rear end
Printed From: The Ford Torino Page
Category: Model Specific Forum
Forum Name: 1977-1979 Ford and Mercury
Forum Description: Technical discussion for 1977-1979 Ford and Mercury
URL: https://forum.grantorinosport.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=21319
Printed Date: 26-March-2026 at 10:33AM
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: rear end
Posted By: fordpower
Subject: rear end
Date Posted: 28-June-2024 at 1:43PM
| Ok I found a 79 truck rear end. 3.5 code 16a. someone told me trucks are the 3. what ever mine is 28. Can i find out without pulling axle |
Replies:
Posted By: 72 RS 351
Date Posted: 28-June-2024 at 3:22PM
|
I'm guessing you are after a 31 spline diff, axles? Trucks usually had the stronger 31 spline axles and cars came with 28 splines. If you need to buy axles and a diff, anyway, you can convert by choosing the spline count of both. ------------- Don 73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000 rpm 351 stroker 73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later. 92 Lincoln Mark VII SE GTC, OBDII 347/4R70W |
Posted By: fordpower
Date Posted: 29-June-2024 at 2:15AM
| Not wanting to go 31 spline. Just found 3.5 locker but it's a truck rear end. I was told trucks are 31 spline. Just want to go to 3.5 for AOD trans I have. |
Posted By: 72 RS 351
Date Posted: 29-June-2024 at 3:59AM
|
Ah, the 3.50:1 gears, you can still buy the gears if you can afford the higher price these days. Don't buy the whole rear end unless the cost is less than what you could buy the part you are after in that. The 31 spline diff would get you the gears, but the differential would only work with 31 spline axles. You might use more of it and get new axles to match the diff. I got a set of 8.8 gears a few years ago for $135 new(Ford), but now they seem to be about $200. I bought a nearly new set of 3.31 Jeep gears for my Explorer(front diff uses the old Jeep D35 gears), they were $115 +shipping. Keep an eye out on eBay sometimes, for decent deals that may pop up. ------------- Don 73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000 rpm 351 stroker 73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later. 92 Lincoln Mark VII SE GTC, OBDII 347/4R70W |
Posted By: Rockatansky
Date Posted: 29-June-2024 at 9:31AM
|
what's code 16A, off the door jamb sticker? find the code on the rear end tag and see if it's in this list https://www.fordification.com/tech/rearends_ford01.htm" rel="nofollow - https://www.fordification.com/tech/rearends_ford01.htm ------------- 72 GT Ute |
Posted By: fordpower
Date Posted: 29-June-2024 at 12:06PM
| no tag its out of a 79 truck door tag said axle 16a owner said 3.50 locker.What does it mean when one wheel turns the other. does not either side. Never saw this |
Posted By: aquartlow
Date Posted: 29-June-2024 at 1:02PM
Open differential or the Trac-lok clutches are shot....really shot. If you are planning on purchasing, at least inspect the differential/center section with it removed from the housing, those Trac-lok's have a tendency to break at the ring gear mounting bolts when pushed really hard or when large tires are used(more mechanical leverage against the differential). If it's all stock/from factory, just remember, this differential and all parts involved are 45 years old. ------------- www.supermotors.net/22468 Yeah, It's a Hybrid...It burns gas and tires. No matter how good she looks, somebody, somewhere, is tired of her sh*t. Beauty is skin deep, ugliness goes clear to the bone. |
fordpower wrote:Posted By: Rockatansky
Date Posted: 30-June-2024 at 4:51AM
|
FYI the term 'locker' refers to a Detroit Locker which is very different from a factory Ford Trac-Lok center section. a Detroit unit has metal teeth that engage and disengage to lock the center section under load, the Trac-Lok uses clutches to bind the center section with friction similar to a GM Positraction but it's never 'locked' ------------- 72 GT Ute |
Posted By: Eliteman76
Date Posted: 17-September-2024 at 5:48PM
|
The issue with truck 9”, they lack the Daytona pinion support the Torino 9” used. You really need to use a Torino 9” carrier otherwise if you bottom a car hard enough (which I’ve done a few times at speed) the yoke of the carrier can get hammered by the rear frame cross member and that’s not a good thing. Other consideration: Truck 9” usually got subjected to a lot of abuse over the years. Pulling trailers, hauling stuff, and usually poor service intervals as the vehicles aged. You could use the carrier but the problem goes back to not right. You can pull the tracklok out of the carrier, but for the money… Man idk. I’d just as well buy a brand new tracklok and a new gear set. I used Quik Performance out of Ames, Iowa to rebuild my 9” WAR carrier for my Q code. No, it wasn’t cheap at a little over $1k in 2021, but I also went with an Eaton trutrack 28 spline locker, 3.70 USA made gear set, and Timken bearing set. I’m not drag racing so I’m comfortable with stock 28 spline axles for the time being. I get the budget build aspect…and getting by in a pinch if something breaks. Man do I ever! But sometimes I’ve had to step back and consider long term needs. Just my 2 cents on the deal! -------------  Andrew:GTS.ORG admin, '72 Q code 5 speed RestomodPondering: #99Problems |
Posted By: 72 RS 351
Date Posted: 18-September-2024 at 1:31AM
|
Ditto, costs have skyrocketed. I miss the days of a $25-$50 9" open chunk, and a junkyard LS 9" for $75. I noticed the True Trac went up since 2022, they were under $600, now it's $700ish. ------------- Don 73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000 rpm 351 stroker 73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later. 92 Lincoln Mark VII SE GTC, OBDII 347/4R70W |
Posted By: Eliteman76
Date Posted: 19-September-2024 at 5:40PM
|
I was on my phone the other night when I posted up on this previously. If you go with a new Ford track-lock, Quick Performance out of Ames have some smoking deals. The example below is for a Track-lok kit with 3.70 gears. 3.50 gears are the same price. Now, I went with an Eaton True-trac because I know me and my potential for screwing around with my car. I didn't want to bother with killing clutches after one too many rowdy burnouts. https://www.quickperformance.com/Ford-9-Eaton-Truetrac-28-Spline-912A587_p_7997.html" rel="nofollow - https://www.quickperformance.com/Ford-9-Eaton-Truetrac-28-Spline-912A587_p_7997.html That truetrac unit is $626 by itself, which is why my full 9" carrier rebuild was a bit over $1K.
------------- Andrew:GTS.ORG admin, '72 Q code 5 speed RestomodPondering: #99Problems |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Posted By: fordpower
Date Posted: 22-September-2024 at 12:28AM
| was going that direction until I found out to install would be 400 to 450 to rebuild. |
Posted By: Eliteman76
Date Posted: 13-November-2024 at 3:06PM
|
True. Costs ain't quite as cheap these days, but I'd rather pay someone that knows what they are doing. Hence why my build was nearly $1k+ for everything due to the parts used. But I am able to do this sort of stuff now and not think twice: (at the 6:00 minute mark) ------------- Andrew:GTS.ORG admin, '72 Q code 5 speed RestomodPondering: #99Problems |