I currently have a front Chevy 3/4 ton D44 that I cut down to Scout width on both sides (to use non-custom shafts) and used Ford hubs to get 5 on 5.5. But of course now I want to step up from the 35's and am currently beginning my 5.0 swap and know my rear D44 won't hold up, so I am considering going the c&c 14-bolt route and swapping my Ford hubs for the chevy 8 bolt to match the rear and was wondering if the 8-bolt hubs will create a larger wms-wms?

I ask this because the Scout 44 is 58.5" wms-wms and the c&c from what I've read is 63". I don't want me rear wider than my front, but I want to avoid spacers because of excessive stress on bearings, spindle, knuckles and ball joints.

Thanks
Jason

i think the ford 5 lug hubs and 8 lug hubs are about the same width ... you might gain 1/2" from switching to 8 lug hubs. there was a thread last week that told the specifics 5,6,8 lug hubs. I'll see if I can search it up ....

- jack

Edit: the 8 lugs are 1" wider than the 5 lugs. here's the thread
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=78743&highlight=lug+ford

should be 1" per side wider

I have never measured my wms-wms once I put the Ford 5 on 5.5 parts on. I am guessing that this is wider than the stock Scout stuff because if the eight lug is 1" wider and based on jdjanda's 63-64" width on the thread mentioned by morpheus, my Ford stuff must be about 1" wider on each side (than the stock Scout stuff)?

I am just looking to see if anybody can verify this. Not that I don't trust jdjanda, but I am not sure if he was speaking from experience or estimating.

Thanks for such quick and accurate responses. jdjanda, I pm'd you and hope you will chime in.

Ok, Jason got your PM.

If you cut the axle down to Scout II width then with Scout II outers your front end would be 60.25" However you are running Ford Outers, which should be about 1-1.25" wider per side. So let's say your noiw at 62.5, you might pick-up another inch with the 8 lug stuff maybe 2. I can tell you that a 6 lug Chebbie front is 67" and an 8 lug is 69", I can also tell you that a Ford front is 67". Guess would be that you'll wind up at 63-64" on that front end. Josh C runs a wider rear then front, about 2-3" wider per side in the rear. The rear does track on the same lines as the front in a corner.

Check out this post and follow the link

Joe

Is there a WMS axle width chart somewhere? I would love to check one out if there is.

jdjanda, did you forget the post addy?

Look here http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=43883&highlight=fyi

You should be able to measure your ford disc parts and get your exact answer.

That is what I was looking for exactly. Thanks everybody for the help.

I have two different chevy spindles, large and small. The small is the one that the Ford fits on. So, is there a difference on the width between the two Chevy's? I don't have any Chevy hubs to compare, but both spindles have the same bolt pattern.

so uhhh.....are you going to post the specs on the disc stuff or what?

Asleep at the switch again

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=78616

What specs are looking for, wms-wms? I'll post it as soon as I can get to my Jeep. When I started the 5.0 swap the only garage area I could use was at a friends house over a half hour away with no traffic and wasn't able to get there last night, but from the post you (Nobody) gave has a pic of a chevy and Ford right next to each other and that is exactly the Ford hub that I have. I can verify his info later when I can get over there.

jdjanda, thanks for all that info, that is definitely the most detailed info about Scout axles.

Later

This pic from the other post is my cheby 8 lug disc hub and an early bronco "DRUM" hub. Just out of curiousity, I'd like to know where a ford 5 lug disc hub falls in the mix. Similar pic would be nice for future reference.

http://home.earthlink.net/~mattsara/bb/5lug-8lug.jpg

Yup, my mistake. I was reading this late last night and read it too fast and not close enough. My hub looks similar to the Bronco, not close enough though. I will get a pic as soon as I can. Don't think I can do it before this weekend though.
I'll get it asap.