Ford 9" installation I have a 1973 4 door Maverick... I want to install a Ford 9" with posi... I need some help on what I can and can't install, I also need a ballpark estimate on how long it might take, and how hard this type of procedure will be... Your help is greatly appreciated.
Some of the choices you need to make will include gear selection. If your doing alot of street I would go with a 3:25 or 3:55 at the most. Gas milage is a killer with the steeper gears and no overdrive. Plus you put more wear on your motor. Your choice for a posi units could include the Ford trac-lock, which uses clutches, Auburn which also uses clutches, Auburn Pro which uses cones, or my faviorite, the detroit locker which is all gear. The clutch type rears are quiet and smooth but they will slip more than the cone or locker. The cone type grab much better than the clutches but are not rebuildable. The locker is the king in my book. They are a little noisey but dont slip, and as posi units go, dont wear out. A 9" out of a 65-70 Mustang, Granada, or Lincoln Versilles will bolt right in but good luck finding one. Your best bet is to have a rear shortened. This is better anyway because you can make it a little longer than the stock one so you can use wider rims with more backspacing. Another decision is the axle spline count. The most common is 28 and 31 spline axles. Unless you got mega power, the 28 will be plenty strong enough and is the most common. You will also have to come up with spring perches for the 9". The axle tubes are larger so the 8" stuff dont work. Easiest here is to get a set of Southside machine lift bars or Caltracs. The perch is built into the traction bar. SS bars are about $125. The Caltracks are about $350. Costs for the 9" are varied depending on which route you take and who does the work. But Its likely that it could cost you at least $1000 if your going with a new or rebuilt center section. I had Currie build me a 9"rear for mine. It was 3:89 gears, detroit locker, 31 spline axles, and big drum brakes. They use all new stuff. The price was $2150 delivered to my door. I believe $250 of that was shipping. Time wise, if you have the rear & spring perches ready to go, you can easily change it out in a day.
Actually Dennis.......the 9" that I have out of the granada(by the way the 65-70 was mustang only) bolted right up using the 8" hardware........and the granada 9" was easy to install and was only 1/2" per side wider
we got like 3 or 4 granadas at the local yard recently.. all still had rear ends and front brakes.. 2 i know of have front disc.. got me a horn assembly off of a granada for my mav.. fit just right.
This is what I want to do with mine as well, I know not all stangs have a 9" do all granadas and versilles have them?? can you guys help with a picture of one or a way to ID them? what years were the granada and versilles made, and how do I id what gear is in them?
I think mine was outa a 79 granada,no not all were 9" some were 8" some were 7.5's........but the 8" and 9" have no rear cover!!!! and on the 8" you can use a socket and rachet on all of the bolts that hold the diff in.....on the 9" you have to use a wrench for the bottom two. if you search the archives here there are some good pictures to show you what i'm saying.
8"er what makes you think you need a 9"? Most are 28 spline, same as a 8" and just as strong. 8" posi, and yes they make them, will be lighter and just as strong, unless you dragracing with very sticky tires. Besides your 8" already is there and fits.
Re: 8"er Not sure on the other fellows but I just don't see the 8" holding up to my Bigblock Besides I went with Moser Axles in mine......
right now my 302 is putting out the factory 145 hp... At the moment I am fitting it with turbo ram and a second carb...
You don't need to change Untill this year I've been using a 8 inch rear under my Mav, it has handled 400 ponys I never had a minute's problem with it. Now my 408 has more ponys so I've gone to the 9 inch but if all you have is a 145 hp you are wasting time and money. Do just what the other members have said and either rebuild what you have or replace your center section with a posi unit. If you are riding on the street do just like Mavaholic said 325 to 355 at most. Just my two cents Bossmav
QUOTE]can you guys help with a picture of one or a way to ID them?[/QUOTE] Here is a 8". notice how all the nuts that attach it to the housing are accessible.
here is a 9" See how the pinion hangs low and blocks access to the bottom left nuts. You cannot get a socket on those nuts, must use a wrench
