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'72 Ford Bronco Build;)

Discussion in 'Quitters' Club' started by Dne007, Jul 19, 2021.

  1. Sep 9, 2021
    SFaulken

    SFaulken Active Member

    Bellevue, WA
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    Yup, general rule of thumb, mic the width of the old crush sleeve, and then add .002 worth of shims to that measurement as a starting point, when you're using a crush sleeve eliminator.
     
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  2. Sep 9, 2021
    Dne007

    Dne007 Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

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    Thank you so much!!!! ;)

     
  3. Sep 11, 2021
    Dne007

    Dne007 Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

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    Hi y'all! these are the used headers which came with the parts I bought~ I had them blasted, then I coated them with Cerakote coating, I actually bought the one which was supposed to be baked, but I left them out in the sun for most the day, couldn't even touch them they got so hot! I may just do my entire exhaust in the color; not that terribly expensive.

    [​IMG]

    I'm rather pleased, but don't know how long they'll hold up, but in the meantime, I'm good to go on these;)
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I also water pressure sandblasted my rear axle and it also came out pretty nice. I'll probably go ahead and bolt it back on its springs just to have it out of the way.
    [​IMG]

    Gary tells me we may have a storm in a few days.

    dne'
     
  4. Sep 13, 2021
    Dne007

    Dne007 Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

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    Hi Guys;) I got to looking at my Ford 9" gears, and the ring gear is sooo pitted, I'm going to have to replace it, but having at time reading what gear it is. Can anyone decipher what gear this is so I can order the new parts? And a further question? How does the front gearing work with the rear gearing? are they the same ratio? The Dana 44 is smaller right?
    [​IMG]

    I'll try to get a better picture of these numbers tomorrow:(
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]




    *******************************************************************
    This is the dana 44, is this decipherable as to what ratio it is?
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  5. Sep 13, 2021
    SFaulken

    SFaulken Active Member

    Bellevue, WA
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    Well, right off, assuming that tag is accurate, I've got mildly upsetting news. That's not a 9"

    What you've got there is an 8", the 9" smaller brother. you know, because it's an inch smaller.

    3L50 means it *should* be a 3.50:1 Ratio, and a Limited Slip. the 8 in the bottom row tells me it's an 8"

    Based on what I can read off of the Ring Gear from the rear end, that is also a 3.50:1 ring and pinion set.

    NOW. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the 8" Ford Axle. It's just not as strong as a 9". If you're not planning on putting 500 ft-lbs of torque into it, Run big honkin tires, or tow super heavy loads? I'm going to bet it gives you *zero* issues.

    The Dana 44 in the front, yes is a hair smaller, IIRC the actual Ring gear size on a 44 is something like 7.5" the 46-13 you have there tells me that's numerically a 3.53:1 gearset. (46 teeth on the ring, 13 teeth on the pinion). Easy enough to replace if you need to. Although you *will* need to verify if it's reverse rotation or not. Ford did that on lots of 4x4's, putting reverse rotation gearsets in them, and I honestly don't recall if the 44 in the early Broncos was one of them.
     
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  6. Sep 13, 2021
    Dne007

    Dne007 Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

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    Thank you Faulken for the super answer!!! I don't know why I was thinking it was a 9" :confused:, I'm leaving the front gears alone as they really looked just fine, however, I can order the new gears;)
    dne'

     
  7. Sep 13, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    That's definitely a 9", just some ratios had 8.75" ring gears in 9" housings. Hence the truncated "8.7". It is not an 8" axle.
     
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  8. Sep 14, 2021
    Dne007

    Dne007 Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

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    I was wondering why I couldn't find a 3.50 gear for an 8", but can find the 3.50 for the 9" :crazy:. I think I'll go out there today and disassemble the diff and see how bad it actually is. I do know the ring gear is pitted badly

     
  9. Sep 14, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Any replacement gears you find will be 9" and that's fine. They will bolt right up.
     
  10. Sep 14, 2021
    SFaulken

    SFaulken Active Member

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    Yeah, fireball is right. I missed the .7 on the tag. Sorry about that.
     
