sorry if this is a frequently asked question, search function is being screwy so i cant find the thread im after.

there are two styles of 9" housing, one is stronger...is there a way to refer to that style, or a particular year/model it matches to, to make life easier at the junkyard? i've heard "banjo" used to refer to both styles.

is it really worth the effort to find the stronger housing, or just reinforce the other? i know there's a thread here full of 9" housing info on this very subject, just cant find it due to the fubar'd search.

thanks,
sean

well i think "banjo" technically applies to the early housing.. but usually get used for the later housing

the early one has the roundish pumpkin, and then the tubes.. the later style has the round pumpkin, and then tapers off into the tubes..

either housing is ok.. depending on what your doing. myself and a few others are using the early housing and not having any problems.. though comparitivly small tires. I'm only on 33's right now and probably won't go more tan 36's...

If your looking anyway get a later 4x4 F150, Bronco or a van. They will have a much stouter housing and bigger bearing ends with 31 spline axles. You want the style where the round center tapers out to the tubes. Not the one with the round center that the tubes just 'stick' out of, like a banjo.

gotcha. what year range am i looking for?

thanks,
sean

around 78 if im correct

The '77 Bronco had the heavy housing, I assume full size switched about the same time. Full size passenger cars used the stronger housing at least as far back as '72, and probably earlier. The car housings have a bunch of 4 link brackets you would have to grind off, so the truck housings would be easier to start with.

Here's a picture of early Bronco housings with the 77 on top and earlier below. The early housing looks more like a banjo, but a lot of people call the heavy housing the banjo. Go figure.

http://webpages.charter.net/w01845730/pictures/banjo9.JPG

thanks for the pic, that's the one i remember from a while back. is there any issue with warping/strength if i need to change the perch width, or weld on the axle for any reason? anything i need to keep in mind?

thanks,
sean

FWIW here is the other thread (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=229513&highlight=banjo+heavy+housing) on this topic, and although I see that wuzabronco has posted in this thread already, maybe it'll help.

crappy pic, but this is the one I put under my truck, from a 78' or so F-150, the center section extends almost to the shock mounts.

The one under my buddies 74' F-100 has the rounder center section, but also had 28 spline shafts..

http://members.rennlist.com/jrod13/PP1010113.JPG

My dad wants to put a 9" in our race car and he was asking me tonight about the 9" rears with bigger 3/4" bearings that hold the bevel gear in place.

What years should I be looking for a 9" like my dad is wanting?

My dad wants to put a 9" in our race car and he was asking me tonight about the 9" rears with bigger 3/4" bearings that hold the bevel gear in place.

What years should I be looking for a 9" like my dad is wanting?

Not exactly sure what you are refering to, my best guess is the "Daytona" pinion support which uses a larger inner bearing. Typically used on big block muscle cars of the late '60's, early '70's. Not likely to find one in a junk yard. I've seen them at swap meets, but not cheap. They are available aftermarket from the usual suspects like Moser and Strange.

Here is a web site with some info on how to identify the Daytona support about 1/4 way down the page, and a picture of the larger bearing near the bottom;
http://www.quickperformance.com/ninecase.htm

I'll add a picture of my own, notice the daytona pinion on the left has a smooth machined surface at the bolt holes, while the standard support has raised areas cast around the bolts. Also note that the daytona pinion is in a nodular case. I'd guess thats the typical factory muscle car setup.
http://webpages.charter.net/w01845730/pictures/daytona.JPG

Not exactly sure what you are refering to, my best guess is the "Daytona" pinion support which uses a larger inner bearing. Typically used on big block muscle cars of the late '60's, early '70's. Not likely to find one in a junk yard. I've seen them at swap meets, but not cheap. They are available aftermarket from the usual suspects like Moser and Strange.

Here is a web site with some info on how to identify the Daytona support about 1/4 way down the page, and a picture of the larger bearing near the bottom;
http://www.quickperformance.com/ninecase.htm[/IMG]


That sounds like it to me...he didn't explain it very well, just told me to find out where to get one. Thanks for the link, that's got some awesome information on it.

Can you take the earlier housing type that looks more like a banjo and gussett it to give extra support at the tubes like the later design shows? Or would it be cheaper to just buy the later design and have someone cut it down to fit an EB, say if the only thing you could find in the later style came out of a full width?

Throw one of these on a banjo and be done with it-

http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=4126&prmenbr=361

Throw one of these on a banjo and be done with it-

http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=4126&prmenbr=361

Is .125 thick enough? Looks nice.

Is .125 thick enough? Looks nice.

The stock housing's sheetmetal isn't too much thicker...

A really nice upgrade to the rear of your EB is one of Curries xtra heavy duty rear housings.For what your getting the price is pretty reasonable,made to the width you want with 1/4" x 3 1/4" tubes.
http://www.currieenterprises.com/html/custom/housings/rearendhousingsextraheavyduty.htm

310 seems like a good price. Are those currie shafts better/worse than superiors?

Yeah,its the housing Im going with,as far as the axles I havent heard any reports on them and for what thier asking for them Id go Superior.I came across a good deal on some 31 spl. Yukons and have never used them before,so time will tell.Im sure youve read the Yukon axle problems post on this board,so it kinda makes me leery of the quality control of them and the concern and service the rep. from Superior is making for dittohead definately makes Superior live up to thier name.

Isn't it true though that the stronger housing still had both the big bearing and small bearing ends?