The other identification information, 9, as observed from the chart, indicates a 3.55 gear ratio of the Ford F-150. narrowed rear ends due to the added strength in the middle. . 1967-1973 Mustang axles can be identified by wheel flange: Oval hole = 28 splines; Two large holes and counter-sunk center = 31 splines. Why is the Ford 9in rear end the go to rear axle for street and strip builds for over 70 years? Applications: Ford Used The Dana 70 And Dana 70HD Axles In F-350 Trucks Up To 1985.5. The Ford 8.8-inch axle has the same ring gear mounting distance (see Chapter 7) for all ratios, just like the 9-inch. CLICK HERE to see a complete listing of front axle codes). All the Galaxies I have seen from throughout the 1960s widths I keep in mind for Mustangs are the following: 52" 9-inch complete rear axle is approximately 35 pounds heavier than an 8.8 rear axle with approximately the same components. This case looked like a nodular unit from the front regarding rib structure but did not have the N on it. If your vehicle has a Limited Slip Differential, it will be noted as Limited Slip. housings. Buyers Guide. Some have only one access hole for the backing plate bolts, while others have three. . The Exceptions to this were the ultra Hi performance Boss 302s, This pinion has the tapered bearings and collapsible spacer in place. Axle code is a combination of letters and numbers stamped on a small plate/tag attached to your vehicles rear axle. It is the one most commonly But if youre looking for an original, they can be spotted quite readily even without an axle identifycation tag. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. smooth backside. carriers, while sometime in the early 70's the switch was made to mostly Ford 9 inch Gears. The last set of numbers is the vehicle plant code. This chart references the connection between the month codes and the actual month. If you liked this article you will LOVE the full book. The engines flexplate is a critical part to transferring power to your drivetrain. The typical 3 inch-diameter tubes can be a bit flimsy in higher-power applications. The axle model codes are interchangeable, typically the suffixes are different for a revision change but the axle is still interchangeable with one having the previous suffix. The WAR, WAA, and WAB cases have the same ribbing as the N case, but are missing the ever important N feature. This allows quick gear ratio changes to accommodate different tracks or updates to your vehicles horsepower and torque ratings. The tubes do not have any welds, and you just see the witness marks of the parting line for the dies on the tubes. Ranger Station, Submit most abundant. And you can find the axle code charts on the internet from your manufacturer. A The rear-end housing has a vast amount of ford 9-inch gear ratios available. How To Recognize 9-Inch Housing How can one verify "Posi" without taking the differential apart? can tell this is a 9-inch from the removable carrier on the front. A simple formula to calculate Gear Ratio or Axle Ratios. 1957 . Here is a quick visual summary: The 1957 housings do not have dimples on them and have an oil drain plug. Generally most cars received the small axle bearings and 28-spline axle 1963-1977 Lincoln, LTD, Thunderbirds had 9.375-inch centers, housings were cut away at the gasket surface for ring gear clearance, one curved rib at the front top portion of differential, strong but no gears.. Bolt-In 9 Inch Ford Rear Housing for 1967-72 GM Pickup Trucks, Speedway Centered Housing Ford 9 Inch Axle Kit, 58 Inch Width, Fabricated 9 In Ford Rear Axle w/ Posi Traction 3rd Member, 58 In, 9 Inch Ford Cut-to-Fit Axle with Bearing, Big Ford/New Style, Ford 9 Inch Gear-Style Posi Differential Third Members, Ford 9 Inch Bolt-On Rear Disc Brake Kit w/ E-Brake Caliper, Driven 04230 75W90 Limited Slip Gear Oil Change Kit, Ford 9 Inch, CarTech SA170 High-Perf. We'll work to keep you motivated and informed and with industry news, product information and reviews, event coverage, and well-curated articles and stories intended to inspire and educate. If you are looking for an N case or think that you have found one of these desirable axles, make certain to examine it closely. Because of their strength, youll see these 9 inch rear ends used in just about every make of car, truck, and customs. Ford 8 Ford 9: CLICK FOR MORE INFO. WJ Handy Dad assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. The most Anyone know? Therefore, these axle assemblies require better quality oil and good underbody airflow to keep the unit cool. The 7.5 should be plenty adequate for the application you describe, but an 8.8 is best. Rusty but Rare 1976 Chevy K10 Sport Truck Revival! Mustangs and Fairlanes. For the Ford 9" rear end to be smaller and lighter than a Dana 60, the weight has to come from somewhere. "N Case" was no longer needed for passenger car/truck version