I found a complete 9" from an 83 F150 for 250.00. It ant pretty. I figured since I want a narrower rear end anyway, it will need to be shortened, this might be a good deal. What do you guys think?
WAY too expensive. Unless it's at least got 31 spline axles, 3.50 (or higher) ratio AND traction loc. If it's the run of the mill open diff 9" run away from it. If you want a 9 to narrow, I'll sell you a bare housing for $50. I see Bronco (the early narrow ones) for sale on ClassicBroncos.com for $250 and less with trac loc and 3.50's.
Looks like 83 was the transition year where they phased the 9 out and the 8.8 in so it could go either way.
i was given my bronco 9" i had shortened had no gears though. (100 to shorten and 20 to install a drain plugin the bottom)...theres tons of them laying around if you know the right people...and 50 bucks got me a used set of 3.50's and i'm picking up a strange full spool this weekend for 80 bucks. then remember if you want it shortened you will need custom axles. unless you go same as maverick length and a 28 spline gear set. so as far as being a good deal id say no...just seen one like mine with 3.50's again for 150 complete
best bet is a granada, or versalies. i got lucky and found one. it was a direst bolt in. only thing i had to change was the brake line from frame down to the 9.
by the way if you wanna get it shortend i got a buddy who does it here. ur not to far from me. well least a day. but if you ever come up here.
The 9 was used all the way up til 1986 or so. Some got it, some didn't. My son's 82 Bronco's got an 8.8. I pulled my Comet's 9 out of an 81 Bronco.
this 9 inch housing should be the strongest of the factory 9" housing. if you look at where the tube meet the center section there should be a long sweeping curve. this provides the most strength. the older 60s era housings are the weakest. they have an abrupt curve will little tube support. there is a very good chance that the thirdmember will have at least 3.50 gears in it. its a 50/50 chance on it being a limited slip. sense your narrowing it you dont need to worry if its 31 spline axles.
I did the turn test im thinkin its 350. My 84 bronco had a 9". Im gonna see it again tonight. Ill be in LA for a week in Aug. Probably drop the 3rd member off at San Diego Gear and the housing in riverside.
If it's a 2wd rear, chances are it doesn't have 3.50's (or numerically higher) nor will there be a 50/50 chance of a tracloc in it. As for not worrying about the 31 splines if narrowing, it's better that it does as this will be one less thing to shell out money on (a differential) when it comes to beefing it up. Most 2wd trucks had the same crappy ratios the cars got and very few got a trac loc differential. 4WD? that's a different story. Most got trac loc, and aside from the small Bronco 9, most had 31 spline axles. No way I'd pay $250 for a 3.00 geared open diff 28 spline 9 inch rear. Those are a dime a dozen.
I waited a couple weeks and talked him down to 180.00 and picked it up tonite. You described this houseing to a T, its a beast. How would the difference in size effect the offset measurement?
