Need some advice on putting a ford 9 inch in my 89 camaro

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Mar 26, 2013 | 07:18 AM
  #1  
Any help would be appreciated thanks
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Mar 26, 2013 | 07:54 AM
  #2  
Re: Need some advice on putting a ford 9 inch in my 89 camaro
Are you considering building one yourself or do you want a turnkey unit? If you're buying outright, we recommend Moser. We have a Moser 9" here and it fits perfectly as far as brackets and dimensions go...
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Mar 26, 2013 | 08:07 AM
  #3  
Re: Need some advice on putting a ford 9 inch in my 89 camaro
I installed a Currie 9" in mine about 7 years ago and it went right in. Brackets were spot on...just had to tweek the brake line across the housing.
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Mar 26, 2013 | 02:25 PM
  #4  
Re: Need some advice on putting a ford 9 inch in my 89 camaro
Buy one with the brackets already installed.
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Mar 26, 2013 | 02:43 PM
  #5  
Re: Need some advice on putting a ford 9 inch in my 89 camaro
currie 9 inch here too...just like the other post..i had to bend my own brake lines..its easy to do..also made a little vent tube..one last thing to mention would be..if it doesnt have it already..a drain plug would be very very useful to put in
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Mar 26, 2013 | 03:04 PM
  #6  
Re: Need some advice on putting a ford 9 inch in my 89 camaro
What about the bar that goes to the Rearend to the trans I've already got a ford 9 inch Rearend
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Mar 26, 2013 | 03:11 PM
  #7  
Re: Need some advice on putting a ford 9 inch in my 89 camaro
My torque arm bolted right up. It came with the mounting bracket on the rearend. I switched my torque arm over to a hotchkis many moons ago and it bolts to the body instead of the tranny.
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Mar 26, 2013 | 03:16 PM
  #8  
Re: Need some advice on putting a ford 9 inch in my 89 camaro
You need to make brackets.

Which means you better be a good welder and fabricator.
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Mar 26, 2013 | 03:30 PM
  #9  
Re: Need some advice on putting a ford 9 inch in my 89 camaro
I've got a used ford 9inch Rearend it don't have the brackets for the torq arm is there somewhere I can buy the brackets so the torq arm can bolt to Rearend
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Mar 26, 2013 | 03:33 PM
  #10  
Re: Need some advice on putting a ford 9 inch in my 89 camaro
Quote: You need to make brackets.

Which means you better be a good welder and fabricator.

Thats the truth
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Mar 26, 2013 | 03:34 PM
  #11  
Re: Need some advice on putting a ford 9 inch in my 89 camaro
Is your rear the right width? Does it have gm bolt pattern axles already?

No bolt on brackets, they have to be welded.
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Mar 26, 2013 | 04:14 PM
  #12  
Re: Need some advice on putting a ford 9 inch in my 89 camaro
I haven't checked that out yet about the bolt pattern my luck Its prob not the same Eather
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Mar 26, 2013 | 04:58 PM
  #13  
Re: Need some advice on putting a ford 9 inch in my 89 camaro
No it won't be If it's a stock rear.

This is one of those cases where it really is cheaper just buying a pro built unit.

By the time you rebuild this, redrill axles, cut to fit housing and axles. Weld on brackets that you'll have to make or cut off rear, build torque arm mount, you'll be in deep and still be dealing with a 40+ year old housing and axles.

And we haven't even got in to the centersection, which probably has a 2.73, non posi set up.

Oh, and then we gotta deal with brakes.

By now, you're probably looking up Moser or Strange or one of the other guys, good idea.
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Mar 26, 2013 | 05:33 PM
  #14  
Re: Need some advice on putting a ford 9 inch in my 89 camaro
Ya it's stock rear and mine is disk brakes also it's to much to do to even make it work sounds like I'm not goin to try to put it in there
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Mar 26, 2013 | 09:38 PM
  #15  
Re: Need some advice on putting a ford 9 inch in my 89 camaro
Assuming your donor diff with disk brakes is all factory original, the only factory 9" that comes with disk brakes that I'm aware of is the 1979-81 Lincoln Versailles. The diff is 58 1/2" wide from axle flange to axle flange. I'm pretty sure this is a few inches shorter that a third gen diff which may be somewhere around 63" wide.

It will have the Ford 5 on 4-1/2" bolt pattern and those factory brakes are just as poor as the early third gen rear disk brakes if not worse. GM uses 5 on 4-3/4" bolt pattern.

There is no easy way to attach the torque arm onto a junkyard diff. Currie used to sell a mounting bracket for around $150 but required welding to the housing and not simple 110v MIG welding either. It's holding your suspension together so good welding penetration with a 220v welder is recommended. They offer the bracket on their 9" housing package but don't list it separately any more so I don't know if it's still available separately or not.

Unless you have some good fabrication skills and willing to invest a lot of time doing a complete conversion, a junkyard diff is not an easy or cheap swap into a third gen even if the diff was free. A 9" direct bolt in housing package from Moser will be cheaper and easier in the long run. Direct bolt in. Better axles than OEM. GM bolt pattern.
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Mar 27, 2013 | 07:59 PM
  #16  
Re: Need some advice on putting a ford 9 inch in my 89 camaro
Ya my car came with a 9 bolt Rearend with 277 I've changed it out with a 10 bolt with 342 but non limited slip it came out of a 85 iroc disk brakes also
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Mar 27, 2013 | 08:59 PM
  #17  
Re: Need some advice on putting a ford 9 inch in my 89 camaro
I've had a moser in mine for 10-15yrs still going strong.
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Mar 28, 2013 | 12:15 AM
  #18  
Re: Need some advice on putting a ford 9 inch in my 89 camaro
I wouldn't recommend 28 spline ford axles even for a street car. Chances are your donor 9" has 28 spline axles which means a 28 spline carrier (posi, open etc). As nice as a deal sounds for a junkyard diff, there are too many bad things to make it a worthwhile swap without knowing exactly what you're getting.

The cheapest and easiest way to put a 9" under a third gen is to buy a 9" housing package for somewhere around $1000. It includes a bolt in housing and axles. I'd recommend 31 spine axles. Then you just need to find a center section from the junkyard with a 31 spline carrier and bolt it in. Upgrade to different gears and posi as funds permit. I believe the factory GM brakes will bolt right up and you can always upgrade to something better as funds permit.

The goal is to upgrade the diff without dishing out a few thousand dollars in one lump sum but make the swap easy enough that you won't get too over your head in fabrication that it will cost double what you originally think it would cost.
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Mar 28, 2013 | 12:28 PM
  #19  
Re: Need some advice on putting a ford 9 inch in my 89 camaro
I went with a Quick Performance ford 9" with 35 spline axles. I wont break those for a while! Cheaper than Moser
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Mar 28, 2013 | 06:50 PM
  #20  
Re: Need some advice on putting a ford 9 inch in my 89 camaro
I'm having a S&W 9" installed in my car as we speak, great setup, have to use their torque arm though.
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