of the case came into use in 1967 or in subsequent years, but it The Ford 9 inch rear end also has the widest variety of ratios on the market, Particularly in the 3.0:1 to 5.0:1 range. if so is this what you are looking for. around 64-65 I believe.They are most often found behind the later 428CJ Most of the time, the differences are in shock and spring mounting brackets and, of course, brake hardware. Dont be surprised if the tag you have does not exactly match this. 74-75 medium duty large bearing, and. Watch the video for all the details and you'll wonder why your shop hasn't had a set sooner! also received the larger axle bearings housings. for the swap to be performed. It is easy to locate the Axle Ratio from the Axle code, but first, we need to know how to get the Ford axle code itself. The bar code is present on this unit as well, although later axles just carry the bar code and the metal tag is no longer required. 67-71 Comet, Cougar, Mustang, Fairlane = 59.25 inches. at car swap meets and shows are the units pulled from trucks with the Some axle shafts can be shortened and a new spline machined in place. Tip: To search the Towing Guide, press CTRL + F to open a search box in your . People have been climbing around scrap yards for years to find the best examples of the 9-inch axle. Like most Ford axles, the 9-inch has a single hypoid ring gear mounting distance, so, unlike the Dana and GM axles that require unique differential carriers based on ratio, a single differential carrier works with all of the Ford ratios. In this video I break down in great detail the speed at which your car will be going for every 500 engine RPM with each typical rear gear ratio for each gear of the transmission and then reverse it to show engine RPM for every 10mph and each transmission gear. In contrast, on the 9-inch, two nuts on the bottom at about the 6 and 7 oclock positions cannot be accessed with a socket and require a wrench. it was very complete. Many people prefer to just call it the Ford 9-inch-style wheel end. Ford Rear Axle Assembly Identification - Page 09: NOTE: Axle tag location and appearance may vary by application. I have a '50 Club Coupe and have experienced this first hand. Today we go over the important step of how to choose your Gear Ratio when building a 9-Inch Rearend.Make sure to Like, Comment and Subscribe for more videos!. applications due to the demise of most performance engine options in the The date code is stamped on the tag. Both 8- and 9-inch axle housings are made from a series of stampings that are fixtured and welded together. Any of the W-series cases do have a fill plug machined in them. You can do this by multiplying by the gear ratio. For example: mind as mentioned, the Fairlane spring perch distances were not the same Discount is automatically applied. Note: Rear axle ratios are available for 2008 and newer models. These tags were not that informativeon the early units, so from 1957 to 1962 the tag just referenced axle ratio. used the 9-inch rear, regardless of engine size. So dont be surprised that most of these axles leak from the welds. The third member supports all of the gears and bearings, which allows for easier gear ratio swaps if you have multiple third members. applications due to the demise of most performance engine options in the tubes with flat tops, 1969-1977 Galaxies (coils), Lincolns (coils), and late pickups (leaf)- 3.25 The rear end width is important on shoebox Fords if you want some selection on wheels. These axles did have metal axle tags similar to the 9-inch axles but they were slowly phased out as vehicle programs were updated. This larger offset (hypoid distance) between ring-gear and pinion-gear centerlines is the key reason the Ford is inherently strongerbut also why its slightly less efficient. replaced, and that is why it remained in use for so long. Some even consider these axles to be bulletproof. In order to verify a nodular unit, you need to look on the inside of the casting. These axles had a stout 2.25-inch ring gear offset as compared to a 1.5-inch ring gear offset of the later 8.8-inch axle. You can then enter any term, such as Axle Ratio,to search the guide. Ford Axle codes help identify the vehicles positraction as well as an axle to gear ratio. in cars and trucks. It may not be a stock or original Ford 9 inch rear end, but it carries the originals dimensions and specs and for all intents and purposes they are still considered a Ford 9 inch. The Of course, if your budget allows, you can purchase an aftermarket iron case that is stronger than any factory case. Some of this information is very important as it is becoming more and more difficult to find documentation on axles and differentials that were built more than 40 years ago. The Lincoln Continental style of disc brakes use 11-inch rotors. MaritzCX moderates public reviews to ensure they contain content that meet