What car would make a good donor for a 9" Ford for my 39 Ford Coupe? What width axle should I look for if I can't find a donor car? How do I ID a 9 inch? Thanks
9" has the center section that comes out the front. There are two nuts that hold it on that you cannot get off with a socket, you need an end wrench for them (8" looks similar but you can get all the nuts off with a socket). The 9" has only straight ribs on the center section, the 9-3/8" has a curved rib. There are a bajillion varieties of 9" rearend, they're easist to find in trucks and vans thru the mid 80s, but the one you want is older and probably wont' fit quite right or have the right ratio, and will need to be rebuilt, etc. Also the trucks have the same 5.5" bolt pattern as the old cars, but the p***enger car 9" will have either 4.5" or 5" bolt pattern depending on what it's in.
Like Squirrel said, there are too many possibilities to list. You need to start with your car, and better, your wheels. Measure the distance between mounting faces with the wheels sitting under the car as you would have them in the finished product. That will give you a width to look for. If you aren't dead set on certain wheels, you will have a little margin to play with and can adjst the offset of the wheels to compensate for a variation in axle length, +/- 1 inch is easy.
DMC, This website has nearly everything you'll ever need to know about 9" Fords. Read it FIRST, then start asking questions: http://www.kevinstang.com/Ninecase.htm This website will help you decode Ford rearend tags: http://www.fordification.com/rearends-ford04.htm This website gives a variety of rearend widths- both old (like your '39 Ford) and new (doner) cars: http://www.teufert.net/other/rear end dimensions.htm I've sourced most of my 9" parts on the local Craigslist because shipping costs for heavy parts discourage long distance purchases. 4x4 guys are also good sources for used 9" parts. Hope this helps!
i've used several early bronco (65-77) rears in `40 Fords. the width is about 58" and has 5 on 5-1/2" bolt pattern
I have the early bronco in mine ('39) seems to fit fine. Just don't lower the car or the driveshaft will hit the tunnel
59 1/2 in. is the distance between the wheel mounting surfaces of a 1940 Ford rear end. I think 39 is the same. Measure yours to make sure.
An 8" Maverick rear is 5 on 4.5 lug pattern & will give you more options on wheel choice unless you are dead set on a 9".It's going to be tough to find a 9" with a 5 on 4.5 pattern that will fit under your car w/o narrowing & cutting or buying axles. I'm doing a 40 coupe & I used a truck 9",shortened with Moser axles. I had the axles made w/5 on 4.5 lug pattern & bought cop car rear drums which fit the truck brakes.
Actually The 1957/1958/1959 Ford car rear ends are just about perfect for a 39 Ford. Right @ 58 inches wide ( measured wheel mounting flange to wheel mounting flange ) ... have the common 5 on 4.5 wheel bolt pattern and are in the 9 inch Ford series of rear ends. They came with either the smaller axle bearing ( cars and such ) or the larger axle bearing ... Rancheros, Station Wagons, convertibles, Sedan Deliveries. Either is OK for a 39 Ford. The down side is ... Some folks say they they are hard to find ( but not in my area ) and new brake drums are somewhat hard to come by. which is TRUE. .
Yeah, those are good rearends....if you can find one....and if you can find brake parts for it. Thanks for mentioning it.
He lives about 100 miles from me and I know of a salvage yard with over a half a dozen 57/58/59 Fords with the rear axle still under them ... about 20 miles from my home. 60 plus acres and 7000 vehicles. Hotrodprimer came down and we went and got a V8 Maverick rear end within 15 minutes of looking. He had well over a half dozen of them also ... ( with the 5 lug wheels ). He is not cheap ... but then I consider $150 or so for a complete rear end ... that he removes for you a decent price I got this one for $140. Complete
57-59 is great, on small bearing housing you can use maverick backing plates and drums.I did just that on my 33 .Swapped the 8 maverick to a 57 ford 9 and used the 8"s backing plates and drums and the 9 held up good with the BB chevy
I used the Maverick 8" in two of my 40 pickups and have used them in 40 coupes. I used a Granada in my coupe. The Mavericks allow for a little wider tire and rim width. I have been told the 8" units are just as strong as the 9's.
The strongest 8" is probably as strong as the weakest 9" but you can build a 9" to be way stronger than you can build an 8" For most cars (mild engine) it doesn't matter.
I'm thinking the 8" will work fine in my torque monster 401 Buick nailhead. But I usually drive them like it is mine. But if a 9" should come up and the right price, I would go with it.
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