Stupid Question: What's the width of a '50 Plymouth Rear Axle?

[addicted2dunes]

I can't really get the tires off of my axle right now but am searching for a replacement. Does anyone know what the width is on the original axle? I'm guessing 59.5-60"? Thanks in advance.

PS: I searched it to no avail. Also searched the internet....

[yourpc48]

Heres a thread about rear ends. There are lots of people that have done lots of swaps. http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=11798&referrerid=6527 Hope this helps a little.

[addicted2dunes]

I saw that posting but it still doesn't say what the width of the stock '50 rearend is. Unless I'm missing something?

[greg g]

I believe the 49 and 50 were 58 inches. the 41-48 were 60.

[jim leman]

When looking for rear axle replacement for a '50 Plymouth, need to match up best possible the spring width (distance from left and right) and the center line tire distance, left to right. '50 plymouth should be 31-5/8 for the springs and 58-7/16 for tires. Spring perch width not so important, as new perches can be welded to new replacement axle to fit '50 Plymouth spring width...key thing to look for is tire spread, and at 58.5" tire spread, center of tire to center of tire (est), a rear end from a 76-80 F body Chrysler car (Volare or Aspen) or 77-89 M-Body (Diplomat, 5th Ave.); or 80-83 J-Body (miranda, cordoba) should slip in pretty nicely. Will need to modify drive shaft, likely. These rear ends will give you rear end ratios of 2.23 to 2.94, depending on the rear end. Can send more details from article on this topic in The P15-P25 Driver restoration magazine from '02, now out of print. Will need mailing address.

[oldmopar]

Can send more details from article on this topic in The P15-P25 Driver restoration magazine from '02, now out of print. Will need mailing address.

No help on the axle but I remember that magazine have most maybe all issues it was a very informative publication.

[addicted2dunes]

When looking for rear axle replacement for a '50 Plymouth, need to match up best possible the spring width (distance from left and right) and the center line tire distance, left to right. '50 plymouth should be 31-5/8 for the springs and 58-7/16 for tires. Spring perch width not so important, as new perches can be welded to new replacement axle to fit '50 Plymouth spring width...key thing to look for is tire spread, and at 58.5" tire spread, center of tire to center of tire (est), a rear end from a 76-80 F body Chrysler car (Volare or Aspen) or 77-89 M-Body (Diplomat, 5th Ave.); or 80-83 J-Body (miranda, cordoba) should slip in pretty nicely. Will need to modify drive shaft, likely. These rear ends will give you rear end ratios of 2.23 to 2.94, depending on the rear end. Can send more details from article on this topic in The P15-P25 Driver restoration magazine from '02, now out of print. Will need mailing address.

So the wms to wms is 58 7/16"? I'm not worried about the spring perches as I am linking and air bagging my Plymouth. I am looking at a '94 Ranger 8.8" rear axle which from what I found out is 58 3/4" wide, so it should fit perfect then.

[zerks]

Jim  I realize this is an old topic so if you don't see it I understand. 

I'm looking to replace the rear in my 48 Plymouth and can't seem to find measurements to compare to. 

Is the 50 the same as a 48 

[dpollo]

Without going out to measure, I can tell you this.  37 to 48 are the widest.    50 to 56 are the same, narrower than 37 to 48.    49 stands alone. narrowest of them all.

[tailpipe47]

The last entry on here the gentleman stated that the 49 Plymouth was the narrowest of them all. That happens to be what I have and am getting ready to change out the rearend. Have been looking for the width in the 49s for a while now and it seems that no one has any idea of there width. I found a chart showing widths from early 40s to the seventies,but they skipped the 1949s. Seems to be a common thing with the 49. Is it a big secret or something. The other thing that seems strange is that no one wants to just measure the rears from axle flange to axle flange. That is one of the most important measurements a person needs when modifying a chassis in the rear. Spring perches can always be moved and center of tire only works with a stock build, but a modified rear with wide rims and tires are another story. That is when one needs to know outside flange to flange. Then one can figure backspacing needed and just how wide you can go with tire width. So does anyone have any idea how wide a 49 rearend is by chance. Otherwise I am going to have to go back to Arizona just to measure mine and it is hot there now. Thanks in advance and thanks for reading my ranting.

[Adam H P15 D30]

Measure from wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface, not flanges.

While I don't have the measurement you need, I used an 8" form a 64 Falcon and it was slightly narrower.

This was on my my 49 Wayfarer which sits on a Plymouth chassis.

 

[tailpipe47]

Thank you Adam for that info. and yes God Bless America and also you sir.

[Dartgame]

Take a look at late 90's early 2000's Jeep Cherokees, not grand Cherokees. These had 3.55 ratios stock and the 8 1/4 chrysler axle assembly. Used to be a lot of these in the boneyards around here, and cheap.