pardon me for not having taking all my measurements yet but I have some questions just from eyeballing under my 71 2wd and attempting to read some schematics that were really more for purposes of repairing chassis.
1) Is the engine centerline in line with the frame center line?
2) The 9' differential pumpkin appears to be off centerline of the frame? As if one axle is shorter than the other.

Is this an illusion or is this correct? I will get underneath later today and take some measurements.

 

That is correct and it is not an illusion... The engine and rear end are not centered in the frame.

Have you figured out why?... Think about.

Clue: "Universal joints"

 

Yes. Lol! I guessed it.The interesting thing is that a mechanic friend of mine is swearing up and down that someone has taken the front differential( 9" ford ) out of a four wheel drive, cut the ends off the tubes, welded tube flanges on, and inserted axles of two different lengths. Seems a little fishy to me. Iam going to check out some pictures of 9" rears and do some more detective work.

 

Ford 9s were never made as steering (front) axles.

 

Interesting. So what did they use for steering front axles in 4wd?

 

I would have to see pictures of this......... "offset"

 

Dana 44 front end. A blind man could see the difference in the length of the tubes on it. Many a 9" has been narrowed the way you mentioned. You just have to cut and re-spline the axles too.

 

I am trying to research the history on this without much success as of yet. So would it be correct to say that Ford never used a 9' as a steering axle/ The Dana 44 was used as the front steering axle in four wheel drive trucks from what year to what year? Did Ford use a combination of 9" rear and Dana 44 front? I wish to be accurate in the conversation I have with my mechanic friend. I am not looking to make him wrong but I owe it to both of us to know what I am talking about and to make sure he doesn't later get himself in a jamb with an incorrect statement.

 

ok, I have had better luck researching the use of Dana 44, 50, and 60 as a front axle for Ford Trucks. I am still not clear if they used a combination of the 9" in the rear and Dana up front. I'll keep looking. I also need to know what rear differential came stock in the 71 F100. What I have in my truck is definitely a 9". Just not sure whether it was the original differential or came from another vehicle. No tag on the differential to identify it.

 

Dana and 9" are a common combination. The Dana 30 was the pre runner to the Dana 40 but someone else will have to help you on what was used in what year trucks. We have a couple good parts people on here.

 

Good. This truck has been lowered and shock perches moved as well as no tag. I am not keeping the rear as I am swapping in the Mark V111 but I want to know what I have. Of course after I remove it(currently the truck is my daily driver) I can count the ring and pinion gear teeth and identify ratio.

 

Ford used the Dana 44 fronts for years and years in the F100/150 and light duty F250'S up through the Dents. As of 1980 when the new body style trucks came out they also got independent front 4X4 axles.
Ford came out with the venerable 9" in 1957 for F100's and fulkl size cars. Originally considered lighter duty than the Dana 44's Ford used as F100 rears back then. But over the years they got stronger. Used by Nascar teams of all makes. Note,back in the day I heard everybody used a 1965 Galaxy inspired front suspension also. All please don't quote me on the Nascar stuff though. I have not been a fan since the "stock" car meaning left the s and c in Nascar.
Anyways, Danas have a bolt on cover to get inside. Ford 9" have a pumpkin center section that removes as an assembly.