build my stock rear or go for a 9 in

should i build my stock 8 in into a posi or would it be better to go for a 9 in
money wise and strength wise.....

 

Would probably help people help you if you provide a little info on the car and what you want to do with it. I don't see how you can go wrong with the 9 inch no matter what you're doing.

 

I have a 4spd, you wont last long at a dragstrip with an 8" if you want to hook. Been there, done that. I vote 9"
Dan

 

i want to drive it on the street and tear up the 1/4 without dumping my rearend in the mean time......

 

since you have a 351 and a 4 speed, methinks the 9 will hold up to it better. can you get one with disk brakes easily? i probably read the answer here to that already.

 

9 is the only way top go with a potent gear banger.

 

I vote 9" also. Just remember that you need to be dead on with the gear lash in the rear to run a clutch. Mabye even a little low on the contact pattern, if your gears are to loose you will spread it all over the track no matter what rear end you are using. I have seen a poorly set up 9" scatter with a mild 302, ripped the nose right off of it. And on the other hand I have had cars that have survived 6000 RPM launches with a 8" in them. All in the way you drive and set them up.

 

I voted 9''.

 

GO FOR THE 9"!!!

It's unanimous!

 

The next question he is going to ask, even though it has been asked and answered a hundred times on here, is "What car has a 9" that will swap without cutting it down?

Also, "what car....and also has disk brakes?"

This should have been thrown out early on just to prevent having to ask it.

Plus, I want to know and don't want to filter through 300 hits when I search.

 

Granada, Monarch, Versillies...
Those are late 70s FoMoCos that use 9" rears about the same width as ours.

The Granada and Monarch were available with 9" rears that were only slighty wider than a Mav's rear. They are TOTALLY a bolt in deal. No chopping.
If you have aftermarket rims that are a tight fit, these rears will push them outward slightly. That could be the only problem you might have.
The Versilles (sp) rear came with discs and is a little wider still, but is still a direct bolt in. This one will push the tires/rims out around 1" per side. The rear discs were in their youth when these were new, so they are not the most effiecient design, and they are heavy. The parts to rehab a set are very expensive nowadays too.
Late 8.8" rear discs can swap onto some 9" rears, so that might be a better swap than looking for this rear.
Granada/Monarchs usually had drums, but rear discs were an option.
They used the same discs when the option was selected.

Early Stangs (65-66) could be had with a 9" as well, but that is a pricey swap to put in a Maverick. Also, the width puts the tires out as well. About an inch per side.
A note on the early Stang 9":
Ford had not engineered a 9 for the Stang yet, but Shelby and the HiPos needed a strong rear... So they grafted 8" tubes and axles onto a 9" housing center and had an instant 9" rear that fit.
You can do the same with your 8" to save some dough over narrowing a long 9" and resplining axles.
The 67-70 Stang 9" rears can be used as well. Again, bolt right in.
However they push the rims/tires out about 1.25" to 1.5".
Works fine and bolts in, just need to have rear rims with proper backspacing to make up for the addtional width.
Good luck
Dave

 

I have a 9" housing, rebuild kit, detroit locker all for sale. If interested a 4:88 gear set.
Ken

 

Is there anything special to cutting and re-welding the tubes back on at the desired length? Seems like a hollow tube, for the most part...

 

for street and strip what gears would you suggest using, mid or high 3's ???

 

I run a 3.55 with a C-4 and turn just below 3 grand at 65mph. I wouldn't go any higher than a 4.11 with a 4 speed....