3.25 9" Center Section
#1
#2
Junk yards here have plenty of em - though more commonly the trucks (57-72) had 3.50... I took my 3.00 off a 72 F100, and passed over a 3.25 from a '67 (brakes were 1/2 robbed) - I took the whole beam. If you want posi/lsd and go to the yard then look at the cars (didn't find a single truck with a posi/lsd, but understand the stang, falcon, and other cars were more common to have the lockers.
#3
Thanks for the tip, junkyards here want $300 for an open center any gear ratio. Posi centers they ask $400 for. I have a guy that said he would take a center section I have now that is non posi and put 3.25 gears in it and convert it to a posi. He said new bearings, seals, clutches, spider gears, and install kit, and basically every other part would be replaced and new. Cost is $550 if I supply a donor center section. If I want to leave the center section non posi cost was $280 including the 3.25 gears and all new parts. Does this sound reasonable?
#4
holy wow... location will vary, but I got my complete beam from the junk yard for $120 ($90 plus core, uncle sam, and the EPA - they charge a fluid fee now).
And they still advertise that same price:
Aurora price list
brakes, brake lines, drums, 1/2 of the front u joint, everything - the "axle beam (loaded) TRUCK" as the junkyard calls it, u bolts and everything.
As for building it up from parts, I opted for the donor whole beam cause there was no way to get it all as cheaply, just the ring & pinion and I was already more than the yard (I was searching for a ring/pinion for a Dana 41).
Since these old vehicles pull money in like a vacuum cleaner I would shop around for some other yards, maybe look at driving an hour to a better yard (course see if you can verify inventory before driving way out of your way). Oh and don't trust the tag, do the "count the turns" math to verify the tag is what it is, and block a wheel to check open v. locker.
And they still advertise that same price:
Aurora price list
brakes, brake lines, drums, 1/2 of the front u joint, everything - the "axle beam (loaded) TRUCK" as the junkyard calls it, u bolts and everything.
As for building it up from parts, I opted for the donor whole beam cause there was no way to get it all as cheaply, just the ring & pinion and I was already more than the yard (I was searching for a ring/pinion for a Dana 41).
Since these old vehicles pull money in like a vacuum cleaner I would shop around for some other yards, maybe look at driving an hour to a better yard (course see if you can verify inventory before driving way out of your way). Oh and don't trust the tag, do the "count the turns" math to verify the tag is what it is, and block a wheel to check open v. locker.
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#8
And the wow thing is, if I wanted to really really scrounge at that company they have a sister yard that your admission ($2 daily) gets you into both - and they didn't look at the axle more than just from behind the register. If I had taken the time to scrounge out a locker from a car I could have had a locking for that same price).
There are some drawbacks - it's fully EPA regulated, so they drain every fluid... and guess how, large mechanical punch. They don't unscrew anything, punch a hole in the gas tank, punch a hole in the oil pan, etc. So while some parts are great some are nonexistent cause all the incoming stock was ruined by their practices.
[edit] I consider putting a locker in my "new" 9" and prices I have seen tell me that $500 is a very good deal... new parts alone are $525 retail.
There are some drawbacks - it's fully EPA regulated, so they drain every fluid... and guess how, large mechanical punch. They don't unscrew anything, punch a hole in the gas tank, punch a hole in the oil pan, etc. So while some parts are great some are nonexistent cause all the incoming stock was ruined by their practices.
[edit] I consider putting a locker in my "new" 9" and prices I have seen tell me that $500 is a very good deal... new parts alone are $525 retail.
Last edited by brain75; 09-26-2011 at 02:19 PM. Reason: more info
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jimcar-9
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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