finding a 9" or 12 bolt for 87Z
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Teching In
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finding a 9" or 12 bolt for 87Z How hard is it to find a used 9" or a 12bolt in a junkyard or something like that. I really want a stronger rear than the 10 bolt, that I've already torn out on 3 different occasions. 10 bolts are cheap, but I don't wanna keep replacing Rears every couple months. I'd like to find a used one, because I do not have even close to enough $$ to buy a motive, currie, or other aftrmarket 9" that's already ready to install. Also, how hard is it to fabricate a junkyard rear from a random vehicle to bolt in my 3rd gen. One of my dad's friends claims to be able to fabricate one to fit my car, I don't know what that actually requires. somebody help me out
To be honest it's not hard to find one but it does take alot of work, My brother found a 1973 Mark IV or III Mercury that had disk brakes and he used it as a template.
I know he took his old 10bolt and tack welded it onto a metal covered table and then cut off the brackets on the 10 Bolt and the put the 9' ontop of it and the welded the brackets back on.
But remeber you want to buy new axles, gears,center section for your housing plus you have your C-clips etc. etc.
Like I said your still going to spend money and it's not hard to find a housing but it will consume alot of your time.
Hope this helps a little
I know he took his old 10bolt and tack welded it onto a metal covered table and then cut off the brackets on the 10 Bolt and the put the 9' ontop of it and the welded the brackets back on.
But remeber you want to buy new axles, gears,center section for your housing plus you have your C-clips etc. etc.
Like I said your still going to spend money and it's not hard to find a housing but it will consume alot of your time.
Hope this helps a little
If you're going to fabricate your own housing, I'd look into buying a bare 9" housing with the bearing ends already installed. Should be able to pick up a bare housing from a number of places for under 350.00. Then you could measure and weld up the bracketry for the arms, torque arm bracket, panhard rod etc. Find a junkyard center section for 250.00 and that would get ya started.
Or another alternative would be to find a complete 9" that is long enough from a auto recycler, then have the axles/ends cut to the proper length, cut off the old brackets and weld on your new ones.
Either way would require a shitload of work
Mike
Or another alternative would be to find a complete 9" that is long enough from a auto recycler, then have the axles/ends cut to the proper length, cut off the old brackets and weld on your new ones.
Either way would require a shitload of work
Mike
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 38
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OK thanks guys, I think I'll try to find the bare housing and have my dad's friend fabricate the rest. Then I'll buy all new axles, gears, etc. He used to be like a top fuel mechanic and is currently a diesel mechanic, he also has acess to whatever tools, etc i should need. He's willing to do pretty much all of this as a favor if i get the parts and items required. Oh, I almost forgot, how difficult should a 12 bolt be to put in the 3rd gen as far as the fabrications/etc. goes.
Last edited by ERVNZ28; Apr 17, 2009 at 10:51 AM.
