4-Lug 8 Inch Rear End

[Millennial Falcon]

I am looking specifically for the narrow 4-lug from the 71/72 Maverick/Comet. Will pay what it’s worth.

If you come across one anywhere within WA or OR I am very interested. Junkyard or Craigslist, it doesn't matter, but I am looking for a complete assembly.

[Millennial Falcon]

Still looking.

I have found a meager handful but all too far away to pay for shipping and risk receiving an unusable part.

Thank you to anyone that might help me!

[Luva65wagon]

Keep you peepers peeping for a mid-70's 6-cyl Maverick/Comet. That's where you usually find them.

[Millennial Falcon]

The more i think about this part the more i convince myself to skip it.

The Maverick rear end will still be 1/2" wider overall than the stock rear end. I don't think my Falcon can take that, I'm already not a fan of the spacing between the tires and rear fenders.

I'm thinking a 9" from the 60's would work better and be easier to find. I can have it shortened up to fit the new wheels perfectly, and i can get them drilled 4 lug when i order the axles. I don't know what i would do about the drum brakes in back though, that's where I'm stuck.

[Millennial Falcon]

Did more research into the drum situation with the custom 9 inch route and it is likely not workable. There are no drums aside from those found on the Maverick 8 inch 4-lug rear end that have the correct lug pattern. I contacted a few shops that offer 9 inch drum kits in optional lug patterns to see if they can help, still waiting to hear back.

I'm still trying to avoid backtracking on previous purchases. Guess we'll see how that turns out!

I'm curious what you guys think about another route I've thought of. Can I start hunting for the smaller rear end from the 71 era Maverick and make that work? I think it's a 7.25 and would also be 56.5" wide.

[Luva65wagon]

Considering you are still running the 170 (according to your salutation) unless the 7.25" is howling or failing in some other way - which can be hard to repair due to the woeful availability of parts for it - you should just run it or collect a few more of them to act as a stock-pile to replace them as they fail, or to build the best of a few. I see more of those offered for free to nothing than any other rear-end out there.

There are a few of us who have installed the 4-lug 8" without any modification, but that 1/4" on each side if it were to be a problem could be assuaged by rolling or trimming the rear flare to take the edge away.

[Millennial Falcon]

Not quite with the 170 anymore Roger, guess I really need to do updates. I'll post it in my thread that I rage quit on, see if I can redeem myself a bit.

The real problem I've had is finding one of the 4 lug 8 inch rears. It's been a few years now and just nothing. I've got a lead on two 'maybes' but they’re on the east coast. The junkyards will not inspect the axles to accurately identify and want me to show up in person to do my own checks. That is just not workable for me with the cost.

There might be one in Idaho but I still need to hear back from the junkyard and it sounds likely they will not check, just confirm that a '71 Maverick is there. It's been incredibly frustrating.

I can still put the car on the road after the engine rebuild though, which is good.

[Luva65wagon]

You might consider a 8.8" cut own to fit. I'm not sure if they had any with the correct 4-lug setup, but maybe. It's a pretty common Falcon add as it seems if you remove the long tube and axle side and cut down the length of the short side and get another short-side axle shaft, it fits a Falcon. There is probably a specific model you need to start with (I know DogHouse here did one on his 63 Sedan Delivery back in the good ol' days).