When I actually got to looking at my Dana up close, and the 9" I'm pondering installing, I was surprised to see the stock setup uses u-bolts that clamp a plate on top of the axle tube, perpendicular to the spring. I'm used to seeing the u-bolts running around the axle tube, parallel to the springs.

When installing a 9", I can't see that the plate on top (or the bottom) fitting the larger diameter axle tube correctly. So have those of you who intalled a 9" put the u-bolts around the axle tube, parallel to the spring? If so, what did you use for a top plate? I'm confused!

 

I installed a 64 F100 9". Used the plates that came with the 9".

 

Ross,
If you can find the stock lower shock mounts for an F2 or larger truck they will fit the axle tube of the 9" diff (3" OD axle tube). The stock f1 has a 2 1/2" OD axle tube.

The other option is to either hit a wrecking yard and snag a couple of upper plates or fabricate your own plates and then use regular "U" bolts that go around the axle tube. When I installed my 9" I just fabbed a couple of upper plates from some steel I had laying around.

I also had to weld on some lower shock mounts. I think the later 9" rears (after about 1966) had welded on lower shock mounts. I used a couple of weld on lower mounts left over from one of my brother-in-laws rock crawler projects.

Bobby

 

Guess it's time to hit U-pull-it... I have a set of plates from a 9" but they are from a later (80's) 9" and the springs were apparently much wider. Chances of finding F-2 plates looks slim to none unless someone on here has some???

My 9" is a '70 and the lower shock brackets are welded on, but in the wrong place and at an angle. I'm not worried about the shocks at this point, I can weld some on later.

PS Bobby -- I hooked up with a guy in RR who sets up diff's of all kinds, mostly for 4x4's. He'd set you up cheap, he wants high-ratio gears.

 

I think Speedway carries a generic 9" shock mount plates.

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...acement-1.html

This answered my question -- thanks Julie! (tee-hee)

 

f100/150 from 1957-1996 (IIRC) w/9" axle (and 8.8)
plate for 2.25" width rear springs= 2wd
plate for 3.0" width rear springs= 4x4

F1 width rear springs are 2".

PN: F4TZ-5796-CA are the replacements I got from Jeff's Bronco Graveyard.

Here's another link via google:
F4TZ-5796-CA - Ford PLATE

 

Havi, did you use those for an F-1? I'd be interested to see what they look like, for instance, are they used with u-bolts parallel to the springs or perpendicular? Is the 1/4" difference worth worrying about? The stock U-bolts do very much bear against the sides of the springs to locate them. Who'd a thunk new Ford parts could be so cheap?!

 

They are your standard 9" u-bolt retainer plate. The 9" U-bolt's "U" is on the bottom wrapping around the axle, with the plate above the springs. The 1/4" difference is basically 1/8" per side, and I'm not sure that's enough to worry about, considering clamps on the spring packs are put in place to hold them? (See Chuckrob's pic, he's got them on there) I've used these on other projects, and the F1 came with these on it, though I have not driven it with them, only pulled it around the yard.

If you look close, you can see how the PO mounted this "too wide" 9 inch with the period correct overloads.

 

IIRC Ross, I bought a set of new 3" U-Bolts from a spring shop and they included the plate to fit the springs. I'm not sure what they cost but they couldn't have been more than $50 for the pair.

 

Good idea, Steve, I'll check with them!