What rear end????

I think I've done the right research I have a '74 Maverick originally had a 250inline c4 transmission, so what I think my rear end is a 8.5 am I right?

 

Factory is an 8 inch

 

If your rear end has no bolt on back cover, it is an 8 inch

 

Here's a pic of a 9 in housing next to an 8 in housing. The flat spot on the top and bottom is the difference. The 9 in (on the left) is completely round and the 8 (on the right) has the flat spots.


If the car had A/C it should have 3.00:1 gears.
If the car did not have A/C, it probably has 2.79:1 gears.

These are the other 2 most common Ford rear ends. The 7.5 on the right (older, used on the smallest and lightest rear drive vehicles like small six (170-200) Falcons, Mustang II's, and Pintos) and the 8.8 used on modern Mustangs, Thunderbirds, Explorers, Rangers, etc. on the left:


The 7.5 and 8.8 have a sheet metal cover on the back like a GM rear end, the 8 and the 9 have the removable 3rd member on the front.

 

By '73 all Mav/Comet used a 8"(likely was '71), and V8 cars always used 8"...