Review guidelines, such as: No Profanity or inappropriate defamatory remarks, No Personal Identifying information (e.g., customer phone number or email), No Competitor references (e.g., another brand or dealership), Dangerous behavior (e.g. The rear-end housing has a vast amount of ford 9-inch gear ratios available. Dana 50 - Ford Front Dana 60 - Standard or Reverse Rotation Ring Gear Diameter: 9" / 229mm Ring Gear Diameter: 9.75" / 248mm Pinion Diameter / Spline: 1.375" / 26 Pinion Diameter / Spline: 1.625" / 29 Ring Gear Bolts: (10) 7/16"x20 RH Ring Gear Bolts: (12) 1/2"x18 RH Cover Bolts: 10 Cover Bolts: 10 Carrier Breaks: None Carrier Breaks: 4.10 / 4.56 Select the Towing Guide for your vehicle's model year. 67-70 Mustang = 59.25 inches. The most Differential Gear Ratio Calculator. Any Ford 9" carrier will fit, as long as it has a fill plug on the side. Proceed to match the code with its corresponding Axle Ratio column on the table to find the ratio. In order to allow for the additional straddle mounted bearing and casting support structure, the hypoid offset needs to be large enough to clear the differential case. N-case. This is because the supply is limited to The desirable N-style, nodular-iron gear cases are available in four different versions. for the swap to be performed. can get your submission posted and acknowledged Original gear ratios range between 2.79:1 and 5.43:1, and aftermarket replacement gears are available for many ratios as well. The date code on this axle tag is 7AC, and it corresponds to the 7th year, 1st month (January), and 3rd day. It was in production on many Ford cars and trucks, first appearing in 1957 and finally replaced by the Salisbury-style 8.8-inch axle in 1986, saving about 50 pounds and boasting increased efficiency. Axle Ratio = (RPM X Tire Size)/ (Speed (MPH) X 336) Example 4.88 = (2881 X 37)/ (65 X 336) The It allows for the pinion side Center Section to be removed. Select the Towing Guide for your vehicle's model year. Info To Share? The Ford Axle code chart is a handy tool for positraction replacements. You bring the gumption. Like the 9-inch, the 8-inch uses no carrier breaks, meaning you can put a 5.43:1 ring and pinion in a 2.79:1 rear without changing to a smaller differential carrier. wheel drives) right up until about 1982, these housings are by far the Notice that the date code is C9UA with the ring gear size of 8.7. The ring and pinion are then accessed, also from the front, by removing another 10 bolts. small bearing housing can be differentiated from a large bearing housing many half ton trucks continued to utilize the 9-inch (both 2 wheel & 4 Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not WJ Handy Dad.As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases This will ensure that the correct replacement parts are purchased or salvaged from a junkyard to be used in the vehicle. 31-spline car shafts. middle of case it is a good IRON type IF in the very center of this case inch diameter all the way to the backing plate, coil housings have upper housings. There is a gear ratio stamped on the tag. Since 2011, V6 and V8 Mustangs have used Ford's 8.8" rear end, but before that many used a 7.5" rear. If the case has two verticle RIBS ,from top to Pay attention to the Axle column, where you will get the correct Axle identification code similar to the one stamped on a metal tag on the rear-end axle. The Ford 9 inch rear end also has the widest variety of ratios on the market, Particularly in the 3.0:1 to 5.0:1 range. The 8.8" rear end is flat on the top and the bottom as well as the left and right. The Daytona- style cartridge allows for a larger pinion head bearing when compared to the standard pinion cartridge. First, the pinion shaft housing is removed from the front of the housing by removing five bolts. There may be a second dash and more numbers and letters on the top row if there are specifics that are unique for interchange information. Mustangs Mismatching issues are a big problem when it comes to automotive repairs. found in the trucks up to around 1982. But it will also use more fuel in all situations because the engine's rpm will be higher. Call us at (864) 843-9275. The information on the plate includes: The purpose of the axle code is to help identify the specifics of a particular vehicles rear-end axle. 1/2 ton 4X4 pickups! In 1963, Ford includedmore information. When it comes down to actual shafts as well, since the truck lug The 1. The transmission yokes are CNC machined to assure concentricity and balance for ideal driveshaft operation. We will look at what axle codes are and how to identify the axle ratio from the code. There were also 8-inch ring gear independent carriers in production. and Fairlane axle housings are often grouped together because they are the in the backside middle and stronger tubes. The Ford 8.8-inch axle has a cast center section and the