Delray, sorry to be so slow to answer your post. Mike and I talked about it while we worked on the ‘57 today. Mike had Moseners (SP?), a company here in Indiana, to make a rear end housing to ’57 specs except that he ordered it one inch narrower than stock. This should allow him to fit larger tires in the 60s profile size. He also sent the Bronco axels to them. They cut and resplined the axels to the correct size and redrilled the hubs to fit a Chevy bolt pattern. As always, they were great to work with. The larger Bronco rear drum brakes bolted right in. I put a couple of pictures of this in the gallery for you. If you would like other views, please let me know. I would be glad to send them to you. Mike was told that he could narrow the rear end more but would have to move the springs and shackles inboard, to the inside of the frame rails. That seemed a little on the excess side to us red neck old hill billies. A quick tape measurement today showed the housing flare to housing flare to be about 53 3/4 in. and outside hub to about 59 1/4 in. I will try to do it again and be more accurate if you need it. Moseners has the exact specs for a stock ’55-57 housing.

I do not know about the 70’s Nova rear ends. I have read that they will fit fine but I believe that the spring perches should be from a ’55-57 and the perch positions will have to be moved outward for the ’55-57. Mike originally considered that option but I talked him into the 9 Inch. It did not take much talking because in his wilder youth he had torn up enough Chevy rear ends to know that it was the right way to go. Chevy verses Ford 9 Inch—there is no shortage of heated debates on the subject. I won’t go there, but just to say that I know of several who have switched from Chevy to Ford 9 Inch rear ends and none to switch the other way. Also I do not know of a car that has decreased in value by having a Ford 9 Inch. Besides they look more original in a Shoe Box than a 10 or 12 bolt any way. I am sorry I cannot help you any further but that is all I know. Hopefully one of the gurus on this forum will know more.

We bolted the engine mounts on to the frame and fitted the engine today. They fit reasonably well and looked nice against the frame. It “looks like” the oil pan will clear the tie rod without modification but neither set of headers will clear the steering gear box. Mike decided on the transmission mount from HH Classics, thanks for suggesting them, and hopefully I will get a chance to order it Mon

Rick