I've done a tierod flip on my truck. The front axle is a Ford 9" with Dana 44 outer knuckles. The Tierod is 1.25" DOM using the 7/8"-18 big tierods. The tierod hits the upper area of the diff housing before the steering stop bolt contacts the inner knuckle. I can bend the tierod for clearance (I don't like that option) or limit turning radius (I don't like that option either) or pound in the diff housing for clearance. That said, how much can I depress the housing before there's ring contact? I think I need about 3/8". If needed I can provide a photo of the problem.

Beat the housing in until it stops. If the ring gear is touching, it will self clearance. There are quite a few heavy truck oem tie rods with a bend where the diff is though, I wouldn't be worried about it.

Besides, it's easy enough to take a straight edge and a depth gauge/micrometer/tape measure/whatever to find the depth of the housing, then find how much the ring gear protrudes from the 3rd member and subtract the two. Shouldn't be hard for you to get .5"

Could stick a wad of Play-Doh in the housing then install your center section- take it back apart and see what the Play-Doh has to say about it.

Or drill a 1/8 inch hole where you need to clearance. You can monitor your progress as you go, if your plan is to just heat it up and pound it in. weld hole shut when done.

You could always do a nice clean notch in the cover like this.

Thanks all. I am trying to avoid pulling the pumpkin. I'm going to place a call to Currie to see what they might have to say.

I called Currie tech dept. They say there's about 1/2" of clearance. That's more than I'll need. Out comes the hammer.

Just start beating on it. Keep checking if you can spin the ring&pinion if it gets tight then you've gone too far and you have to pull the third and beat it back a little:mr-t:

JP