The Jalopy Journal

**King Karl** · 08-10-2012, 12:49 PM

Ok, I have been struggling with this long enough and need some help from the experts.
I bought what I thought was a 9" Ford rear end from a 1969 Mercury Marauder that had the 429 in it.
Aside from the crash course I'm getting in this situation, I know virtually nothing about rear ends. Why not narrow one and change the ring gear & pinion then right!

Anyway, I took all of the measurements needed from the unit being together, then disassembled it to get the measurements required for the shortened axles. All good , done, next. I then purchased the kit and gears needed to change out the ring gear & pinion. Still good...
I'll skim over the part where I got the amounts needing to be removed mixed up on the axles and had to send them back to Moser. One for exchange, one for cut & re-spline. (Good vendor by the way) They got me out of this spot for what I consider minimal cost.
As some of you have figured out by now, I am now to the point of replacing RG & P and they do not fit this carrier. Turns out this is a 9-3/8" rear that was used on very few cars with high torque motors and I think a few 4x4 trucks.
It seems that this rear had only a few ratios available (mine 2.80) and none that would be used with a straight drive car.
It's my understanding that a 9" 3rd member will drop right into the housing, but is there anything else I will need to take into account to use my already shortened axles, other than it accepting 31 spline?
One concern I have is axle length, since I've already been down that road once.

Any help would be appreciated,
KK

65COMET · 08-10-2012, 01:02 PM

I am not a Moser axle fan,had one break out side the bearing allowing the wheel to come off,this was when my Comet was a high 11 second car with M/T ET streets,they may be OK on the street!!A 9" carrier will interchange with the 93/8" version,I did this on a 93/8 out of a Lincoln that we used under a 57 Chevy Pickup. ROY.

**falconwagon62** · 08-10-2012, 01:04 PM

Damn, just could have got a K code stang housing, they re-pop them, or a 57 Ford Wagon 9" and they bolt right in a 64-65 Falcon/Comet.....

http://www.mustangsunlimited.com/ite...atKey=EMUSTANG

**King Karl** · 08-10-2012, 01:16 PM

This one is actually going into a 57 Chevy, but I did all the narrowing before I found out that it wasn't a 9".
I just need to know if there any variables I need to take into account while looking for a replacement 3rd member.
Like, do all 31 spline Ford axles share the same diameter?
Is the pinion offset on the 9" & the 9-3/8" the same?
etc...

Waddayacare · 08-10-2012, 01:20 PM

Been using Moser axles for years, never a problem and they have great customer service.

B.T.W.: I'm going fast in a heavy car with 31" x 14" wide slicks.

Oh and small bearing ends too.

65COMET · 08-10-2012, 01:26 PM

All 31 spline axles use the same diameter,so any 31 spline carrier will work.I don't remember checking the pinion offset when we did the swap,but the truck did not have any vibrations.The rear seemed plenty strong[street use only] as it held up to a 671 blown 406 SB Chevy,turbo 400 combo! ROY.

48FordFanatic · 08-10-2012, 01:33 PM

[QUOTE=King Karl;8049289] I know virtually nothing about rear ends.

Oh come on King Karl .....you must know something about rear ends....what guy doesn't!!!

prewarcars4me · 08-10-2012, 01:43 PM

[QUOTE=65COMET;8049334]I am not a Moser axle fan,QUOTE] X2. Last 5 sets ordered, I had to cut 2 axles and clean up the splines. I thought thats why I paid them and gave them specs.

**King Karl** · 08-10-2012, 02:09 PM

[QUOTE=48FordFanatic;8049449]

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Karl

I know virtually nothing about rear ends.

Oh come on King Karl .....you must know something about rear ends....what guy doesn't!!!

I know that when I stare at the nice, tight, round ones walking by, my wife smacks me in the back of the head and says "pick your tongue up off the ground!"
Other than that, I don't know shit about them.

I did watch the Richmond video on how to change ring gear and pinion, but that's about as useful as watching an episode of Overhaulin.

**hotroddon** · 08-10-2012, 03:10 PM

To answer the questions, Yes all 31 spline Ford axles are the same diameter at the spline. Yes you can bolt a 9" carrier where the 9 3/8" was and NO you won't have any issues ~ Well you may have issues, but it won't be with this swap.

