|
Author
|
Topic: "Rear -ending" - Fairlane to Mustang swap
|
Laserchill
Gearhead Posts: 151
From: Kernersville, NC
Registered: Mar 2004
|
posted 05-30-2005 06:24 AM
 
Hey guys,Will a 66 Fairlane 289 car rearend fit a 65 Mustang coupe?  I want to switch to five lugs and I have the Fairlane just sitting there. It appears to be thae same lenght. Other physical charecterisitics match. Please help. Click on my link to see Fairlane. I used the motor in my 68 coupe. My son needs the rear end for his 65 6 cylinder car. Thanks, Ed http://mustangsandmore.50megs.com/MembersPics/Laserchill.html ------------------
'68 Coupe Restore
Kernersville, NC
|
torino420
Gearhead Posts: 147
From: Tracy, California
Registered: Apr 2003
|
posted 05-30-2005 10:08 AM
I'm almost positive you will have to move the spring perches on the housing.------------------
69 Torino GT Hardtop
420" Windsor
|
Laserchill
Gearhead Posts: 151
From: Kernersville, NC
Registered: Mar 2004
|
posted 05-30-2005 11:23 AM
Is that a big deal? Are you saying that I will need new holes in the car itself?Thanks, Ed http://mustangsandmore.50megs.com/MembersPics/Laserchill.html
|
GeerWerkz
Journeyman Posts: 54
From: Snohomish, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2003
|
posted 05-30-2005 01:04 PM
I just finished (this Friday) swapping a 66 Fairlane 8" rearend into my 67 Coupe. No new holes need to made in the car. What does need to be done is all on the rearend. The spring perches on the housing are 3" wide and 41" apart measured center to center. They need to be replaced with 2.5" ones on 43" centers. The vent tube is on the wrong side, not a big deal but the brake line splitter uses the vent fitting to hold the bracket. so a new hole needs to be drilled and tapped and the old one plugged. The rest is easy... 
|
Laserchill
Gearhead Posts: 151
From: Kernersville, NC
Registered: Mar 2004
|
posted 05-30-2005 04:57 PM
Hey Geerwrkz,THanks for the info. I am excited that this will work.. Are you saying that I will have to buy a spring kit? I have seen them . THey ar pretty reasonable as far as cost. Or can I use the one on my old rear end? How much am I saving to use the rear end from the Fairlane? The car only had 60,000 miles when it was totaled. So it has to be a good rear end. I guess I could research the numbers and find out what rearend came in the car. Thanks, Ed
|
GeerWerkz
Journeyman Posts: 54
From: Snohomish, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2003
|
posted 05-30-2005 11:31 PM
New spring perches are about $25 for a pair, you will also need to find a driveline that fits or get a U-joint with the right combination of end caps
|
68 S-code GT
Gearhead Posts: 3835
From: Sayreville, NJ, US
Registered: Mar 2000
|
posted 06-01-2005 09:48 AM
I think end to end they have the same dimensions as the 67-70 Mustang rears.------------------
Ed S. 68 S-code FB GT 4spd(now C6)/3.25 PS PDB
68 J-code(now 289) Cp Sprint"B" C4/3L00-9" PDB PS AC Bla-Bla-Bla
99 F150 XLT Ext/cab, 4X4, 5.4L, 3L55
|
GeerWerkz
Journeyman Posts: 54
From: Snohomish, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2003
|
posted 06-01-2005 11:15 PM
quote:
Originally posted by 68 S-code GT:
I think end to end they have the same dimensions as the 67-70 Mustang rears.
Yep the finished product is the same width, looks real pretty under there! 
|
Twirly Bird
Gearhead Posts: 226
From: Central PA
Registered: Aug 2004
|
posted 06-02-2005 10:24 AM
Just to be clear, you said a '65 Mustang, right? The flange-to-flange measurement of the rears on the '65/'66 Mustangs is 57.25". The flange-to-flange on the '67 - '70 Mustang is 59.25". I believe the '66 Fairlane is 59.25". That is why it fit so well for everyone else who posted. It will be too wide for you - so you'll have to compensate with your wheel backspacing or just find the correct rear...
|
Twirly Bird
Gearhead Posts: 226
From: Central PA
Registered: Aug 2004
|
posted 06-02-2005 10:33 AM
BTW, IMHO, some people are comfortable with different backspacing on the front & rear tires - but I personally think it is a pain. If you plan on running two different tire sizes (front vs. rear) then its probably not a big deal...
|
GeerWerkz
Journeyman Posts: 54
From: Snohomish, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2003
|
posted 06-02-2005 06:30 PM
You're right the 65-66 is 2" narrower overall. The 66 Fairlane housing is 3/4" narrower but the overall width is the same as the 67-70 Mustang. It's up to you if having a wider stance or different backspacing is a deal breaker.[This message has been edited by GeerWerkz (edited 06-02-2005).]
|
Laserchill
Gearhead Posts: 151
From: Kernersville, NC
Registered: Mar 2004
|
posted 06-03-2005 06:02 PM
Well, I am trying to figure if it would be worth doing thisI want to have 5 lugs. I do not want to have 2 different size tires and wheels. Would the backspacing be such that I could not use 15 x 6 wheels allt the way around? (this is assuming I put disc on the front) Thanks for help. Ed http://mustangsandmore.50megs.com/MembersPics/Laserchill.html
|
Twirly Bird
Gearhead Posts: 226
From: Central PA
Registered: Aug 2004
|
posted 06-06-2005 10:36 AM
Well, think of it this way - you'll have a rear end that is 2" wider. That means each wheel will stick out an inch further. Put a straight edge (like a 3' level) on the edge of your current rear tire. Check where the tire travels into the wheel well using the straight edge. Now, move that measurment out an inch. Then, if you are going with wider tires, add 1/2 the additional width again (i.e. if you are going from a 6" to an 8" wide tire, each side of a tire will be an additional 1" wider on both sides...). I bet your tires will be rubbing the lip of the wheel well - or will be very close at least... I would hold out for the correct rear end. About a year ago, there were several people on this forum who had them when I inquired to get mine... They run $150 to $300 complete (non-locking). Much stronger, too.
|
Twirly Bird
Gearhead Posts: 226
From: Central PA
Registered: Aug 2004
|
posted 06-08-2005 08:04 AM
FYI - "Shoe" is looking for a set of these Fairlane axles in the classified section - this may help fund your purchase of the "correct" reard end...
|
