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Hi everyone
New guys here. My son and I have purchased a 74 F100 390 auto. We've got it in storage right now as in Ontario Canada winter is coming too soon and we won't have space to work on it till the spring. This truck will be only for cruising and fun (absolutely no work or daily driver).We're trying to get parts ducks in a row. We are ticketed welders and plan on shortening the frame for a 6.5 foot box. We plan on replacing all suspension with air bags, have a new rust free cab and entirely new box sides, front, floor. It has rear drums and front disks, isn't power brake. I plan on updating to power braking but am wondering about rear end suggestions. I've heard that some guys are getting a newer bronco axle and using that. I honestly don't know what gears would be in this truck - still trying to find out original build info. Really just looking for something that will make a good cruiser.
As I said in my intro, we're well equipped for these repairs from a space and tooling, body shop/paint point of view; just haven't done this work on a F100.
Presumably you have a Ford 9" in the rear and I don't see any problem sticking with that. They can be built to handle almost any power level and since you are not towing/hauling anything I wouldn't have any concerns running one of those for your application.
Since you're doing custom air bag suspension and have the fab skills, adding a truss to the stock housing or getting an aftermarket housing and welding on your own bearing ends is an option. In fact I think they offer bolt in housings now for the F100 for various suspension types.
There are numerous center sections available too and many, many gearing options.
There are a lot of disc brake conversion kits too.
Standard you should have 31 spline axles that you can upgrade to higher spline counts with the proper 3rd member to match the spline count.
There are lots of differential options too, from limited slip, full locker, mini-spool (probably not a good idea on the street truck), air lockers, e-lockers or of course you could keep it an open diff too.
How far you want to dive into customization of the rear end would really depend on how much power you plan to put to it.
Moser
Currie
Yukon
Strange
Are a few vendors that have lots of parts available for the 9inch and there are many others.
Hey fellas
Thanks for the quick replies! This truck has been stored in a barn since 2005 so it's in really good shape and the rear end looks nice (better than some "modern" cars I get to work on) so that's great that it could be a 3.25 and 9". When I"m at the storage garage later this week I'll check the door and see what it says - didn't think of that. As for brakes, we're cool with rear drums and front disk, that approach has worked for years so I don't necessarily think swapping to rear disks is a must. Understanding that the rear axle setup may be ok as-is makes this an easy choice.
Yea this will be used really for driving around town - if we put 5k on it a year I'd be surprised. I suppose time will tell but that's the intent right now anyway.
Yes looks like you have a standard 9" rear axle and they have a excellent reputation for being a tough axle. Also that axle has tons of aftermarket support and or gearing options. Look for a tag with the info you need held on with 2 nuts that are on the front facing carrier bolts.
Not sure what the laws are about titles in Canada, but in the US the paper title goes to the frame NOT the cab. So you might check into your country laws before you get the cab swap done. You might just need to swap the dvr edge Warranty plate and get a repop B pillar Safety Cert tag and put them on your new cab.
Marti report/tag time. I guess if you offer a "crazy amount of money" you might be able to buy it. I know the dealership was founded in 1976 by Bill Grant. he passed away November 15, 2016. His son Kelly is the General Manager and owns the truck in question. I think it use to belong to his dad, so I bet no amount of money could buy it.
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