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rear end width?

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tr8todd

Jedi Knight
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Can somebody measure the overall width of a MGB rear end for me from wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface. My MGB is buried in the back of the garage behind a couple of other cars and I can't get a good measurement. I just bought a Ford 8.8 posi, with 3.73's and 11 inch discs out of an Explorer to put into one of my TR8s. Once I get done making the two sides equal lengths, it will have an overall width of 56 5/8". Just wondering what the B's width is.
 
I don't have the measurements in front of me but as I recall, its only a little over 50" - maybe 51" or 52".
 
My calipers stop at 48". /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif

...but I think Tony's right. Tape measure an' some Kentucky windage says 51"
 
& it depends on whether its a wire or Rostyle rear end.
 
Steel wheels on mine. I 'assumed' that was what Todd was after. Drums onna wire wheel car are a bit less (narrower), IIRC.

If'n he made me lie down in them fire ants fer nuttin' I'm gonna be PO'd. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
 
Well, exactly where does Todd want the measurements 'from-to"? Back plate to back plate?
 
I want the measurement from where the back of the wheel contacts the outer surface of the brake drum. My car is far from stock. It has never been registered. It was a showroom stock race car in the 70's, and then a highly modified autoX car in the 80's. It sat for 10 years before I bought it in 2000. It was so badly rusted that I never should have started restoring it. I work on it from time to time, but I am in no hurry to finish it. All of the metal work is done, and the fiberglass flares are almost done. It is a 72 with a banjo rear end and 14X8 turbine style wheels with old 235/60/14 tires. Someday I will finish it and register it with the numbers off of a parts car I have. It will still look like a race car, just alot nicer. I have about a dozen or so Rover V8s sitting around the shop. Maybe I'll put one of those in and take out the MGB racing time bomb motor that is in it now. That is why I was wondering about the Ford 8.8 rear end. I need to buy a second rear end in order to get another short axle shaft.(a new axle is almost as much as a whole used rear end) That will leave me with a second rear end that can be shortened. It will just need custom axles made up to fit the MGB.
 
The 51" was from outside drum surface-to-surface. But again: an "estimate" as the wheels are on. Unless someone else shows up with an accurate measurment I'll yank the wheels and take a real reading later today.
 
Thanks guys. 51" is close enough for me. As long as I know the overall length is shorter than what I have. I can just shorten both sides and order new axles. I spent some time again today in the junkyards around here, and I bought another rear end. It is out of a 98 Ford explorer with only 49,000 miles. It is also a 3.73 posi with the disc brakes, and this one only cost me 80 bucks. I now can cut down the long side to the same length as the short side and install the short axle from the second rear end. I will have the posi unit and gears, the housing, and brakes left over from the second rear end. I can cut down both sides on that one and order up new axles to fit the MGB if I go with the V8 conversion.
 
now that that is out of the way....



Don't you know you're not supposed to ask someone the size of their rear-end?!? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
 
As you're working that rear end - don't forget to get it redrilled so it fits an MGB bolt pattern.
 
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