Ford 9"

[GMracer]

So I'm looking into installing a 9" in a project, and curious if it's worth it to upgrade to a aftermarket unit. Or if I get a rust free stock one off Craiglist and install a back brace it would be more than sufficient. The plan is around 800 HP, twin turbos. Detroit trutrac rearend with 4.88s. Big ford ends, narrowed to fit a wider set of wheels. Any input is appreciated, thanks!
__________________

[Mike Davis]

The advantage of the new unit is having a clean, unabused starting point. You wont have to wonder if the tubes are straight. Pushing 800 horse is alot, and having a housing built to take it might save you some cash in the long run

[GMracer]

Well it's going to be narrowed and on a jig to make sure the tubs are straight anyway. At the same time of installing the back brace.

[Mike Davis]

I'm not saying that using it will be bad lol, If you think it will be able to handle the horsepower, then it should be fine. I have run 700 hp through a narrowed 9" housing, and had no issues. The back brace will help alot. Good luck!!! Lets see some pics :D

[GMracer]

I got a build thread for my silverado on here now, check it out.

Thanks for the input!

[killer69]

honestly by the time you screw arround and clean and sand blast and get new ends and narrow it and weld blahblah it will cost mopre than a BRAND NEW one, an the new one will have better tubes, better welding it will be straight. save the headache!!!

[Riderz Cycle]

I'll have to agree with killer69 on this one...The new housings have thicker flanges and are just all around a thicker material, as well as the tubes intalled from someone like Moser or Currie or some of the other aftermarket places will also be a thicker material. Plus I hope you are already looking into an aftermarket center section if it is a true 800hp it might not last that long if you are going to use all the power. I just had one built after tring to use and old one cut it down have it re-welded so on I think after it was all said and done it was about $200 difference....JMO

[JRouche]

Ok, Ill chime in. A ford 9" housing is plenty strong for 800hp. And like what was said, you are gonna have it shortened and properly welded up with new flanges (torino flanges). As far as the back bracing goes Im not sure. 800hp isnt alot and I cant see the need for the extra weight. If it was a 2500hp drag car then I would use a back brace. But for 800hp I dont see the need. Then a decent center section, so many suppliers.

Oh, and not all ford 9" rears are the same. Some have a smaller taper from the center section to the axle tubes. Then others have a wider transition from the center to the tubes. And Im not sure but I think some of the mustang housings were of the smaller type.

Get a truck housing and gut it. Tell your welder that you want torino type flanges and to shorten it, check the tubes for straightness and assemble the housing for you, with or without a back brace. A qualified mechanic wont need all of that instruction. He will just ask what you want, large bearing flanges or small and a back brace or not. He will make sure its a straight housing without asking. Thats a good mechanic. A lousy one might ask and an even worse one wont ask and wont check. Its a simple check to see if the doaner housing is bent. Not likely to be bent unless it was in a wreck.

You will be spending a whole lot more money on the carrier, gears and axles. The housing is gonna be a drop in the bucket no matter what route you go compared to the other parts of the rearend. JR

[67bird]

One of our sponsors (The GMR.com) makes a nice Silverado package. Its geared more for off-road, but I think he could do one more tailored to your application as well.

[GMracer]

Thanks for all the input guys, I got some thinking to do.