Ford 9" sizing question

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10-09-2010, 07:13 PM
DaDdY's DrEaM

Ford 9" sizing question

Hey everyone! So i'm in need of some seriuos help here....i hope someone can help. I'm currently having my c-notch & 4 link done on my '35 ford 5-window and i'm having trouble determining which 9" i should be looking for. I need the rear end to be 57.5" from backing plate to backing plate, but I also need the pinion to be centered. It can be off by a half inch, but not by much more. I know that 57-59 ranchero/wagon, 65-66 mustang, an perhaps several others will work based on the specs listed here: http://www.carnut.com/specs/rear.html the problem that i'm running into is figuring out which rear ends have the pinion centered (give or take a 1/2 inch). My other concern is if the pinion isn't centered to the specs that I need, i can have the axle tubes modified at a specialty shop that's local, but would i have to buy a rear end that has a greater length from end to end to compensate for the offset? I really am confused here :(
10-09-2010, 07:57 PM
bluestang67

You would have to get the wider rear end and have the long tube cut down . To get the combo your looking for , you will most likely have to get a axle made to work .

Close guess figure about 5 inches for wheel mount to wheel mount added to the flange to flange measurement .
10-09-2010, 08:23 PM
randyr

1 Attachment(s)

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaDdY's DrEaM

Hey everyone! So i'm in need of some seriuos help here....i hope someone can help. I'm currently having my c-notch & 4 link done on my '35 ford 5-window and i'm having trouble determining which 9" i should be looking for. I need the rear end to be 57.5" from backing plate to backing plate, but I also need the pinion to be centered. It can be off by a half inch, but not by much more. I know that 57-59 ranchero/wagon, 65-66 mustang, an perhaps several others will work based on the specs listed here: http://www.carnut.com/specs/rear.html the problem that i'm running into is figuring out which rear ends have the pinion centered (give or take a 1/2 inch). My other concern is if the pinion isn't centered to the specs that I need, i can have the axle tubes modified at a specialty shop that's local, but would i have to buy a rear end that has a greater length from end to end to compensate for the offset? I really am confused here :(

On the 57-59 rear end the pinion is centered but the pumpkin is not. Here's a pic of one in my 37 Ford. The drive shaft runs down the center of the car even though the pumpkin is off to the left. This rear end measures 57.25" from each wheel mounting surface. Hope that helps a little....
10-10-2010, 11:24 AM
cffisher

2 Attachment(s)

I cut and reweld my own housings but have Mosser engineering respline the axles. You will have to start with a housing greater than what you want when finished.. I think they charge 125 for the housing and 100 for the axles they are on line hope this helps They can supply ther housing if you don't have one
10-10-2010, 02:32 PM
vara4

Daddy's Dream; Itoldyouso or Don has a nice list that he sent to me before, but I can't find it now so you may want to ask him if he still has that list for the measurements on the ford 9 in. rear ends. Kurt
10-10-2010, 03:59 PM
pro70z28

Or with an after market housing you can have the drive shaft centered....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...lerRearEnd.jpg

....and the pumpkin centered from the back

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../9inchback.jpg

pay no attention to the cob webs in this pic. I'll take them down after Halloween :whacked:
10-10-2010, 04:07 PM
vara4

Here is this what you were looking for. Kurt
Click on the site below.
http://www.carnut.com/specs/rear.html
My bad thats the same thing you got up there.
Sorry.
10-10-2010, 04:32 PM
406Rich

No matter what you buy or use you will have offset due to the nature of the beast, also as this is actually built into most rear axles (pinion offset) for a reason, to make the universals do their job, that is to make them rotate in their particular cups, with out this they would be shot with in a hundred miles, so if you think you are doing yourself a favor by lining up your driveshaft both vertically and horizontally you are actually making a bigger mistake, only on true race cars (quarter mile) can get away with this.
10-10-2010, 04:37 PM
pro70z28

Quote:

Originally Posted by 406Rich

No matter what you buy or use you will have offset due to the nature of the beast,

Not necessarily, check photos in my post above.
10-10-2010, 04:46 PM
406Rich

Take it on a three hundred mile road tour and report back.
10-10-2010, 04:53 PM
pro70z28

