Ford 9" rearend, how complicated??

[UATahoe]

Found a ford 9" rearend that was installed on an 84 chevy pickup. Has new wilwood disc brakes, 3.73 gears, and posi.

I am needing to completely rebuild my 2.73 open carrier rearend with drum brakes. I am swapping in a 383 motor and was going to move to a 3.73 gear and posi. Eventually want rear disc brakes as well.

Price is 1250 for the Ford 9". Not sure how firm but it would have to be lower for me to consider. Was just curious if this would be a good bet rather than rebuilding mine, or if rebuilding mine would be the best way to go? I am guessing it will bolt right up.

[68Timber]

No doubt the 9" Ford is a better rear axle. The Wilwood rear discs are nice but I would not run them. You'll have to install a proportioning valve and do a bunch of full-brake stops to get the front/rear brake bias dialed in. But that's just me, if the rear discs appeal to you, the 9" w/posi and 3.73's + the name brand rear disc brake set up, and the spring perches mounted correctly cost someone time and money. It's going to look sweet under someone's truck.

[UATahoe]

I am assuming it would be a direct swap. I really dont want to tackle another fix it project. LOL. I have too many of those going on right now. Mainly concerned with the driveshaft hookup.

Seemed like it could be a good deal at the right price though.

[Rufton]

Have to do some careful measurements and homework to see if fits.
As a minimum, finger swipe inside for glitter and smell test.
Is there a good reason it's for sale?
9" comes w/ different size axle bearings, different axle splines, different lug patterns, different axle tube dimensions and a few other variables.
The weakest 9" is pretty strong.
$1250 if works as expected sounds good to me but may need to offer lower because of potential surprises.

[KQQL IT]

Look to be a aftermarket housing. It may have 3.25" tubes.
New u bolts.
And a X over u joint is easy.
If it has good axles it would be a good buy
Posted via Mobile Device

[66skylarkpost]

3.73's are not offered for the 9" either 3.70's or 3.75's http://oldmanengineering.com/9inch.htm

[UATahoe]

Interesting. I think I will pass and just put the money into mine.
Posted via Mobile Device

[andrewmp6]

I would build up the rear end you have now,The reason i say that is you will know what all it has and how it was drove and taken care of.

[LynnJr]

Its going to cost you a grand to rebuild yours and then your stuck with it.The advantage of the ford is swapping out gears with a new pumpkin takes an hour.
I would get a complete rear-end from a wrecker at about $650

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

Originally Posted by LynnJr

Its going to cost you a grand to rebuild yours and then your stuck with it.The advantage of the ford is swapping out gears with a new pumpkin takes an hour.
I would get a complete rear-end from a wrecker at about $650

You can get a rear end for $150-$175 at a wrecker.

If you like to swap gears, and have a bigger motor the Ford has the advantage. If you just want to set it up, and drive. Do the Chevy. That way when your done it will be done the way you want it.

[LynnJr]

Originally Posted by Ziegelsteinfaust

You can get a rear end for $150-$175 at a wrecker.

If you like to swap gears, and have a bigger motor the Ford has the advantage. If you just want to set it up, and drive. Do the Chevy. That way when your done it will be done the way you want it.

Out here in California you can pull a rear-end out of a wreck at Pick-N-Pull for that kind of money.
If you drive into a wrecker and tell them I want a 12 bolt posi to fit my 19xx C10 with 3.73 gears they ask around $650 for a complete with your complete core.All by itself with no core is over $1000.

To the OP do you have a picture of the 3rd member on the passenger side near the top? Look to see if it has a big "N" cast into it meaning its nodular iron.

The 9 inch will give away a slight amount of power but not enough to worry about.
The 10 bolt even after a rebuild will break long before a 9 inch will and they tend to throw axles out the side so you'll have to add a C-clip eliminator as well.

If it fits get the 9 inch.
Posi is limited slip so don't let that sway your decision.

[UATahoe]

Here are some more pictures of it. All of the pictures are of it bolted up to the 84 C10 it came out of.

[66skylarkpost]

there should be rubber lines at the caliplers , not steel . to allow the calupers to flex and move with breaking the lines

[UATahoe]

got some more info. no miles on the brakes, truck was never completed and did not get driven, it has a ford posi chunk in it, and axles were bought new from Moser.

Didnt even notice the brake lines there. Interesting.

[andrewmp6]

Did he say how many spline the axles are?

[UATahoe]

He did not. Would it matter? I also know it is a 5 on 5 bolt pattern.

[andrewmp6]

factory they have 28 or 31 but you can get aftermarket 35 and 40 spline.The 40 spline are more drag racing so spools only 35 is a good middle ground you can get a normal lsd for them.If you get time look around http://www.quickperformance.com/ they have some cheaper center sections and even a drum brake kit if you want them.

[UATahoe]

Was told the calipers are fixed calipers that do not move, hence the hard lines to them. Slowly starting to like the idea of this setup. Especially if new and a direct swap. Would save a huge chunk of change.

My current 10 bolt is factory stock and has probablly never been touched, 2.73 gears and an open carrier. The 383 wont like it at all.

I have heard or read some comments that the ford rear takes away some power versus a built GM 10 bolt. That true?

[68Timber]

It is true that that by the time you put gears and posi in your 10-bolt and pay for installation you'll have spent most of what you might get that 9" for. I don't see where the parking brake is hooked up, so count on figuring that out. It is a pretty slick set up.

[UATahoe]

Yeah, i see the e-brake cable brackets but no cable installed. I asked about that and he said that they were provisioned for the e-brake.

[UATahoe]

What do you mean with the posi comment?
Posted via Mobile Device

[Rufton]

posi and limited slip are the same; allow different wheel speeds.
Unlike a locker which isn't street friendly.

[UATahoe]

Roger that. I am good with either. I thought something else was being implied there. Would actually prefer limited slip over posi so i was curious if he meant the Ford unit actually was a limited slip differential.

[LynnJr]

Sorry about that.
Alot of people think there is something special about posi-traction and there isn't.It is simply limited slip and as time goes by it gets looser and looser.
Does the 9 inch have a detroit locker? A Detroit Locker works like Posi or Limited Slip.
In short none of the various names given to rear-ends means much.You either have.
One wheel spinning.
Sometimes two wheels spinning.
Both wheels locked and always spinning.
All the rest is marketing.

[Rufton]

Originally Posted by LynnJr

Sorry about that.
Alot of people think there is something special about posi-traction and there isn't.It is simply limited slip and as time goes by it gets looser and looser.
Does the 9 inch have a detroit locker? A Detroit Locker works like Posi or Limited Slip.
In short none of the various names given to rear-ends means much.You either have.
One wheel spinning.
Sometimes two wheels spinning.
Both wheels locked and always spinning.
All the rest is marketing.

Yeah. Sometimes limited slip/posi is loose enough for one wheel burn outs