Something else to think of most rear ends in a junkyard are trashed good luck finding a working lsd for any rear end at one.

 

Erm, yeah, no pinion depth on a diff change...but still, my point was that setting gear patterns and checking lash is not something the average joe knows how to do properly Most people don't have dial indicators or spanner wrenches handy, either.

 

By the time you buy that and the gears, you could have bought on of the $700 ish 3rd members with all new stuff and gears of your choice. I see them on eBay all the time. Then you can just pull axles, unbolt 3rd member, install new 3rd member and axles. You'd have a spare carrier if you wanted to do some highway driving, swap them back out.

 

dial indicators and spanner wrench, what are those I completely understand your point and agree that the "average joe" probably should not do it, however it is a really good entry level project for some one wanting to learn to rebuild a rear end or transmission. A spanner wrench can be made with a piece of flat steel and two 1/4" bolts. A dial indicator is not that expensive and easy to use. The ford 8" and 9" is a brilliant design and easy to work with when it comes to setting backlash. So with all that said I feel that some one who wants to learn can do it especialy with a good how to video and a good shop manual... at least that is my OPINION Some times my love of the DIY spirit blinds me to the limitations of others skill sets and tools.

 

Well, your DIY spirit makes the rest of us look like lazy sob's :P But yeah, it's not impossible or even that difficult, it just needs to be done properly and with the right tools, and it's really easy to mess it up if you don't know what you're doing. I just wanted to get the point across that it's not a simple unbolt/bolt in procedure that many people think it is.

 

Thanks for all the comments. I think I'll skip the LS and new gears (unless something falls into my lap) for this year as we have enough to do on the car now. I've also decided we'll change to 3.25s at the same time. Still waiting on the car to arrive due to the storms on the east coast. Biting my nails waiting for it now though. Hopefully in another day or so I'll get a phone call saying its ready to be picked up!

 

What's up with the dial indicators and spanner wrenches? I just use a brown paper bag. On the rear, Adrenolin (epinephrine) I would keep my eyes open for a complete rear and wait, these things come up all the time and you should be able to fine one very reasonable, if you are not pressed for time. Heres some info on cars that may have what you want. Some of the 70's-80's stuff had disc brakes on them, you may be able to buy the whole enchilada for a couple hundred George notes. If you don't take it apart, then you don't have to sit it up (I would still use the bag though). I actually don't see to many of these ragged out, an look at the gears should give you an idea of the condition of the unit. Give it a twist also. I spend too much time in the junk yard.
http://www.mustangsandmore.com/ubb/F...imensions.html

 

Ahh yes.. I had seen the link before.. its now bookmarked and copied to my mustang wiki. Thanks for the additional info.I'm not in any real rush to do the gears or add the LS as its not needed in the initial setup/resto. With keeping the 289 for now I don't need the extra strength from a 9" either however I'll be keeping an eye out. She says she'd like to have a 351W at some point in the car but I don't see that for a few years. Still, if I find a decent 9" with SL and disk brakes it'll not be passed by. Thanks again

 

i guess i could pull the 1 from my storage building and sell it. but its a 3.55 if that sounds like a gear you'd want but i'm in okla shipping would be ?

 

A paper bag? Last time I checked, you can't check gear lash or tighten the bearing caps with a paper bag.