Ford 9" In K5?

[think_07]

I'm thinking about installing Ford 9" front and rear axles in my K5, and am wondering what I'm going to have to do to make this work. I've read that A 9" third member with D60 outers works, but what about just a fairly stock 9 front and rear, I dont mind doing any fab work needed to achieve this. Also what type of modifications need to be done to put the 9" in the rear? Thanks for the help. If anyone has links to people have done something like this that would help out alot.

 

[thedrip]

I'll avoid the big question of why, save that for someone else.

As far as the front, there is no such thing as a "stock" 9" front axle. Thus the 9" center with d60 outers. For the rear, other than available gear ratios and ground clearance, the 9" has nothing to offer over a 14bolt, certainly not strength.

OK, I'll ask the why now.

D60 up front is every bit as reliable, and can be installed with very minimal modifications.
14bolt out back is significantly stronger, and can be installed with
very minimal modifications.


Basically, other than doing it for the sake of doing it, there is not an argument for 9" axles under either end of a full bodied fullsize truck.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Basically, other than doing it for the sake of doing it, there is not an argument for 9" axles under either end of a full bodied fullsize truck.

Other than significant weight and clearance differences?

9's are awesome diffs, as was said before all 9" front axles are custom.

If you can, find a D61 and use the c's, knuckles, etc. from it. D61's use the same shafts, knuckles, etc as a D60 but they have a different center section to use very high gears. You can usually find a D61 for half the price of a D60.

 

[thedrip]

In a full bodied fullsize, the extra 200lbs in axles just won't make that much difference. The clearance could help, but I'd take 1 ton running gear for a 2" penalty over what is effectively 1/2 ton running gear (guess where full width 9" come from.. f150's).

 

[deadlew]

I'll answer your question for the rear end.
-All you'll have to do is cut and rewelded the springs perchs, cut off the shock mounts rework them a little and reweld.
-Also grab the Ford 9 spring plates because the 9" has a bigger axle tube diameter then the 10 bolt. Get new u-bolts you'll be glad you did.
-The parking brake cable springs that is inside the drum needs to be shortened and slack taken up at the adjuster.
-Redrilled the Ford 9 drums to fit the Chevy 6 on 5.5 bolt pattern.
-I sent my stock shafts to Moser and had them filled and redrilled for the Chevy 6 on 5.5 bolt pattern and kept the stock wheels.
-Depending on the rear driveshaft length you may have to get it lengthened and a conversion u-joint to go from the 3R to the 1310/1330/1350 Ford 9 yoke.

That is pretty much it. Work great if your happy with the 1/2 ton parts.

PaulC

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

A little rebuttal:

Yes, 9" were generally found behind 1/2 tons trucks.

Ford used D60's (and other axles) in the rear of the 3/4 and 1 ton trucks due to thier full floating and hence better load bearing capacity design. Semi-floating axles are generally not good for hauling heavy loads (yes, I know some had SF D60's).

A stock 9" isn't all that strong, using 28 or 31 spline axles (think 10/12 bolt) and a relatively weak cast third member.

The gear design, however, is superior to dana differentials. The 9" ring and pinion setup is substantially stronger than a D60 ring and pinion, probably on par with a D70 ring and pinion.

The racing crowd has already created the demand for 9" stuff and hence decreased cost while increasing parts availability and diversity. You can get 1.5" 35 spline shafts and 35 spline Detroit and ARB lockers. There are also 1.71" 40 spline (bigger than 14 bolt shafts) for 9" rear ends but you can only use those with a spool.

As for the stock 9" housing, its more stout than most 1/2 ton housings but not on par with the one ton stuff.

Would I swap a 10 bolt for a stock 9"? No, that doesn't make sense.

If I were building a custom, hybrid type axle would I use a 9" center section rather than a dana one? Almost definitely, unless the truck weighed 8000 lbs.

 

[K5 rockcrawler]

www.truehi9.com This is the place to go if you really are serious about putting in 9 inch diffs. Give them a call, they know there stuff.