Axle Widths:
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65-66 Mustang 57.25 inches
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67-70 Mustang 59.25 inches
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71-73 Mustang 61.25 inches
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77-81 Versailles 58.50 inches
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67-73 Mustang, Torino, Ranchero, Fairlane 9" 59.25 inches to 61.25 inches
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57-59 Ranchero and station wagon rears, 57.25 inches
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66-77 Bronco 9", 58 inches
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77-81 Granada/Versailles, 58 inches
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67-71 Comet, Cougar, Mustang, Fairlane, 59.25 inches
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71-73 Mustang, 61.25 inches
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64 Falcon 58 inches
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67 Cougar 60 inches
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67 Fairlane 63.50 inches (coil springs)
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72 Ford Van 3/4 ton 68 inches
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73-86 65.25 inches
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57-59 Ranchero and station wagon 57.25 iches (narrowest 9" housing)
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66-77 Bronco 58 inches but has 5-on-5 1/2 inch diameter bolt circle
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67-73 Torinos, Rancheros, Fairlanes 59.25 inches or 61.25 inches
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67-71 Comets, Cougars, Fairlanes 59.25 inches
Where To Find:
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67-73 medium and big block Mustangs and Cougars
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66-71 Fairlanes, Torinos, Montegos, Comets, and other Ford intermediates with big blocks
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57-59 V8 Fords and Mercurys
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77-81 Lincoln Versailles & Trucks
Type Of 9" Housings:
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67-73 Mustang/Cougar - light duty, thinnest housing material, small axle bearings, 28 and 31 splines
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57-68 passenger car and 1/2 ton truck - medium duty, stronger than Mustang type, 28 and 31 splines
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Ranchero/Torino - heavy duty thick wall housing, 3.25 inch diameter axle tubes with flat tops
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69-77 Galaxies (coils), Lincolns (coils), and late pickups (leaf)- 3.25 inch diameter all the way to the backing plate, coil housings have upper control arm mount
How To Recognize 9" Housing Centers:
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57 - no dimples, flat center band up the center of the rear cover, bottom drain plug
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58-59 - two dimples on back of housing, flat center band, some had drain holes
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60-67 - two dimples, flat center band, oil level hole in back cover
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63-77 Lincoln, LTD, Thunderbirds had 9.375 inch centers, housings were cut away at the gasket surface for ring gear clearance, one curved rib at the front top portion of differential, strong but no gears
Types of 9" Axles:
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28 spline axles cannot be shortened and resplined (they're tapered)
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72 and earlier 31 spline axles have the ability to be shortened
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73 and later 9" (cars) have a 5-on-5 bolt circle and the axles cannot be shortened
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67-73 Mustang axles identified by wheel flange:
o
oval hole - 28 splines
o
two large holes and counter sunk center - 31 splines
More Facts:
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5 on 5 lug pattern is a truck pattern
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A 9" complete rear axle is approximately 35 pounds heavier than an 8.8 rear axle with approximately the same components.
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It is common to find a 9" in a old Falcon or Comet that has had a HIPO SMALL block with 31 splines and a locker.
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If the case has two verticle RIBS ,from top to middle of case it is a good IRON type IF in the very center of this case there is the letter "N" than this is a NODULAR CASE (GREAT) this is the strongest factory case made BY FORD!!!
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The ranger truck works good with a 9" from a 64 to 71 Falcon, Comet, some 65 to 69 Mustangs or 64 to 67 Ranchero V8 cars.