If lining up the drive shaft is hard on u-joints how do all the no-offset rear end u-joints hold up? Just put the pinion angle in the joint vertically instead of horizontally. The u-joint needle bearings don't care which way they are pitched, as long as they move enough to avoid creating flat spots.
10-10-2010, 04:59 PM
406Rich

How many no offset uni`s have you seen in the last 50 years or so....
10-10-2010, 05:05 PM
pro70z28

My son's 95 camaro has a ford 9' in it. We ordered it with the drive shaft straight because there is no room in a camaro tunnel for anything but. It has thousands of track & street miles on it [mostly street miles] and the u-joints are fine. As I said all the u-joint needle bearings need is a little pitch to keep them rotating, they don't care if it is is from a vertical or horizontal angle.
10-10-2010, 05:12 PM
406Rich

Pro70, need to read my post again...
10-10-2010, 05:13 PM
deuce4papa

The 57-59 Ford will have a 26 1/16" driver side / 30 1/2" pass- side axles. Add the 1 1/8" gap between axles and 1/4" for drum thickness and you have 57 11/16" total. Pinion approximately centered. 65-66 Mustang will have 26" driver side / 30 1/8" pass- side axles. Also add 1 1/8" gap and 1/4" for drums and you have 57 1/2" total drum to drum. Pinion approximately centered. Hope this helps.
10-10-2010, 05:19 PM
406Rich

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech...InchAxles.html
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Axles.html

You can also use the 8.8 which is found in the ranger pickups, mustangs, T-birds, and explorers, which is said to be almost as strong as the GM 12 bolt.
10-12-2010, 12:19 AM
DaDdY's DrEaM

Hey everyone! So i have some great news! After an epic search I have located a 57-59 Ranchero rear end!!!!!:cool: Based on all the info that I've gathered, everything seems to point towards it being the Ranchero rear.... I paid an arm and a leg for it ($400) but it's $ well spent i guess. I looked at the site that 406Rich put up and it seems like the rear end i got is a 57 because of the smooth back, rear facing breather, and the line along top. What do you guys think? Here's some pics of everything except the 3rd member.
http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/v...1-54-51_50.jpg
http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/v...1-55-05_48.jpg
10-12-2010, 06:52 AM
deuce4papa

You may have the small axle bearing housing, but the width should be the same. The spline count should also help in identifying what you have. Let us know what axle lengths you have. Great find!
10-12-2010, 12:15 PM
DaDdY's DrEaM

Thanks! The guy I got the rear end from said it was a big bearing ( not sure what that means) I measured from axle to axle and I got 57 + inches ...it was hard to get an exact measurement because there were some loose bolts but from what I can tell so far it seems to be between 57.25 and 57.75 inches wide....now just need to figure out what gears I should be.running for my 49-53 merc motor with original tranny. Also have no idea where to get all the rebuild parts or a.good shop to have it rebuilt at.
10-12-2010, 04:42 PM
deuce4papa

"Big bearing" is referring to the bearing at the flange end of the axle. There were two sizes of brgs. The larger brg has a 3.15" outside diameter and a larger inside diameter also. The smaller brg is 2.83" od and has the smaller id. Big bearing and small bearing. Either will be fine. The flathead guys will have to help you with the correct gear ratio.
10-12-2010, 06:46 PM
406Rich

maybe this will help...
http://www.boyerfour.com/mustang/rea...g_ford_8_9.htm
any 9 inch third member will fit that housing, becareful not to get a 9.75 third member from a mercury.... with your flathead I`d say 323 to 350 gears would be good compromise.
10-13-2010, 06:07 PM
406Rich

I forgot to tell you guys if you click on the white rectangle it will enlarge to read it....
10-13-2010, 08:06 PM
DaDdY's DrEaM

thanks Rich....i'll be checking all the specs over the weekend and keep everyone posted. Here go some pics of the progress on the c-notch and 4 link......
http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/v.../IMG956807.jpg
http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/v..._IMG956807.jpg
http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/v...0895112141.jpg http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/v...0895112200.jpg