52.25" flange to flange. An 8.8" rear is a later rear with non removable center.

 

In ‘65 the Mustang V-8’s came with either an 8” or 9” rear end.

 

But the 9" was is such small quantities that if you do find one you will pay more for an original housing than having one custom built by someone like Currie. Plus, most people only need the 8" and there should be plenty of those around since so many upgrade to the 9" these days, even though most don't actually need one.

 

location? 8" rears aren't too difficult to scratch up. Chopping an 8.8 and swapping a short axle in isn't too expensive either- plus you'll get discs, gears,and both wheels spin at the same time (note to the cheap seats I didn't say posi).....

 

(note to the cheap seats I didn't say posi).....

I'm proud of you for not saying posi!!!

 

Where are you located? I have a 53,000 mile 8 inch with 3.00 open diff available.

 

Where are you located? I have a 53,000 mile 8 inch with 3.00 open diff avail

I am living in exile near Augusta Georgia.
How far from you is that?
TNX
Roy

 

Do a little searching and you should be able to find an 8" rear axle housing for a 65/66 Mustang in your neck of the woods. Just make sure the length is 52.25" as mentioned in post #2. They used to be pretty common, but are now a bit harder to find. But they are out there.

 

52.25" flange to flange. An 8.8" rear is a later rear with non removable center.

Do a little searching and you should be able to find an 8" rear axle housing for a 65/66 Mustang in your neck of the woods. Just make sure the length is 52.25" as mentioned in post #2. They used to be pretty common, but are now a bit harder to find. But they are out there.

You guys keep quoting 52.25", flange to flange. That is the dimension for a bare housing with no axles. The OP obviously needs a complete rear end with axles and brakes. The dimension for that is 57.25", wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface.

 

I hate to nitpick, but he did ask for the length of the housing for a 65:
"Hate to show my ignorance but what length is the 5-lug rear end housing for the '65?"

 

OK, he got the information he asked for, not the information he needs.

 

got both

 

Random Google grab...

Ford Rear Dimensions
by Dave_C and the Fordnatics mailing list.
Here is a list of rear ends that I picked up some time ago on the Fordnatics mailing list.
These measurements are from wheel mounting surface flange to flange. Subtract 5" for bare housing width.

65-66 Mustang 57.25 inches
67-70 Mustang 59.25 inches
71-73 Mustang 61.25 inches
77-81 Versailles 58.50 inches
74 Maverick 8" 56.50 inches
75 Mustang II 8" 57.00 inches
67-73 Mustang, Torino, Ranchero, Fairlane 9" 59.25 inches to 61.25 inches
57-59 Ranchero and station wagon rears, 57.25 inches
66-77 Bronco 9", 58 inches
77-81 Granada/Versailles, 58 inches
67-71 Comet, Cougar, Mustang, Fairlane, 59.25 inches
71-73 Mustang, 61.25 inches
64 Falcon 58 inches
67 Cougar 60 inches
67 Fairlane 63.50 inches (coil springs)
72 Ford Van 3/4 ton 68 inches
73-86 65.25 inches
57-59 Ranchero and station wagon 57.25 iches (narrowest 9" housing)
66-77 Bronco 58 inches but has 5-on-5 1/2 inch diameter bolt circle
67-73 Torinos, Rancheros, Fairlanes 59.25 inches or 61.25 inches
67-71 Comets, Cougars, Fairlanes 59.25 inches

Where to find the 9" rear axle
67-73 medium and big block Mustangs and Cougars
66-71 Fairlanes, Torinos, Montegos, Comets, and other Ford intermediates
with big blocks
57-59 V8 Fords and Mercurys
77-81 Lincoln Versailles & Trucks

Type of 9" axle housings
67-73 Mustang/Cougar - light duty, thinnest housing material, small axle
bearings, 28 and 31 splines
57-68 passenger car and 1/2 ton truck - medium duty, stronger than Mustang
type, 28 and 31 splines
Ranchero/Torino - heavy duty thick wall housing, 3.25 inch diameter axle
tubes with flat tops
69-77 Galaxies (coils), Lincolns (coils), and late pickups (leaf)- 3.25
inch diameter all the way to the backing plate, coil housings have upper
control arm mount

How to recognize 9" housing centers
57 - no dimples, flat center band up the center of the rear cover, bottom
drain plug
58-59 - two dimples on back of housing, flat center band, some had drain holes
60-67 - two dimples, flat center band, oil level hole in back cover
63-77 Lincoln, LTD, Thunderbirds had 9.375 inch centers, housings were cut
away at the gasket surface for ring gear clearance, one curved rib at the front
top portion of differential. Strong, but no gears.

Types of 9" Axles
28 spline axles cannot be shortened and resplined (they're tapered)
Some can: 69-73 Mustang and Cougars have a straight 28 spline axle.
72 and earlier 31 spline axles have the ability to be shortened
73 and later 9" (big cars) have a 5-on-5 bolt circle and the axles cannot be
shortened
67-73 Mustang axles identified by wheel flange:
oval hole - 28 splines two large holes and counter sunk center - 31 splines

 

"flange to flange" refers to the bare housing' "wheel mounting surface (wms) to wheel mounting surface" refers to the complete rear end.

 

True, I will edit the info I copied to reflect that.