Waddayacare · 08-10-2012, 03:25 PM

Wow! Sounds like an anti-9" fan.

n847 · 08-10-2012, 04:04 PM

I don't know much about rears (of the automotive variety) my self but I found this websight very helpfull!

http://www.kevinstang.com/Ninecase.htm

When you google for 9 inch and its the first website that comes up you know its good!

Waddayacare · 08-10-2012, 04:07 PM

Yes that is a rather informative site.

**hotroddon** · 08-10-2012, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waddayacare

Wow! Sounds like an anti-9" fan.

Who are you directing that at?

Waddayacare · 08-10-2012, 04:15 PM

Sorry HR maybe I mis-read your post.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotroddon

To answer the questions, Yes all 31 spline Ford axles are the same diameter at the spline. Yes you can bolt a 9" carrier where the 9 3/8" was and NO you won't have any issues ~ Well you may have issues, but it won't be with this swap.

When I read this part I figured you were referring to a Ford 9" as a whole. Yea I mis-read it and assumed and you know what that means......

God I hate this internet stuff!

**hotroddon** · 08-10-2012, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waddayacare

Sorry HR maybe I mis-read your post.

When I read this part I figured you were referring to a Ford 9" as a whole. Yea I mis-read it and assumed and you know what that means......

God I hate this internet stuff!

yeah, well it was my attempt at sarcasm

Waddayacare · 08-10-2012, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotroddon

yeah, well it was my attempt at sarcasm

Yea well I learned that's what all them freakin' smileys are for!

We good?

**hotroddon** · 08-10-2012, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waddayacare

Yea well I learned that's what all them freakin' smileys are for!

We good?

Absolutely!

seb fontana · 08-10-2012, 05:16 PM

FYI...While shortened and re-splined 31 spline Ford axle(s) are pretty strong [just crusing around mild stomping] they will not handle good bite/healthy abuse like slicks at the strip..I was breaking them with a sbf engine of maybe 300hp just trying to dial the suspension in...

Waddayacare · 08-10-2012, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seb fontana

FYI...While shortened and re-splined 31 spline Ford axle(s) are pretty strong [just crusing around mild stomping] they will not handle good bite/healthy abuse like slicks at the strip..I was breaking them with a sbf engine of maybe 300hp just trying to dial the suspension in...

Yep! And 28 spline is even worse.

08-10-2012, 12:49 PM	#1
King Karl Alliance Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: N.C. Posts: 273	Ford 9" questions Ok, I have been struggling with this long enough and need some help from the experts. I bought what I thought was a 9" Ford rear end from a 1969 Mercury Marauder that had the 429 in it. Aside from the crash course I'm getting in this situation, I know virtually nothing about rear ends. Why not narrow one and change the ring gear & pinion then right! Anyway, I took all of the measurements needed from the unit being together, then disassembled it to get the measurements required for the shortened axles. All good , done, next. I then purchased the kit and gears needed to change out the ring gear & pinion. Still good... I'll skim over the part where I got the amounts needing to be removed mixed up on the axles and had to send them back to Moser. One for exchange, one for cut & re-spline. (Good vendor by the way) They got me out of this spot for what I consider minimal cost. As some of you have figured out by now, I am now to the point of replacing RG & P and they do not fit this carrier. Turns out this is a 9-3/8" rear that was used on very few cars with high torque motors and I think a few 4x4 trucks. It seems that this rear had only a few ratios available (mine 2.80) and none that would be used with a straight drive car. It's my understanding that a 9" 3rd member will drop right into the housing, but is there anything else I will need to take into account to use my already shortened axles, other than it accepting 31 spline? One concern I have is axle length, since I've already been down that road once. Any help would be appreciated, KK __________________ www.pre73auto.com

08-10-2012, 01:02 PM	#2
65COMET Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Camarillo,Ca. Posts: 2,231	Re: Ford 9" questions I am not a Moser axle fan,had one break out side the bearing allowing the wheel to come off,this was when my Comet was a high 11 second car with M/T ET streets,they may be OK on the street!!A 9" carrier will interchange with the 93/8" version,I did this on a 93/8 out of a Lincoln that we used under a 57 Chevy Pickup. ROY. __________________ Real Race Cars Have Three Pedals!

