MonsterBilly

I am trying to get a rear end built on a budget.
I have thought about the following.

1 install a trac lock and gears into my factory 8"

2 building a 9"

3 building a 8.8"

Now I think i have ruled out #1. the parts are more expensive and i would still have a 8". I am currently running about 300hp. But i am adding a supercharger in the near future.

I am leaning on option #2. it will be the most work. I have found 9" rear ends all over from 75-100 bucks. But i need to know truly what stepS i need to take and the severety of the project. I have a friend with a 3rd member that has a trac loc and 411 gears. Perfect for my application and i can get it for $400.
Then i believe that all i need to do is cut the housing and shorten the axels and relocate the perches. HOW HARD IS THIS WITH HAND TOOLS? DO I NEED TO BUILD A JIG TO KEEP IT ALL SQUARE?

Next, i found a 8.8" housing which was already in a 65 that will bolt right up. however it also needs gears and a track lock. But if i go this route i wont have to d!ck with the housing.

Fianlly i found a 8.8 out of newer exploder that has gears and a trac loc with complete new discs. i have heard that this will bolt right up to my 66. IS THIS TRUE?

Starfury

Eh. Not sure about the width, but the problem with truck rears is that the pinion is off-center. This puts it out of line with the tunnel and the pinion snubber. It'll probably fit if the car isn't lowered too much, but it's just one more thing to worry about.

I think the 9" is your best bet. You're not getting it done with 'hand tools,' however. You need a welder and a powered cutoff saw or plasma torch, and you'll need to figure out some way to keep everything square. Someone with more fabrication experience can help you with that end.

MonsterBilly

By hand tools i meant those that most uf us have in our garage. I have a welder and a chop saw, and every power tool you could ever need.

MonsterBilly

more assistance please.

andrewmp6

Why not save your money and buy a housing and axles from currie or strange or many other companies.Then slap in whatever 3rd member you like and its done bolt it right in.

1965screamer

If you narrow a 9 inch housing and want to stick with the 28 spline axles, your current 8 inch axles will fit right in there no problem as long as you have the small bearing 9 inch. Thats what I did with 2 of mine and have had no problems with them and it's fairly cheap compared to getting an aftermarket housing and axles.

cprstreetmachines

House hold tools won't quite cut it. You do need a jig to shorten the rear. If you shorten it enough. you could get rid of a pinion ofset from a truck. Just depends how wide to begin with, and how short you go. If you're only going to take off one inch, wouldn't be enough, see what I mean ?
Same goes for the axles. It's hard to shorten stock axles, unless you take A LOT off. Ford rolled the axles into splines. So the splines are actually bigger around than the axle shaft right next to it. So unles you go short enough to get back to the thicker shaft of the axle, you would have to find someone who can re-roll them into the length and pline you want. Last time I checked, the process what so expensive, it was like 50 bucks short of race axles. You could use the 28 spline from your 8in like screamer said. If you go with the exact same width.

MonsterBilly

So Screamin and CPR, I could in a sense buy a housing that is the right length equiped with the smaller bearings and use my stock axels. And the 3rd member from my buddy that is selling it would go right into the housing.
I have seen houings for as little as $300 brand new on ebay from a company that will make it to your secified length.
This way i would be about $800 for everything but the brake backing plates.

jcoby

explorer axle is ~59.5" wide. you need one that is 57.25". the explorer pinion is offset 2.48" towards the passenger side.

i dunno if it's possible but maybe you could cut down the one side and use a second passenger axle and end up with a 3.73 limited slip, disc brake-equipped, 31-splined 8.8 that's .25" too wide for like $300-400.

cprstreetmachines

Yep, and if you have the housing shortened, you could have smaller end put on it if needed to make it work with the smaller 8in housing. Then you could up grade the axles later in 28 spline. that has gotten people in the 9's (28 spline race axles, John Calvert)