Thread: Ranchero Rear end

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Concerning a 1962 Ford Falcon Ranchero..Has anyone out there installed a rear differential assembly from something newer ..It's stock with a 170CID...Thanks .. Al.....

Years ago I had a 63 Falcon, we used a 65 mustang 8" in it.

falcon and mustang are basically same chassis.
as in newer, do you mean 1970's? 80's?

things to consider: overall wdith, so teh wheels fit in teh wheelwells (with $$ this can be adjusted)

suspensions style (coils, leafs, etc) - kinda gotta be the same.

then you have different styles/strenghts of rear end...8", 9", etc.

So as Streets asks, what is the purpose ff the change? If your old one is just bad/worn/broken, are you just looking for a cheap fix? or are you looking for some type of performance improvement?

I had a '62 Falcon sedan delivery. I used an 8" from a later model Mustang...probably 86 or 87.

I cut all the four-link Mustang stuff off of it and went to the speed shop for some 3" axle mounting pads.

See, the diff in a Falcon delivery (and Ranchero) is mounted on leaf springs. The pads I got were for a Mopar, but they didn't mind being in a Ford.

Once you have it centered and have a good pinion angle, you weld the Mopar brackets to the housing and you're done.

The coolest part...the stock driveshaft and brake hose bolted right up. Just make sure to get the "flange" from the driveshaft on the 8.8".

Next part...if you are going to put a big, nasty engine in it...forget the leafs and go straight to a four-link subframe stub or a good set of ladder bars. The spring perches on the Falcon are weak and will rip out of the floorpan.

My Falcon was four-linked after destroying two rearends and ripping the perches out.

A 406 with a four speed will do that!!!

to fit the 406, I removed the shock towers and front suspension completely and used a front suspension from a Mustang II. It sits low in the car and doesn't interfere with how wide your engine is.

I could change plugs in 10 minutes with those towers gone.

This one is not mine, but you get the idea.....

Hey !!! Thanks for all the replies...This guy wants it pretty much stock.. It's not ever going to be more than a go-fer run around fun car..A no hassle bolt in if possible...A youngster I know just this AM told me that at the local parts yard he found a 65 Mustang down in "THE HOLE" with a four hole bolt pattern rear end laying across the front fenders held by baling wire..Probably did that to tow it to the yard..I'll check that out....Al...

Sounds like you have the right idea. The four bolt pattern ones (for the six cylinder cars) are a different rear from the 8" (for V8's) the guys have been talking about. While the 8" could be a bolt in, if you found the correct one, you would also have to change wheels. If it's just for stock, staying with the four bolt would probably be better. The only other thing to consider is the gear ratio. If his is a stick, you should try to get a rear from a stick equipped car, and vice versa.

Hi uncle Bob...There was a time when I knew most everything about these era Fords..I spent a couple decades repairing Mercury Outboards and those cursed outdrives.....I like to find out what the guys are doing to update things from the past that I have missed in my abscence...I'm a Chevy/GMC inline fanatic..The love for these things has been in me since a kid..KID??? Hell I'm still a kid..Just don't move as fast as one..In fact anything in a line...Wisconsin twins..Chevy fours and sixes..Mercury outboard three/four/six inlines..Any tractor..I have three..With inlines anyway...Money into noise...You said it brother!!!...Al...