I picked up a 9 inch ford housing, 3 inch tubes all the way, big bearing, full round back, with drain plug at the bottom, 57 inches outside tube flange to flange. has leaf spring perches. Curious what you guys might know what its out of. I think the round backs were all 67 and older .
Here's a pretty page on FTE: http://www.ford-trucks.com/article/...F1_and_F100_Rear_Axle_differential_Swaps.html
actually it has a flat band down the surface of the back and no dimples, I think it maybe out of a 57 Ranchero
No dimples means 57 for sure, and maybe 58 and 59. But not after that. Are the spring perches above or below the tubes?
Ford pickup Ford pickups and Ford Broncos have the perches on TOP of the tube ... passenger cars and Rancheros have them under the tube. With the width being 57 inches at the tube flange ... it is too wide to be a 57/58/59 Ford car rear end. But most 57's had a drain plug in the bottom so I am guessing a 1957 F-100 rear housing.