Could the axle tubes from a 10 bolt be welded onto a ford 9 center section? I was just thinking about converting a junkyard 9" to fit a a 3rd gen and thought of that. Would the axles be able to work with the ford gears? or would custom ford axles be needed with the GM bolt pattern? if it's even possible....

 

Custom 9" axles will be required. 9" axles are bolted on with a retainer over the axles bearing. GM axles are held on by c-clips inside the carrier. There's no way you're going to retain the 10 bolt axles inside the 9" housing.

Using GM axle tubes in a 9" housing still won't allow you to use a torque arm. The 10 bolt mounting brackets can easily be cut off the 10 bolt tubes and welded onto 9" tubes except for the torque arm mount.

By the time you're finished modifying and fabricating, it can be a lot cheaper and easier to just by a 9" housing package.

 

Good info that's what I was looking for. I'm pretty sure I saw a torque arm mount for a 9 bolt a while ago made by spohn maybe?

 

A torque arm mount for a ford 9", not 9 bolt, was once available from Currie but I don't know if they still sell it separately. Spohn may offer one but you would have to check.