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  11. Sep 14, 2021
    Dne007

    Dne007 Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

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    No worried Faulken!!! That's why we work as a team backing each other, right or wrong, I've learned something about something I don't know very much about;) If fact, "I do not know what I don't know" lol

    Ok, I've spent the last hour taking this thing apart, wasn't so bad. I have a little puller I've had since about my senior year in high school when I had a Suzuki TT250 and needed a puller and HI-Lo had it, that thing still works wonders! It's one of those tools which just kind of lingers, then one day it saves the day!

    I found this on a site for Bronco parts, it has that track lock thing so I don't have to take it apart;) Darn, after looking at this kit, I didn't need to remove those carrier bearings!!!:banghead:
    9" Rebuild Kit, With New TracLok, RIng & Pinion ,Timken Bearings, 28 Spline-Broncograveyard.com
    [​IMG]

    Now, what do I do about this part? Do I disassemble it, or just clean it. I can peak inside and the spider gears from what I can see look "OK", but probably be dumb not to replace what I can of it at this point. I thought maybe to go with a conventional diff, non-posi, or whatever this is, oh, limited slip?
    [​IMG]
     
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  12. Sep 14, 2021
    SFaulken

    SFaulken Active Member

    Bellevue, WA
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    Thats a spring and clutch based Limited Slip. They wear out. Honestly, for the cost of the kit? I'd pull it apart, and inspect the clutches and springs. And replace them, if there's any doubt, as the kit is really cheap, comparatively, and you've already got it out.
     
  13. Sep 16, 2021
    Dne007

    Dne007 Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

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    I have a bunch of 9" parts coming, so I media blasted the outer part of the chunk, then repainted it Ford blue with a clear coat to match the accents of the suspension. Also just received are bushing to re-install the front axle, so that should be fun;)

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I sprayed the exhaust with a VHT paint, let's see how that goes.
    [​IMG]
     
  14. Sep 19, 2021
    jeepdaddy2000

    jeepdaddy2000 Active Member

    Eagle Point oregon
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    Sorry, I'm late to the party and skipped ahead a couple of pages.
    I worked at Toms Bronco Parts for almost ten years back in the 80's and 90's and am rather intimate with early Bronco's (although my memory is fading).
    You have a Limited slip diff.
    Very bad.
    You need to inspect the axle splines on the drivers axle, as a worn LS unit will chew up the inner half of them.
    In order to get the clutches in the housing, they really thinned out the passenger side housing half. It is common for them to break around the the outside, causing catastrophic damage.
    If you are going to keep it, you MUST rebuild it.
    If you want any further explanations on the issues, I would be glad to elaborate.
    On the up side, Ford 9"'s are the simplest diffs to rebuild/assemble. You are going to need a crush sleeve, shim set, and i recommend replacing the housing o ring. A spanner wrench is nice for the carrier adjusting rings.
    If you have any questions, I would be happy to walk you through your rebuild.
     
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  15. Sep 19, 2021
    Dne007

    Dne007 Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

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    Thank you! I've a bunch of new parts coming, including the overhaul kit for the trac-lock or limited slip. Thank you!;)

     
  16. Sep 19, 2021
    Dne007

    Dne007 Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

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    Nothing much to report other than waiting for parts to arrive:( I removed the locking collars on the axles (bearings) and have the new bearings; I may take them to a local guy which did my 67 Mustang axles. Also ordered the crush sleeve eliminator;) oh, and ordered a weld in drain plug! order order orders, wait wait wait;)

    [​IMG]
     
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  17. Sep 19, 2021
    SFaulken

    SFaulken Active Member

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    Drain plugs are always nice. I'm always annoyed by things that don't have them.
     
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  18. Sep 19, 2021
    Dne007

    Dne007 Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

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    Ain't it truth! ;)

     
  19. Sep 19, 2021
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    you sure you didn't work for the government
    favorite saying - getting paid to watch paint dry :D
     
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  20. Sep 19, 2021
    Dne007

    Dne007 Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

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    :rofl:

     
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