Why is everyone making this sound so hard???? Doing it this way, you already have axles and pinion angle correct. You also have your brakes and wheel bolt pattern dead on too... If you go with a Bronco or truck rear, you have hell using the brakes and have to have the axle flanges drilled to use car wheels. YES, this mod does need to be done by someone with a jig! That is why the mod is 200 bux (at least at the fab shop in my town). The center of the 9" housing is nothing to get. 9" housings for smaller cars are EXPENSIVE. Housings from large cars and trucks are scrapped all the time. That is what is so good about this mod, you can take a free to dirt cheap housing and use the center out of it. Rather than pay 3x as much for a narrow housing. Worthless 9" housing abound if you just look. A guy next street over from me has 3 laying (large car) that he isn't going to do anything with... Just as an example. Get a worthless housing, pay a pro to do the welding/jigging, and slap your brakes, axles, and such right back in. Now all you need is a 28 spline chunk. And yes, 31 spline is cool if you need them, but if you don't have mucho power and slicks, 28 splines are fine. They are also lighter and therefore more effiecient. Just some thoughts on all the negativity and expensive options being posted today.
I suggested looking for a Bronco 9 due to the higher probability of finding a Traction-loc unit along with the chunk and gear ratio. In my book, $200 is a steal for a traction loc, 31 spline 3.50 geared chunk. The brakes can be used, just you need 5 x 4.5" drums to match (early 80's F100 drums , probably a few other applications will interchange as well.) New axles were running about $300 from the aftermarket makers.
Fiat used them, too. This little rear is still holding up behind a 302, which is very surprising to me considering the original 4 banger made about 70 horse power. I suspect the new engine (over 400 horse) will kill it in short order, which will then come the mini tub and narrowed 9 inch.
Fiat Spyder ? Gotta love that one with a small block............... Got pics of the whole car? Seen a 60's Datsun on ebay once with a 289. Damn thing looked like a Leprechaun's car but was fast as a spotted ape............
Chrysler as well, the 8 3/4inch was removable. And to add to the list of slang terms, the coconut. Technical term is Hotchkiss. The Hotchkiss has a removable center housing and a sheet-steel housing, the most notable being the Ford 9-inch. The other type, the intregal housing, is the Salisbury, and I am not talking about the seasoned lump of hamburger meat as in Salisbury Steak. rk
Otherthan the fact it costs the same as a full fledged posi type diff, it ain't a bad deal. The positive here is it's easier to install.
8 to 9 Hate to come in here late but I've done the 8" to 9" conversion quite a few times,you need a housing jig and some good figuring if you use the 3 1/4 9" tube housing the 8" tubes will fit inside,the other guys are correct,if you use a 28spl.pig the axles will fit fine,have a rearend shop,not advertising ,just trying to help out.
