Need some Axle info.

[TexasNomad]

Hey guys I was in traffic today and had to punch it, aaand those 2.70s along with those tall Yokohama's in the rear just said "HA! yea right!"
I know new gears and a posi for my 9" is going to run me close to 1k.
Do you guys know what year (If any year) ford had a 9" inch rear with good street truck gearing (3.70s/.50s) and a posi, I was thinking maybe I could pull one out of a junk yard and just swap out the pumpkins?
Has to be a ton cheaper then buying a new Posi and gears and then havinng them installed...

 

[flareside_thunder]

try a Bronco..every one of em I've run across had 3.55's or better

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

I had to do the same thing in my 85 when it blew out. I found a 77 150 4x4 that had a 9 inch and 3.50s with limited slip and we just swapped the whole axle over. Its alot easier to do that over swappin third members out.

 

[flareside_thunder]

actually i find it easier just to swap the 3rd members out......

 

[TexasNomad]

Yeah I just wanted to swap out the 3rd members that's all really.

 

[Skandocious]

Tex I'd prowl the junkyards and look for trucks that look like they're set up to tow some serious weight and/or 4x4s with oversized tires... Your chances are probably highest on trucks like those...

Question-- do 3rd-member type axles have axle tags like mine does?

 

[SuperCab]

Your mpgs are going to suck in comparison though...

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

Well I didnt have a choice cause the carrier dropped down onto the inside of the case and blew everything up.

 

[flareside_thunder]

ahhh gotcha Dan....Like I said tex...find a Bronco.......or a 4wd...the majority of them came with 3.55's.....

 

[TexasNomad]

Tex I'd prowl the junkyards and look for trucks that look like they're set up to tow some serious weight and/or 4x4s with oversized tires... Your chances are probably highest on trucks like those...

Question-- do 3rd-member type axles have axle tags like mine does?

Yeah they do have tags but you don't know what kinda gearing is has unless you open it up and count the teeth.

Your mpgs are going to suck in comparison though...

Very true! one pipe!
But having 275s in my truck and doing 99.1% city driving i'm having to dump the gas hard to do any thing so I think it might actually help my mpg.

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

Yeah I got lucky with that one we werent even lookin for a rear end but we bought the truck for parts for The Mule and it just happened to have that rear end in it so we swapped em and there ya have it. We did have a couple little obstacles with u joints and wheel cylinders for it (metric vs american) but we got er done and I gained a limited slip rear end out of it and now that truck climbs like a goat. The tag does tell ya what ratio it has and if its limited slip or not.

 

[SuperCab]

True. in city driving you prolly won't see much of a drop, and maybe an improvement...

I do more hiway driving, so the 3.07s in my rig help alot...

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

The 3.50s that are in my 85 are perfect for that 302 I love the tourque it gives ya around town and the 18 mpg on the highway along with enough grunt to tow fairly heavy loads.

 

[TexasNomad]

What size tires are you running Dan?

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

31x10.50x15 sport kings. Im also gettin that kinda mileage in a 4x4.

 

[TexasNomad]

What do you guys think about these gears?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Vintage-Ratrod-Racing-9-inch-Ford-rearend-Gears_W0QQitemZ260365946852QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item260365946852&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A1171|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

Id stick to 3.50 and above for street stuff and then ya still have enough grunt to get up and go whe ya need to. I would find a rear end in a junk yard and look at the tag on it and itll tell ya what gears and if its limited slip or not and pull the whole mess just in case ya need another case and axles.

 

[LEB Ben]

Tex...as stated, a 150 and/or Bronco will have a 9" and will have either 3.55's or 4.10's (in 4x4's at least).

As for the gears you listed...dunno nothin about them, but I wouldn't go with anything cheaper than Yukon gears, or you'll be bustin teeth.


If you're searching the junkyards...look on the warranty plate on the door...it should also have an axle/gear code...and maybe you'll luck out and the axles you're looking at will still have the tag on it.

However, if I were you...I don't think I'd go for anything over a 3.73 gear and no lower (numerically) than a 3.27ish.

 

[TexasNomad]

So like Dan said about 3.50s then.. Ok thanks Ben gonna go hunt some yards

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

Youll be happy with em Id call em first to see if they have any 9 inches out in the yard before ya go waste gas gettin there. The tag if it has one will say exactly what gears and if its limited slip itll have an L in there some where.