

Southern Man,
I love them side pipes that you have on your van!!! They make it look bad ass!!!!

So getting back to the original question the answer is yes you can use it(probably by moving the perches). It will affect what type wheels you can run though. It would allow you to run some of the more modern type wheels that arent deep dish(more of a flush mount) but then you need to factor in clearance for front rims to fit also. No real simple answer. Gotta do some measuring first on the vehicle and rim choice.

hey guys got a ford 9in out of a 64 falcon club wagon had the 240 in there with 9in . is there anything i need to do to that rear end as far as gearing ? haven't checked to see if i need to shorten the drive shaft . thanks..

A 64 wouldn't have a 240, only 65 and up. Was it a 64 Heavy Duty version with 170?