hello everybody havn't been around for awhile
my rear weel bearing on my 64 econo just took a ****t on me and I can hear noises coming from the rear.... is it worth it to replace bearing parts etc.. or am i better of to replace it with a dana or fort 9" rear ? if so what do I have to watch for or get?

 

You would have to decide for yourself if it's worth it. Replacing the wheel bearing would certainly cost a lot less.....

 

I mean what whould be the advantage of it ?,
is a 9" rear a better gearing for freeway driving ( milage...etc.)?

 

It all depends on the gear ratio of the ring and pinion in the differential. What rear end does yours have??? If it is still the original, it should have a metal tag on one of the center section bolts. If you could supply that info, I'm sure someone here could decipher the information.....

 

get the 9 inch! the small axel requires special tools to spread the housing just to get it apart.
63 is the first year for the 9 inch in the econo, and 63-67 are the only bolt ins.
some of the econos came with 3.00 ratio gears, great for the freeway.


jim

 

I've heard the 7" rears weren't that great even when new, and a rebuild will only last so long. Everything I've read says that even if you're running a 144 or 170, you're better off with a 9"

 

I actualy just replaced the seized rearend bearing for right now that wasn't to bad but I'm going to look for a nine inch I think pretty soon by the way I'm running a 200 three on the tree
by the way are their easy to find and how much?
oh,yeah my the rearend cover has a metal tag with the numbers
wcc El 4.00 4AB 753 ? if its original it might explain the ratio for that 8 incher

 

econo rearends are out there, just not real common. the early pickup rearends are the same width, you just have to move the spring pads and change the axles.


jim