I don't think so. The track of your car is 56.5". This is the same track of a 2-horse Roman chariot and the width between the two rails of all standard gauge railroad tracks in the United States. The '77 Thunderbird track is 63.2" front and 63.1" rear, much too wide to work well.

In my opinion, the perfect donor for your project would be a '82-'93 Mustang with a hi-perf 302 (5 liter). '87-'93 would be my choice because of the EFI fuel system. The differential is a 8.8" variety and plenty strong for any kind of street/strip car or truck. The 5 liter motor coupled to a stock 5-speed and running through an 8.8" diff would be more fun than a crib full of puppies, or a fellow could opt for a 4-speed overdrive car, but don't expect to run a big cam with the automatic. It won't work well. If you want to cam the motor, choose the 5-speed and a numerically-high set of gears in the differential (3.73:1 / 4.10:1).

I would use everything I could out of the donor, including all the interior that I could make fit, the dash with all the instruments, the entire cooling system and fuel system, all the wiring out of the car, lights, fuses, switches, etc. as well as the wheels and tires. When you're through with it, you should have only sheet metal and glass and a few front suspension parts left to sell off.

That's my best advice.
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I don't think so. The track of your car is 56.5". This is the same track of a 2-horse Roman chariot and the width between the two rails of all standard gauge railroad tracks in the United States. The '77 Thunderbird track is 63.2" front and 63.1" rear, much too wide to work well.

In my opinion, the perfect donor for your project would be a '82-'93 Mustang with a hi-perf 302 (5 liter). '87-'93 would be my choice because of the EFI fuel system. The differential is a 8.8" variety and plenty strong for any kind of street/strip car or truck. The 5 liter motor coupled to a stock 5-speed and running through an 8.8" diff would be more fun than a crib full of puppies, or a fellow could opt for a 4-speed overdrive car, but don't expect to run a big cam with the automatic. It won't work well. If you want to cam the motor, choose the 5-speed and a numerically-high set of gears in the differential (3.73:1 / 4.10:1).



I would use everything I could out of the donor, including all the interior that I could make fit, the dash with all the instruments, the entire cooling system and fuel system, all the wiring out of the car, lights, fuses, switches, etc. as well as the wheels and tires. When you're through with it, you should have only sheet metal and glass and a few front suspension parts left to sell off.

That's my best advice.
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The Mustang rear is the same width as a Tbird. The Explorer and Ranger rears are 58" which will work much better. Or a 4x4 S10 8.5, also about 58"

 

To me, the only downside to the 5.0liter Mustang deal is the 4 bolt wheel pattern, it makes finding nice looking aftermarket wheels hard, and eliminates from consideration many of the 5 spoke styles. It can be dealt with rotors and axle swapped for 5 bolt parts, but that makes for an added expense.

The '77 T-Bird is too wide. It will have a 9" in it.

 

To me, the only downside to the 5.0liter Mustang deal is the 4 bolt wheel pattern, it makes finding nice looking aftermarket wheels hard, and eliminates from consideration many of the 5 spoke styles. It can be dealt with rotors and axle swapped for 5 bolt parts, but that makes for an added expense.

That assumes that you don't like the stock stuff. Even if a fellow wants to swap to 5 bolt stuff, I contend that the cost of that stuff would be minimal compared to the plethora of parts you can use and their worth. I would retain the straight front axle that is under the '47 at present, but maybe adapt the mustang disc brakes to the '47 system.

The '77 T-Bird is too wide. It will have a 9" in it.

Just for wisdom among the masses,
The 5.0 and 5.8 'Bird came with a 9", or so it is published on the net, but it also came with a 400M and I'd bet a nickel to a stale doughnut that car came with a 9 3/8" differential, for which there are NO aftermarket gears. I parted a '75 Mark V Continental years ago that had a C6 with 9 3/8" diff with 2.80:1 gears.

Major kudos to JeffB28 for the common sense answer. :thumbup:

 

Look for a 1990-92 Ford Ranger 8.8" rear many of those are also lockers and are the right width and leaf springs usually $200 or under in Pick and Pulls watch for those 50% off days some yards run a couple guys in my Ford Group have picked them up for a C note. Here is how to I.D. them the disc brakes from Explorers can be easily added. https://therangerstation.com/tech_library/Ford-8_8-axle.shtml These are also 5 lug 5 on 4.5 bolt circle.

 

Kind of figured. It has a lot of older looking parts and a 351. The plan is to geta decent running 70s/80s parts car and pull the engine tranny electric steering column some interior parts etc

 

ford granada and lincoln versailles have a ford 8 inch.

The have 5 bolt flanges on the axles.

There may be a few around somewhere.

The versailles had disc brakes, granada had drums

 

Here is a chart

 

Just another tidbit of info on the 9-3/8" rear, a 9" center chunk, with the correct spline count axle side gears, can be swapped for the 9-3/8" chunk. This means you'd have to source the 9" center differential chunk though, another expense.

I agree with the Inspector though, the 5.0 'Stang is a great source for most all the other needed parts.

 

salvage 8.8

I have built 8.8 5 bolt disc lockers in the salvage yard. a lot of ford parts interchange. Mustang 4 bolt 8.8 5.0 rear, ranger 5 bolt axles from 2 trucks , you need 2 short ones., Lincoln town car disc brakes. Early 5. 0 mustangs use a 7.5 rear, I don't remember the year they went to 8,8. I think the same as F I change.
there is lots of info on the mustang forums.

all the Lincoln Versailles I have seen, owned had a narrow 9 with disc brakes and a Detroit locker, and some Mercury Monarchs use the Versailles parts.

 

Ranger width

I have read that some 4 X 4 Ranger axle housings are wider. I don't know if it is true. The ranger station forum is the place for info. I spent a lot time researching there when I put a 302 in my 82 ranger and then working on an 84 Bronco II