Well I ended up putting a Explorer diff in my 56. As most of you know the input is offset 2 3/16 inches to the right and the left axle is longer than the right. So we cut down the left tube so the right axle would fit (both axles are now the same length). Put the 56 axle mounts on the Explorer and it fits right in. The original breather and brass brake fitting even screwed right in. I had to enlarge the hole about 1/16 inch for the parking brake in the backing plate but other than that it mounted right up. Biggest change I had to do is shorten driveshaft 1 inch to adapt to 8.8 flange and yoke and change U-bolts to 3 1/4 inch due to larger tubes. It is a real clean installation and much cheaper that having a 9 inch rear bought and adapted.
PS- another plus is whenever you want to change to disc brakes they bolt right on from a disc brake Explorer rear.
Ol'ford nutCentral Iowa
56 Vic w/292 & 4 spd.