Help Identifying Rear End

[TriodeLuvr]

I seem to be working my way through my new/used bucket one broken part at a time. Coming up very soon, I need to replace the leaking rear axle seals. If I can ID the rear end, I'll be able to buy the seals before I pull the axles. I don't have a lot to go on, but I think this is a Mustang 8" and that it's '67-up (the vertical ribs on the carrier). Unfortunately, there's no ID tag. I've posted a few pics below.

Searching online, I don't see many 8" rear ends with a two-dimple case like this one. Most have one dimple and a drain plug. Based on that, my first question is whether anyone knows if this case design was restricted to only a few years, say '67-'70 or something like that. Second, is it possible to tell whether this is definitely a Mustang axle, or was this case design also used in other models?

Any help with this will sure be appreciated.

Jack

 

[fluidfloyd]

Jack,

I believe you have an 8" Ford. Could be a 9" but I really believe it to be the 8". One sure way to find out is to put a 9/16 deep socket on a extension and fit it to each of the 10 nuts/studs. If you can get all 10 then you have an 8". If you can get only 9 then you have the 9" rear. Hope this helps you.

George

 

[bobs66440]

Try this..

I would say you have an 8".

http://www.kevinstang.com/Ninecase.htm

 

[TriodeLuvr]

Yes, I found the Kevinstang site earlier. That's where I got some of the info pointing to this being a '67-up 8". The thing is, none of the axle housings shown on that site look exactly like mine. Some have one or two dimples plus a drain, others have one or two dimples plus relief for the ring gear. Mine only has the two dimples, and despite a lot of online searching, I haven't been able to determine where this style was used. If it was used over a wide range of years and/or models, I'll have to pull the seals just to identify them. That doesn't seem to be the case though; Google images of Ford rear axles seem to indicate that this "two-dimple" style is relatively rare. It would sure be helpful if someone knows for sure where it was used.

 

[2old2fast]

Jack , IMO that's an 8" , they were used in mustang , maverick, falcon , granada, fairlane, monarch, pinto , bobcat, etc.. best bet is to pull the axles & visually I.D. the seals

 

[fluidfloyd]

Jack,

I have an double dented 8" just like the one you have posted and it came out of a '69 Cougar. Ford housings were stamped by several different suppliers and as such same like cars would sometimes get different style housings. No real logic to the system. Some Mustangs would end up with 9" housings with a 6 cylinder engine. Same for the nodular cased 3rd member. As likely to show up in a 6 cylinder as not.

George

 

[bigblk1177]

My 8" rearend has two dimples and it came out of a 1976 mustang 2. Got another out of 77 mustang 2 one dimple and fill plug. Like Floyd said Ford had no rhyme or reason

 

[TriodeLuvr]

Well, given that range of vehicles, this could be from almost anything. I'll just have to bite the bullet and pull one of the seals to see what's needed. That's not how I wanted to do it, but at least I know how to proceed now. That's a lot better than wasting time hoping the wrong part will fit. Thanks for everyone's help!