Junkyard checking for a 9" can be done two ways, read the info on the tag if it is still there on one of the studs that bolt the center section to the housing. Another way to tell an 8" from a 9" ford is on a 9" there are two of the nuts that connect the center section to the housing have to be removed with a wrench and can not be accessed with a socket. These two nuts are on the bottom of the assembly. On an 8", all the nuts are accessible with a socket.