I started stripping the other bike put the forks on front brakes and rear wheel and had a problem the wheel and caliper fit very tight in the hard tail but the axle sticks out to far.
Hi 'bob,
the axle is the correct length; it's the frame's arse end that's too narrow.
Didja weld in that unpainted frame crossmember yourself or was it the dreaded PO?
Looks like it pulled the frame in too narrow.
Anyhow, get a length of 3/4" threaded rod and two nuts to use as a spreader to jack the frame out to the correct dimension.
Might be best to cut that crosspiece out beforehand and weld a longer one in afterwards.