Rear end question

Discussion in 'Technical' started by klynam, Mar 22, 2012.

  1. baddad457

    baddad457 Member

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    You're not going to get by any cheaper with an 8". So why bother ? I bought my 9 housing for $100-150 (don't recall the exact figure) The Bronco 9 for $150 (this I only used the center section out of, 3.50's and trac loc 31 spline, plus the big drum brakes) then spent $400 on the axles and bearings from Strange. Altogether I spent about $800.
     
  2. Streamliner

    Streamliner Member

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    Bingo!!!!!!!!!:Handshake
     
  3. baddad457

    baddad457 Member

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    Wanna bet ? I thought the same thing about my 89 Ranger till I broke the drvieshaft and the 7.5 rear in one burnout attempt on dry rough asphalt. All it takes is the right set of circumstances.
     
  4. bmcdaniel

    bmcdaniel Senile Member

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    I decided on a 9" right after my friend broke his 8" in glorious fashion on a downtown street one night. 66 Mustang, warmed up 289, 4-speed, 350 gears. This was back around 1974 so he was only running small bias belted tires. The pinion gear pulled right out through the front of the diff, the drive shaft twisted like a pretzel, and three of the four transmission mounted ears broke off his T10.

    Funny part was, he was determined not to have this happen again. He drove from PA down to Holman & Moody's shop, bought a 9" out of a Nascar racer, aftermarket center, Detroit Locker, Summers Bros. axles, 3" drive shaft, nodular iron case transmission, etc. The car has been sitting in his garage ever since, unassembled, going on 40 years now. Since he's the original owner he won't sell it.
     
  5. klynam

    klynam Member

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    Fair enough (y)
     
  6. silver70

    silver70 Eric

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    Baddad, on the first page of this thread you stated you got the housing already narrowed and had purchased new spring perches. I was assuming the OP wanted the simplest install possible with minimal fab. He already has the 8" and it's in the car. No need to fab up new stuff. To rebuild my 8" it cost me $100 for 3.80 gears from Summit, $250 for an Auburn posi found on Craig's List, and $100 for the install kit with Timken bearings from Motive Gear that just came today. Total: $450. No fab required.

    If you broke the driveshaft, then there were, probably, bigger issues afoot. I don't know if your Ranger was stock, or what it had as far as tires and motor, but breaking a driveshaft and diff on a stock vehicle would be attributed to more than "the right set of circumstances." As mentioned previously, I was running a 386 hp/372 ft. lb. torque 302 on a stock, open diff, 2.89 geared 8" with 225/70/R14 tires for 2 years straight as my daily driver. I would go crusing on the weekends and abused my equipment accordingly. I just disassembled the carrier for a gear/posi swap and, thoroughly, inspected all components. No unusual wear patterns, ring gear runout (indicating case deflection), or scored bearing races.

    Ford beefed up the casting on the 8" in '67, I believe, to have more vertical webbing on the carrier to help avoid instances such as this.

    Personally, I believe it's up to the OP what he wants to go with. However, he had mentioned something along the lines of "fastest, easiest, cheapest" way to better his set-up. Working with what he's already got seems to fit those stipulations. If he was gonna build an 800 hp knuckle-dragger, I would definitely say go with the 9". Maybe, even get one if you wanna leave yourself room to grow for more power in the future. But, he mentioned 300 hp with better gears. He'll be just fine with the 8" he has sitting right in front of him.
     
  7. 72nuggett

    72nuggett Member

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    Hello klynam

    :tiphat: I HAPPEN TO HAVE A REAREND FROM UNDER A 72-MAV-NUGGETT. THAT I PULLED FROM DALLAS TX, IN AUGUST OF 2010.MAKE ME AN OFFER. PLUS SHIPPING. IF INTERESTED. !!
     
  8. baddad457

    baddad457 Member

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    Yea, circumstances ? Hows a 400+ HP 331 backed by a Toploader 4 speed grab you ? But that makes no difference, one good launch attempt or a powerbraking on the right surface and chances are good that the 8" will let go, after spending the $400-500 to upgrade the 8". Then you're back to square one.
     
  9. silver70

    silver70 Eric

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    Sounds like it grabbed your driveline... chewed it up and spit it out!

    :burnout: :beaten:

    Of course a set-up like that is gonna break a 7.5" integral carrier with no pinion nose support. That's like holding on to a firecracker after it's lit and then being surprised it blew your hand off. I beg to differ on the point that it makes a huge difference what you're running.

    Besides, he's saying that his plans are only around 300 hp. That's not gonna break a post-'67 8". Plus, the 3.70 gears he's talking about will make it even easier to throw the 2,850 lb. Maverick. Hell, Ford put 8's under 3,600 lb. Torino's in the mid-'70's. If you compare an 8" vs. 9" you'll find they are, exactly, the same with exception to part size. As a matter of fact, some axles will even interchange between the two. Fastener torque specs are the same, too.

    Not trying to be argumentative, baddad, but, your 9" find was very unique for that price (read "smokin' deal" :D), given most of the fab was already done. A Versailles 9" cost my buddy $350 at a local swap. It's all relative and considering price, availablity, ease of installation, and compatability, I believe the 8" is the most logical choice.
     
  10. Thanimal

    Thanimal Member

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    Just thought id jump in here with another question to tend the fires. Does anyone have a more exact search parameters other than an F-150 or explored? Year, specific models(limited, etc.) Or anything like that? And are there external identifiers on the axles themselves? There are some junk yards near me and one of of them has about 50 rear ends for the taking already off of the donor vehicles. Any help would be great thanks.
     
  11. baddad457

    baddad457 Member

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    All Ford trucks and vans up to around 1980 had 9 inch rears. Most Full size Fords and Merc cars did (you'll find a few with Dana 44's) The Lincoln Versailles from 1974 to 1980 had a 9 that's a direct bolt in for a Mav/Comet as did some of the same years Granada and Monarchs (optional in these cars) Last Ford trucks that got 9's were about in 1986, prior to that, (1980-86) you can find either an 8.8 or a 9. All the Explorer's got 31 spline 8.8's, many with trac-loc, with gear ratios ranging from 3.08 to 4.11, 3.08 & 3.73's seemed to be the most common in them. The best chances of finding a trac-loc 9 is under a 4wd pickup or Bronco.
     
  12. injectedmav

    injectedmav Member

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    Not sure about the F150, but the Explorer everyone likes is some 95 and all 96-01 4dr Explorers, 01-05 Explorer sport and Sport Tracs. The modifications necessary to make one fit centering the pinion would require narrowing the axle housing and thus custom axles and welding on spring perches in the correct location. I talked to a local chassis builder and the cost came out more than the 8" to modify the 8.8 to fit the stock Maverick chassis and I have all the internals to build the 8.8 diff section. He's pricey but good. Those costs included 9" bearing ends so I could use my rear discs and custom axles and modifying the driveshaft or pinion flange.
     
    Last edited: Mar 29, 2012
  13. Thanimal

    Thanimal Member

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    Appreciate it
     

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