I am in the process of swapping a BBC into my 89 RS and im wondering what people think i should do with the rear end. I'm not really sure if i should just try and find a 9" off ebay and bolt it up and if so what would the dimensions have to be for it to work? i can order a housing and then try and piece together the guts but that is starting to look like it might be too expensive. I am on kind of a tight budget. Also, would just putting a locker and higher gears along with new axles in my stock rear work for the BBC Power? How would i go about this? thanks! -Michael

I think your best bet would be for the ford 9" and just to buy a kit from somewhere. What is specs on drivetrain?? Remember that engines have power bands and they arn't always putting out max hp and tq. Also tires, what its purpose, and how u drive can determine the fate of ur rear.

i would maybe get the engine swap done first, then see how everything is holding up and consider to change it in future. Cause a ford 9" kit will be probably around $2k new.....but will handle 600+ hp

i did a swap 350 swap recently and it is putting about 350 hp. I am just on a budget also but found myself a nice used carrier and 3.73 gears for $130 with shipping. Should hold up for a while (hopefully long enough untill i can afford a nice rear).

You hafta find a 9" built specifacally for a 3rd gen, due to the panhard bar, lower control arms & toque arm. Unless you have a 4-link, then there are major chassis mods to accomodate that.

When you say BB I wonder how your gonna get that sucker to hook

might wanna just hold off till you can drop a G or two on a purpose built unit.

until then you gonna get so much wheel spin the stock rear should last a long while.

Cause once ya do get a proper rear that can take a BB hookin well, your gonna want to get some monster meats back there.

yeah i figured i would just see what happens. Im thinking of putting upwards to 550 hp maybe 600 lb tq. im not really sure how im going to build it, im thinking it will just be a stock big block for a while until the rest of the car is built so i can atleast drive it. I plan on driving it on the street and having some fun with it and also taking some trips to the track. I plan on things breaking, i would just rather not be S.O.L on the road. what type of rearend would be the best solution? should i build the stock one or should i get another one and modify it to work? if i built the stock one would it actually hold up to the big blocks power? thanks for all the information.

P.S. if someone can give me the specs on what sizes the stock diff. is in a 6 cyl. 1989 RS id appreciate it. I will then start pricing my different options. thanks again!

-Michael

You don't want the V6 one even though it got a good gear ratio.
V6s came with 3:42 stock.

Long as your not hooking up hard it will last a while.

But Id just find a Furd 9in already setup for a 3rd gen.
New like said around 2k, used around 1k or less.
Might even wanna just call local shops and see what they say.


But its what your gonna hafta have in the end if you wanna be able to launch it like a top fuler, wide open, little tire spin, wheels up stuff.


But get the rear end before most anything, its gonna be the major weak link once ya get some big tires on it and start to hook well with a BB.

And it will always be worth a good hunk of change even after years of use.