08-10-2012, 01:04 PM	#3
falconwagon62 Alliance Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Buckeye State Posts: 1,682	Re: Ford 9" questions Damn, just could have got a K code stang housing, they re-pop them, or a 57 Ford Wagon 9" and they bolt right in a 64-65 Falcon/Comet..... http://www.mustangsunlimited.com/ite...atKey=EMUSTANG __________________ "Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today" James Dean

08-10-2012, 01:16 PM	#4
King Karl Alliance Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: N.C. Posts: 273	Re: Ford 9" questions This one is actually going into a 57 Chevy, but I did all the narrowing before I found out that it wasn't a 9". I just need to know if there any variables I need to take into account while looking for a replacement 3rd member. Like, do all 31 spline Ford axles share the same diameter? Is the pinion offset on the 9" & the 9-3/8" the same? etc... __________________ www.pre73auto.com

08-10-2012, 01:20 PM	#5
Waddayacare BANNED Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: NY - The land of Taxes, Fees & NO Gun Rights Posts: 3,917	Re: Ford 9" questions Been using Moser axles for years, never a problem and they have great customer service. B.T.W.: I'm going fast in a heavy car with 31" x 14" wide slicks. Oh and small bearing ends too.

08-10-2012, 01:26 PM	#6
65COMET Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Camarillo,Ca. Posts: 2,231	Re: Ford 9" questions All 31 spline axles use the same diameter,so any 31 spline carrier will work.I don't remember checking the pinion offset when we did the swap,but the truck did not have any vibrations.The rear seemed plenty strong[street use only] as it held up to a 671 blown 406 SB Chevy,turbo 400 combo! ROY. __________________ Real Race Cars Have Three Pedals!

08-10-2012, 01:33 PM	#7
48FordFanatic Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maine Posts: 1,023	Re: Ford 9" questions [QUOTE=King Karl;8049289] I know virtually nothing about rear ends. Oh come on King Karl .....you must know something about rear ends....what guy doesn't!!!

08-10-2012, 01:43 PM	#8
prewarcars4me Old School HAMBer Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: BHC, AZ Posts: 2,594	Re: Ford 9" questions [QUOTE=65COMET;8049334]I am not a Moser axle fan,QUOTE] X2. Last 5 sets ordered, I had to cut 2 axles and clean up the splines. I thought thats why I paid them and gave them specs. __________________ Some of you guys are so tight with your money, I bet you can stretch a penny to wire your car.

08-10-2012, 03:10 PM	#10
hotroddon Alliance Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Orange, So Cal Posts: 10,460	Re: Ford 9" questions To answer the questions, Yes all 31 spline Ford axles are the same diameter at the spline. Yes you can bolt a 9" carrier where the 9 3/8" was and NO you won't have any issues ~ Well you may have issues, but it won't be with this swap. __________________ HOT RODDING - It used to be about the cars, now it's just a freakin Fashion Show

08-10-2012, 03:25 PM	#11
Waddayacare BANNED Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: NY - The land of Taxes, Fees & NO Gun Rights Posts: 3,917	Re: Ford 9" questions Wow! Sounds like an anti-9" fan.

08-10-2012, 04:04 PM	#12
n847 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Dayton Ohio Posts: 2,376	Re: Ford 9" questions I don't know much about rears (of the automotive variety) my self but I found this websight very helpfull! http://www.kevinstang.com/Ninecase.htm When you google for 9 inch and its the first website that comes up you know its good! __________________ My Build http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=471353

08-10-2012, 04:07 PM	#13
Waddayacare BANNED Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: NY - The land of Taxes, Fees & NO Gun Rights Posts: 3,917	Re: Ford 9" questions Yes that is a rather informative site.

08-10-2012, 05:16 PM	#19
seb fontana Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: ct Posts: 1,115	Re: Ford 9" questions FYI...While shortened and re-splined 31 spline Ford axle(s) are pretty strong [just crusing around mild stomping] they will not handle good bite/healthy abuse like slicks at the strip..I was breaking them with a sbf engine of maybe 300hp just trying to dial the suspension in... __________________ I got tatoos, they just look like scars..

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