Narrowing An Axle At Home With No Special Tools

In this how-to video, we cover a quick and dirty method of narrowing a rear axle at home without any special tools (other than a welder). Using a Ford 8.8 out of a 1999 Explorer, we show step-by-step how to make this intermediate width rear axle the perfect width for hot rods, classic Mustangs, and other narrow-track vehicles.
Starting with a 31 spline Explorer rear end with disc brakes and a 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern that measures 59.5" wide, we ditch the long-side axle and install a pair of short-side axle shafts and chop out 2.87" in the process, resulting in an axle that measures 56.63" WMS to WMS - the perfect width for our 1968 Rambler project, which has a 56.5" wide rear axle. Also a great width for early Falcons and 64.5 - 68 Mustangs, or any "narrow track" vehicle with a 5 on 4.5" bolt pattern. Cheap, plentiful, with disc brakes, available in a myriad of performance ratios (often with a posi), and easily narrowed at home, this junkyard bargain is the perfect hot-rodding axle!
Tune in to learn how to narrow this axle yourself in a weekend the way countless "old heads" have been doing it for decades.
Note: comments for this video have been turned off because too many anal retentive DBs were crowing about how this is "not the right way to do it". Yeah. We know. This ISN'T the *right way to do it, and we never pretended otherwise. This is just a way that is good enough for the majority of DIYers, the way old-time hot rodders have been doing it for years. Want to re-tube it on a jig, or hire a professional welder? Awesome. This video is not for you then, so move along. Everyone else who isn't a pansy and wants to get shit done for cheap? Welcome! Learn how to do something cool in a way that will piss off all the purists.
Attempt at your own risk
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