I'm interested in this rear end thats for sale on our board for $600, but I wanted to know what mods I would need to do so that it will fit my 71 GS? He has it in a 65 wildcat. Here's the description,:Comp: Ford 9" rear end with 3.55 gears and posi .. currently on a 1965 buick wildcat with trailing arms, all the mods are already done just bolts. Thanks in advance Joe
Wildcat will be way too wide for a A body Mark Macoubre has a 9 inch for an A body but its not cheap.
Why are you not building your 10 bolt 8.5 rear? I'd take that over the 10 bolt 9" Ford rear. ONLY if your using RACE ford center would that be a upgrade. Would maybe be different if the housing was a direct bolt in for A-body ...too much work when you already have a great rear under the car. If it is a stock 9" center section - tie a rope to it, put some sun block on then go fish'in...it should be good to hold the boat in place for a couple hours.
The make has nothing to do with it. The discussion is about durability. What's wrong with you people? Devon PS You got me Troll! Kudos. http://www.v8buick.com/member.php?u=31678
Where I come from / Make has all to do with it. This is why we have Buicks not Fords. A 9 in. ford is not that strong as everyone thinks. The 9 in. Ford takes up more H.P. than all the rest because the pinion is set low in the housing, and runs on the bottom of the ring gear. Even the bearing being on the rear of the pinion does not make it the strongest rear end. The long pinion of the old Pontiac / olds 57 to 64 is the best rear for durability. Dana 50 and 60 are much better than the Ford and you can get parts anywhere. People are like sheep, they do what the man in front of them does. I'm an old man boys, I've been at this all my life, I do this for my living, have and still do. I've done everything you all are trying to do, but I know whats works and whats doesn't. I do enjoy reading the thing you people put in here. I don't know it all, and I'm old school. But in 64 years I have learn a lot about these old cars. Good luck to you all. Thanks Please keep the Ford parts on the Fords. Buicks have class, just look at then.
I will agree with the people be lambs that just follow. Just because something is used alot does not mean it is the best... IT could... BUT mostly it is because the parts are cheap and stuff is everywhere. Same with the small block chevy... All engines can be made to run strong and give great horses...But being that there are a ton of parts and it is easy to make power for cheap a lot of people use it. We all are attracted to the bigger is better too. Carbs 600 650 700 750 well 850 or 1050 will really make my car go fast...WRONG! same with ring gear diameter 7.5 8.5 8.875 well 9" will be the best...WRONG! The large ring gears were made to bleed off heat on tow vehicles and trucks hauling heavy loads & NASCAR!!!! PLUS back in the day the technology of how many teeth to use to make a ratio was misunderstood too. the use 10 and 35 (3.50 ratio)which gave you less teeth to work with for bleeding off heat and strength of how many teeth were touching at the ring and pinion contact point. MORE touch points and contact patch will lead to more strength. (11 and 39 would be a better choice 3.55) more teeth on ring and pinion. Ring gear size does not have anything to do with drag racing ...heat is usually NOT a factor involved in this sport. NASCAR / circle track it is a big deal... Finally any rear will work good. Your car is that, YOUR CAR- you can install what ever rear floats your boat. JUST be sure you put the parts together well and to spec and they all will do the job. :beer 9" still is only a 10 bolt rear... and I will take a 10 bolt 8.5 over the 9" :bla: LOL Jim JD
I wish you could see the inside of the old Pontiac / Olds rear. There is a posi unit here on this post some place. They don't know what it is. It's a Eaton for the old pontiac. Take a good look at it. It has 2 cross pins and 4 spiders gears. It only has 10 bolt ring gear, but there big. I would like to have it, but I have 4 now. So what the hell.
A ford 9" sure is easy to setup/swap/work on and the horsepower loss is less than many make it out to be. That said, If I were to do it all over again, I'd stick with the 8.5" 10 bolt "chevy rear end". You should always stick with genuine chevy parts in your buick......:laugh:
I'm a big fan of using what you have and playing the game that you can afford to play. If you can build something that works for your needs and you can do it with enough money left over to pay your bills your going to be happy. Same as the people who get all worked up over Q-jets. Just use what you have available and what you can afford or else it'll end up another craigslist ad about a project that you couldn't afford to finish. Personally I'm a big fan of junkyard parts where ever you can get them since factory used parts are generally a better value and quality than brand new chinese stuff. I will say though that a Chevy 8.5 is a good rear as far as durability and parts availability. Just don't try to run massive power through it without a few upgrades.
