Upgrading a [email protected]&% 9" Rearend

I did this exact same swap in my 4th gen. I don't know what year yours is so I don't know exactly how close yours is to mine but I'm sure it's pretty close. I got min with 3.70 gears and a Detroit locker and it is awesome. But anyway if you but I third member with the gears and the posi all you have to do is bolt it in as long as it was previously set up. Just transfer from one rear to another.

I don't know of you had the rear in yet or of you are getting ready to put it in there are a few things you should know.

1. If your shocks are staggered on the original rear, you will have to move one do they are both in front of the rear so they will clear the disc brakes.

2. You will need to replace your master and combination valve so your breaks work.

3. You will need to replace your u join so the drive shaft will hookup to the rear.

4. Instead of reselling the axles it may be easier just buying wheels with that bolt pattern. I thought about reselling the axles also but no shop around me could/would do it. Besides if you change the axles pattern you will also have to change the brake pattern.

None of the modifications are overly difficult but they are things you should know before tackling this project of you haven't started. But it is all worth it in the end.

If you have any questions about how to do things or where to get parts, send me a message because I just finished this exact same project about 2 weeks ago.


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I have a versailles 9 inch. It's a 28 spline. I replaced the entire third member. Not that I needed to but I got a new gears and 4 pinion trac loc (posi) all set-up with the correct yoke from a builder off of ebay.

After all is said and done I wish I would have just bought a basic unit from Currie. I probably have $800-$900 into it and it still has 28 spline axles and the goofy disc brakes. The brakes are dumb. The emergency brakes are pain if they work at all and the parts for the calipers are expensive. Don't loose the emergency brake actuators either. They don't make them anymore. It was a hot swap 5-10 years ago but there are so many good cheap brake kits available for the 9 inch it just doesn't make sense anymore.

Check Currie for a basic axle/housing kit with mounts. You can always get a used third member cheap until you can buy what you really want. With this scenario you can get the better Explorer brakes, 31 plus splice axles. I'd probably get it a little narrower than a stock Nova rear as well. More tire without tubbing.

My 2 cents

Good input fellas,

I am not in a hurry as I am waiting until the rain starts and will start an engine swap (Actually just started raining, around here that means I have about 9 more months until the sun comes back!)

Dutchman is local up here so I am planning on talking to them about a basic 9". One option I keep looking at is below. They run an ebay shop but seem like a fairly good deal. I can get the housing, bearings and correct axles and lug pattern for just under $700 shipped. Have traded email a few times and they seem pretty knowledgable.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/9-Inch-Ford...Parts_Accessories&hash=item5ace499a69&vxp=mtr

If I can get close in price I will probably end up having Dutchman build one up. Sure liked the idea of being into a rear under $1K but not sure that is going to be possible.