1949 Chev 3600 rear axle inquiry

[chemelr]

On a series of Trucks on Spike TV, the guys are putting an updated axle on a 1949 Chevy 3100 truck. They say they are using a Ford 8.8 to replace the Chevy tubed differential. They suggested one from a 1995 Ford Explorer. It showed on their video I ordered that it fit right as far as width goes. They assembled it with a 4 link suspension.

OK - I have a 1949 Chevy 3600 pickup. I picked up an 8.8 inch, 3.73 limited slip differential from a 1995 Ford Explorer. The 3600 frame width at rear axle area is about 36" The Ford differential is about 64" from inside bracket plate to bracket plate. It looks way too wide when mocked up. On the TV show Trucks, their "Ford Explorer" differential was slightly wider than the frame - supposedly only a 1/2 inch difference from the original axle on the 3100. Secondly, their differential carrier was centered on the truck. With all the Ford axles I looked at, the carrier is off-center. That is a problem with the 3600 frame as the Paul Horton 4 link suspension I am going to use - part of it would have to be welded to the carrier and that ain't gonna happen.

Obviously one or both following statements has to be true. The 3100 frame is wider at the axle than the 3600 frame. Or the "1995 Ford Explorer" 8.8 inch differential was professionally shortened. Is 3100 wider than 3600? What have you guys used in the field for the 3600? Any and all suggestions will be appreciated as to the best differential fit for a 1949 Chevy 3600 pickup frame.