Bad thread title I guess. Sorry.

Anyway, Ford has made several removable center section rear axles over the years such as the 9". A number of years ago I busted the traction lock diff in the rear of my 78 F150 4X4. I needed to get the truck back on the road fast. At a local, knowledgable wrecking yard, a guy sold me a pair of 28 spline axles(my originals were 31) and a center section with a smaller gear and pinion that bolted in place of my 9" center section. This got me back on the road while I was looking for the pieces I needed to get it back right.

That smaller center section had a very funny looking case. Instead of the massive gusset casting ribs of the 9", it was sort of flat on the front with a slightly rounded area in place of the cast gussets.

I now have a 64 Galaxie 500 that does not have a 9" because there is no hump in the back of the housing to accept the 9" ring gear. The center section, however, has the big cast gusset ribs and looks very much like a 9".

SOOooo.... if you're not too worn out by now, here's my question. What various center sections did Ford have in the sixties and seventies? What gear and pinion would one purchase for the small diff 64 Ford? What would the size of the temporary center section that I used be? Would both of these units be the same?

Any experienced Ford axle guys out there?

Thanks for your help.

 

Only two axle sizes were available. The 8" and the 9" were offered. Alright I guess there was a rumor of a 9.5" but I have yet to see anything other than pictures, and stories.
Your salvage yard simply sold you another 9" center section, and this 3rd member was not smaller, only the axle spline count was.
Perhaps the gear ratio was different but the 9" has a veriety of ratios availabe (from 2.84:1 to 6.50:1) and this has nothing to do with the size of the axle.
Many carriers were available, and again this has more to do with strength and desireability than size.
Now the 8" and the 9" are not interchangeable, so be sure exactly which axle you have before running out and trying to find parts.
Here is some real good reading:
Kevinstang's Ford Nine Inch Differential Page +