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Topic: Any 9" bolt-in options for 85 turbobird? (Read 2601 times) previous topic - next topic

Any 9" bolt-in options for 85 turbobird?

just picked up an 85 (former) turbo coupe that I'd like to throw in a 9" since this is my new circle track car. ive searched through these pages with no avail, but are there any bolt-in 9" units for these chassis?
85 former turbo bird, circle track fodder. soon to be 11:1 351w, t5, spooled 6.0 geared 9" out back :burnout:

Any 9" bolt-in options for 85 turbobird?

Reply #1
Quote from: kellyracing;463884
just picked up an 85 (former) turbo coupe that I'd like to throw in a 9" since this is my new circle track car. ive searched through these pages with no avail, but are there any bolt-in 9" units for these chassis?
Nope, by '85 only 9" remaining were in E & F Series... No Fox chassis ever had a 9"... Stangs didn't get a 8.8" till '86 and Turbo Coupes in '87 & '88(these TC have 3.55 or 3.73 gears)... There are some '88 5.0 Bird/Coug that also have 8.8", but it's a grandma 3.08...

Any 9" bolt-in options for 85 turbobird?

Reply #2
I'm familiar with the fox Mustangs, had a few in the past. Just trying to decide if i want to spend all the time and money into an 8.8, 6.0 ish gears, spool, c-clip eliminators, etc or find a 9" to fit, I've already got the center section from my other racecar that i could use.
85 former turbo bird, circle track fodder. soon to be 11:1 351w, t5, spooled 6.0 geared 9" out back :burnout:

Any 9" bolt-in options for 85 turbobird?

Reply #3
Quote from: kellyracing;463887
I'm familiar with the fox Mustangs, had a few in the past. Just trying to decide if i want to spend all the time and money into an 8.8, 6.0 ish gears, spool, c-clip eliminators, etc or find a 9" to fit, I've already got the center section from my other racecar that i could use.

Install two of the 8.8" 3.08 & you'll you'll have 6.16 gears... :rollin:

Could probably get away with single traction, one axle could pull right and other left... :hick:


You may know all this but possibly can find a 9" housing from early Stang, Torino, Cyclone etc that can be modded to fit... The '57-'59 full size fords actually have the shortest housing of any 9"(but I believe use small axle bearings, as did later small block versions)... All the full size had 9" thru '66, beginning 1967 into early '80s the 6cyl & 289/302/5.0 got anemic WER 8.5" rears(AFAIK parts non-existent), larger engines still used 9"... I believe all the Lincoln Versailles and Granada/Monarch with rear disc brake option used 9"... Drum brake versions used the py WER 8.5"... All Maverick/Comet from '71 used 8", the '70 used the 6¾ Falcon rear...


Any 9" bolt-in options for 85 turbobird?

Reply #5
Considering how vast the selection of 8.8" parts are and that either a fox or sn-95 setup bolts right in place, of guess there really isn't much of a market for a bolt in 9".
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Any 9" bolt-in options for 85 turbobird?

Reply #6
I would bet you could get an aftermarket bolt in 9" housing for a Fox, but I'd also bet it wouldn't be cheap
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Any 9" bolt-in options for 85 turbobird?

Reply #7
I have the 8.8disk brakes on my other 9" But just measured, its like 6" wider than the 7.5 under the chicken now. Haha so much for that.

Gonna go junkyard crawling tomorrow to see if i can find anything narrow. I'm also throwing around the idea of 90s tbird IRS if it can be installed without too mush effort. My rulebook doesn't say i can't.. Just that it has to be factory for make and model. Thoughts?
85 former turbo bird, circle track fodder. soon to be 11:1 351w, t5, spooled 6.0 geared 9" out back :burnout:

Any 9" bolt-in options for 85 turbobird?

Reply #8
Quote from: Thunder Chicken;463893
I would bet you could get an aftermarket bolt in 9" housing for a Fox, but I'd also bet it wouldn't be cheap


Yes, and yes.

http://www.moserengineering.com/9-Ford-Circle-Track-Full-Float-Housing-Axle--Hub-Package.item
1985 Mercury Cougar XR-7 - 5-speed 
One of 1,246 built

Any 9" bolt-in options for 85 turbobird?

Reply #9
The independent mach1? Sn-95 rear almost bolts in. Its expensive, but there was a guy on the smoking tire that dropped one in a 88 sport.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Any 9" bolt-in options for 85 turbobird?

Reply #10
cobra rear, my bad

Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Any 9" bolt-in options for 85 turbobird?

Reply #11
Here's how hard it is on a fox stang.

Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Any 9" bolt-in options for 85 turbobird?

Reply #12
C-clip eliminators suck at best.  So why not just put 9" ends on an 8.8 housing and call it a day?  You are going to order axles anyway so this would eliminate the c-clips.  An SN95 Mustang 8.8 will bolt right into a Fox Bird and is the right width.

83 351W TKO'd T-Bird on the bottle


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

Any 9" bolt-in options for 85 turbobird?

Reply #13
I'm actually taking a good look at this setup http://www.quickperformance.com/QP-1979-1993-Ford-MUSTANG-FOX-BODY-9-Inch-Housing-Axle-Package_p_4015.html

I've already got the 28spline lightweight spooled center section with 6.0 gears. I've already got the disk brakes.  Compared to buying a disk brake 8.8, finding gears and spool, 9" ends And new shafts, plus the labor to set up/weld in the ends, cost wise likely similar but if i want to switch gears in the future, 9' is the way to go
85 former turbo bird, circle track fodder. soon to be 11:1 351w, t5, spooled 6.0 geared 9" out back :burnout: