Need help w/ 28 and 31 spline rears
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 240
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From: Redsox Nation, Mass
Need help w/ 28 and 31 spline rears
So I have a complete 28 spline rear for 54 truck with 3.90s. I believe this rear is out of a 61 F100.
I also have a 31 Spline 3rd member from a mid 70s Bronco with a more desireable 3.50 ratio. What's the best route to getting the 3.50s into my 61 housing?
Is it easier to find a 28 spline center section?
Thanks for help,
Jack
I also have a 31 Spline 3rd member from a mid 70s Bronco with a more desireable 3.50 ratio. What's the best route to getting the 3.50s into my 61 housing?
Is it easier to find a 28 spline center section?
Thanks for help,
Jack
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,351
Likes: 1
From: Escondido, CA
The 28 spline axles are the weakest ones Ford offered and they can't be resplined for shorter axle tubes. If you pull out the axle shafts you will see that they tapper near the ends then flare out again for the splines. Also doesn't the rear need to be narrowed to fit properly under the truck? To be honest it will be easier and less time consuming to use the 31 spline third member and replace the 28 spline axles with 31's. The price for a pair of new axles will run you about $260-$290 from Moser. Add to that the third member seal or use RTV, axle bearings, end seals, and gear oil. With the 31 spline third member all you have to do is bolt it in along with the axles in a little over a day. Now compare that to buying another 28 spline carrier or removing your current one, set-up kit, hours to set the carrier up, the couple of weekends to assemble it all. The time you use to swap the gears around will have cost you more then the set of axles and bearings. I don't know about you but my wife always has plans that she didn't tell me about that require me else where besides the garage working on my projects. You will also be driving it sooner if you get my drift.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
From: Redsox Nation, Mass
So the 61 housing is a bolt-in for my 54 truck. Its the perfect length, even the spring perches are in the right spot.
So you recommend swapping the axles to 31 spline. I like that route. I'm sorry for the dumb questions here, but what else must I do to get the the bigger axles into this housing? Just bearings??
So you recommend swapping the axles to 31 spline. I like that route. I'm sorry for the dumb questions here, but what else must I do to get the the bigger axles into this housing? Just bearings??
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,351
Likes: 1
From: Escondido, CA
The bearings should be the extent of it. If you call moser, suprior, or even carrier to buy the axles they should be able to sell you the correct bearings/seals and retainers as part of the package. Be prepred to tell them the size of the axle bearing retainer plate bolts. That will tell them what size bearing housings you have and the right bearings you need. Check out the link on rearend differences to see what I am talking about. The bolt patterns are all the way at the bottom.
http://www.steeltechsolutions.com/FORD9.html
http://www.steeltechsolutions.com/FORD9.html
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,310
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From: Illinois
The 57-72 F100 rearend will bolt into your 1954. The only change will be the driveshaft length and that can be overcome by swapping the yoke on the 9" center section. Those donor rearends should be 28 spline. I think all the 66-77 Broncos had 28 splines also. So, the center sections should be a simple swap. The 28 splines centers offer the most gear choices.
If you are running a 500 horsepower engine and plan on drag racing alot, you will probably need the 31 spline axles. Otherwise, the 28spline axles should serve you fine as they were standard equiptment in Ford trucks for 15 years.
If you are running a 500 horsepower engine and plan on drag racing alot, you will probably need the 31 spline axles. Otherwise, the 28spline axles should serve you fine as they were standard equiptment in Ford trucks for 15 years.