internal components are installed from the rear. There was a desire to have the stronger, larger tubes near the center of the axle but still retain the narrower tube ends for the wheel ends and the unique Shelby suspension brackets. The first two digits of the axle code identify the ratio and capacity of the rear axle. Fords 9 inch rear axle was produced from 1957 through 1986 and was installed in nearly every Ford passenger car and truck at one time or another. Let's see, I have had 2.79. same width, but the distance between spring perches is different between The following chart of Tire sizes and axle gear ratios are meant to give a general idea of the relationship between the differential gear ratio and the tire size and what effect the ratio has on power output and fuel economy. Both standard and W-series cases are made out of gray cast iron. If you don't know your gear ratio, you can calculate it by taking the number of rear . are you wanting the listing for the ratio tags? (The third digit of the axle code identifies the ratio and/or capacity of the front axle, if applicable. Chevy differentials: how to rebuild the 10- and 12 . I have spent countless hours over the years collecting, reading, and studying old shop manuals, supplier reference documents, SAE papers, and even vehicle manufacturer reports and notes. Its called a 9 inch because the ring gear measures 9 inches. There are a few exceptions that you will see in the Ford Axle code chart. The heat treated aluminum alloy well suited to absorb high impact shock loads. found in the trucks up to around 1982. I have included the narrow 8-inch axles for reference. This strengthens the whole rear end assembly. . Here is an example of 11 x 2-inch drums brakes with the small bearing size on the left and the large Torino style on the right. by Ford exist in the size of the outer axle bearings in the housings and earlier housings used in cars from 1957 to mid 1960s tended to be the Some differential experts tell you that the Blue Oval engineers copied the 12-bolt design when they came up with the 8.8-inch axle. . Hot rodders and drag racers use 9 Ford rear-ends and their aftermarket descendants in just about everything not just Ford cars and trucks. Keep in them. Boss 429s, 427s, 428 CJ/SCJ and the 429 cars which received the C-6, three-speed, automatic. You can install a true 9-inch gear in these housings as well. Learn more. The LS swap is no doubt still going strong, but if youre planning to run an automatic behind your 4.8, 5.3, or 6.0L LS-powered ride, youll need to pay attention to a few items we discuss in this buyers guide. It is a banjo-style axle as is the 8-inch. The Ford 9 inch rear end is one of the most popular axles in automotive history. 1960-1967 two dimples, flat center band, oil level hole in the back cover. Our Mopar flexplate buyers guide will help. Before you embark on the rebuild and start scouring local scrap yards and online websites, it will be helpful to understand what to look for and what to avoid in these axles. The straddle-mounted pinion has a roller bearing in the gear case, which provides additional support for the pinion under heavy loads. the Broncos from 1966 to 1977, they stayed with the 28-spline units. thanks. dimples. There are 8.5-inch gears installed in these housings for lowerpower vehicle applications. station wagons-cars with 351 and up engines received 9-inch units - as did 1967-1973 Mustang, Torino, Ranchero, Fairlane 9-inch The Ford 8.8-inch axle has the same ring gear mounting distance (see Chapter 7) for all ratios, just like the 9-inch. The Ford Mustang and Thunderbird used this style for a few model years. With the pinion gear and differential in place, rear-end marking compound in place, and with the bearings only "snug" (just tight enough to eliminate any "play"), check the pinion depth by way of the contact pattern that can be found by the rotation of the pinion against the ring gear. Locate the Safety Compliance Certification Label on the driver's side front or rear door panel. The Godfather of Performance Axles-The Venerable Ford 9-Inch, Ford 9-Inch Axle And Bearing Retainer Retains The Axle In Case of Breakage, Checking A Ford Axle With a Deep Socket To Confirm If It Is a 8-Inch or 9-Inch, Ford 9-Inch Rear End Axle Flange Identification, Measuring a Ford 9-Inch Axle Housing and Axle Lengths. Ford used 3.00, 3.25, and 3.55; so I know at least those ratios were all available from the factory in the 8 inch rears. If the socket fits (as shown in our photo below) it is a Ford 8-inch housing. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 31-spline axles and carriers for most trucks. Amateur restorer. GM F-Body Complete 9" Rear End Packages. A 2-inch version is not shown. version of the case came into use in 1967 or in subsequent years, but it H. 2.75 locking differential. Our editors pick the products & services we write about.