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Hot Rods 9" ford rearends

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 31ACoupe, Apr 13, 2016.

  1. 31ACoupe
    Joined: Nov 14, 2005
    Posts: 1,416

    31ACoupe
    Member

    i am looking to buy a 9" ford r/e for my project. according to my list the 66-83 broncos had them. i know where there is a 81 bronco (i think its 81) and i got the tag no.s: S808A amd 3 55 8 8 5H16 . i tried to google it and come up with nothing. can anyone tell me if this is a 9" rearend and if so the gear ratio? thanks a lot.
     
  2. Just check the bottom two third member mounting nuts under the pinion, if it's a 9" you need to use a box wrench to get at them as a ratchet and socket won't fit. Way easier
     
    droppedstepside likes this.
  3. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,934

    squirrel
    Member

    8 8 means it's an 8.8 rear, not a 9 inch. at least that's how I remember the tags working.

    8.8 has a bolt on rear cover, 9" has a smooth rear cover, the guts drop out the front.
     
    Hnstray likes this.
  4. F&J
    Joined: Apr 5, 2007
    Posts: 13,222

    F&J
    Member

    I was looking at narrow donors, and my search said 66 to 77 early style square Bronco was 9"

    I did not check the later big series Bronco 78-up to know if it was a 9 or if it was a different design
     

  5. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,934

    squirrel
    Member

    yup, a Bronco from the 80s is the same as a full size pickup, like the F-150, the rear end is considerably wider than the early Broncos
     
  6. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 31,177

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

    which project are you going to put it in? what drivetrain that requires 9"?
     
  7. F&J
    Joined: Apr 5, 2007
    Posts: 13,222

    F&J
    Member

    The early square body Bronco 66-77 is 58" to wheel mount surfaces, and came with 3 brake sizes and 2 axle bearing sizes. 10", 11" narrow, and 11" wider shoe. There is a website that warns to get a complete brakes setup with the housing too, because none of the brakes/backing plates are interchangeable, and will not fit the other housings!
    ...and the narrow 9" usually costs more in most areas.

    So I went with 65-66 Mustang V8 8" as it is lighter, strong enough for the build, and still has a good selection of inexpensive new ring/pinion ratios. It also is a drop out center. It was about 57-1/2" WMS
     
  8. Bader2
    Joined: May 19, 2014
    Posts: 1,143

    Bader2

  9. 31ACoupe
    Joined: Nov 14, 2005
    Posts: 1,416

    31ACoupe
    Member

    wow great info......i am going to have to dig into it some more. i know a shop in town the guy said he could narrow the r/e to fit my current project which is a 47 ford but i was also going to do a t-bucket with a flathead. still planning but want to get the rearend asap. thanks guys.....
     
  10. Just this question, not trying to hijack the thread
    I have not had a 9" Ford apart, ever.
    Are you saying it drops out, like a '55 and up Chevy rear ?
    C - clips to hold axles or bearing retainers ?
    I have a 9" in my '51 Chevy, my late friend did the work.
    Looking to swap out the 3:50 posi for a higher (numerical) rear.
     
    Last edited: Apr 13, 2016
  11. Hnstray
    Joined: Aug 23, 2009
    Posts: 12,355

    Hnstray
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Quincy, IL

    Yes, the 9" center section 'drops out' like the '55 - '64 Chevy. No 'C' clips.

    Ray
     
    bobg1951chevy likes this.
  12. big duece
    Joined: Jul 28, 2008
    Posts: 6,830

    big duece
    Member
    from kansas

    I have some 3:89 ratio for 9" in the classifieds.
     
  13. mgtstumpy
    Joined: Jul 20, 2006
    Posts: 9,214

    mgtstumpy
    Member

    8.8 has 'C' clips like GM 12 bolt, accessable behind rear cover. Gears are not in a removable carrier like a 9". Chances are it has 28 splines axles , not 31. Disc or drum brakes?
     
  14. big duece
    Joined: Jul 28, 2008
    Posts: 6,830

    big duece
    Member
    from kansas

    Narrowing the 8.8 involves a bit of work. There are tons of these in the salvage yards that are narrower. I just pulled one from a 90-92 ranger pickup(v6) that was 56.5 wide, wheel to wheel. It had a 3.55 gear and posi. Mustang 94-04 rear disk brakes are a bolt on with a simple modification to the backing plate.
     
  15. Bader2
    Joined: May 19, 2014
    Posts: 1,143

    Bader2

    Thought you could shorten one tube and use two short side axles? Doesn't sound all that hard.
     
    Smokey Stover likes this.
  16. sunbeam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2010
    Posts: 6,213

    sunbeam
    Member

    The short bronco has a 27" and a 29" axle the 78 and up bronco 9" uses 2 31" axles same as a150.
     
  17. big duece
    Joined: Jul 28, 2008
    Posts: 6,830

    big duece
    Member
    from kansas

    Yes, I agree. If you have the right tools...
     
  18. Which housing ,had 3/8 wall tubing ?
    That is what narrowed for the Divco.

    I think it was from a Ranchero / Trino.
     
  19. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,934

    squirrel
    Member

    the later model housings, mid 70s and up, I think.
     
  20. Drum brakes.
     
  21. I'll look.
     
  22. Thanks, Ray.
     
  23. Well your info is a little off but close enough for us I suppose.

    The bronco rear is a good choice if you want to run early wheels, the '57-'59 rear is good if you want to run late wheels, but they were an 8.75 rear and not a 9, although a 9" chuck will bolt in with a little work on the flange.

    If you want to build a healthy streeter car the some of the broncos (not all) had Nodular cases, 31 spline axles and a few even had Detriot Lockers. The flanges can be redrilled to a 5 on 4.5 bolt circle if you want to run late model wheels.
     
  24. Like looking for a needle in a haystack, over 800 pages at the classified section.
     
  25. F&J
    Joined: Apr 5, 2007
    Posts: 13,222

    F&J
    Member

    Atwater Mike and bobg1951chevy like this.
  26. 911 steve
    Joined: Nov 29, 2012
    Posts: 678

    911 steve
    Member
    from nebraska

    I work at a Ford dealer parts counter. the tag shows its a 8.8" RG non-locker, with 3.55 ratio. if you do use this, KEEP THAT TAG. when you need parts, you can get most anything for it (bearings, seals, etc) without any questions from your partsman at your local Ford dealer.
     
  27. Takes a while to learn, fortunately there are some very patient HAMBers here. @F&J is a pretty patient fella, and is seldom a smart ass like some of us are.
     
    squirrel and bobg1951chevy like this.
  28. Any and all help is always welcome.
     
  29. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,934

    squirrel
    Member

    good to know I can still read a Ford rearend tag!
     

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