[jkelly334]

HEY GUYS, Can Anyone Tell Me How Would I Be Able To Install A Ford 9" Rearend In My 87 Cutlass. I Heard That It Would Be Alot Stronger Than My 7.5 Rearend But Are They Worth The Trouble Converting. What Is Required To Pull This Off. Should I Go This Route Or Just Try To Use A 8.5 Chevy Rearend.Engine Is Putting Out Around 450 Hp. Thanks For Your Help.

[SSedan64]

The 8.5" rears are hard to find and costly when you do. Only came in the Buick GN/GNX/T-Type's, Olds 442/HO's. May be able to get a deal on a 9" Ford rear from one of the Circle track racers or cut & weld the Lower control arm mounts and spring perches from your 7.5" rear. Upper control arm mounts would need to be fabbed for the 9". Also you can get good deals on 9" rears for your G-Body from many Co.'s.
Housing, Housing w/axles and complete rears. http://www.quickperformance.com/Products/housings.htm
http://www.quickperformance.com/ads.htm
http://www.dcaracing.com/cat_9inrearend_1.html
http://www.9inchfactory.com/boltin.shtml

[jkelly334]

What If I Got One From A Salvage Yard? Is There A Particular Car Or Truck To Get A Ford 9" Inch Rear That I Could Convert Using My Spring Mounts And Lower Control Mounts? Also Concerning The Upper Control Arms How Good Are Adjustables?

[SSedan64]

Originally Posted by jkelly334

What If I Got One From A Salvage Yard? Is There A Particular Car Or Truck To Get A Ford 9" Inch Rear That I Could Convert Using My Spring Mounts And Lower Control Mounts? Also Concerning The Upper Control Arms How Good Are Adjustables?

Main problem with a Salvage yard unit is finding one the correct width. Your Cutlass rear is 58" from wheel mounting surface to WMS. The Lincoln Versailles rear is 58 or 58.5". >> http://dfwmotorsport.com/Fairlane/9inchrearends.htm

[ericnova72]

You may want to consider researching what it takes to swap the 8.8" Mustang rear into your car.

[SSedan64]

8.8" Swap Info here, Pics are no longer there.>> http://gbodyforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=17067#17067
More swap info.
http://www.maliburacing.com/tech_rearend_swaps.html

[1957plymouthhemi]

I put together my own 9" for my 83 El Camino. The Versailles rear might be a good option if you can find one at a decent price with a gear ratio you want. The other 2 stock rears that are 58" inches are Bronco and 57-9 Ford Wagon.

A cheaper option MIGHT be a wider unit (if you can get one dirt cheap) and using offset wheels which is pretty much what the guys using early 12 bolt rears do.

Here is a thread showing what it took to put my 9" together.

http://elcaminocentral.com/showthread.php?t=28724

All that being said, even though the 8.5 rears are a bit pricey if the seller knows what he has, unless the one you are looking at is completly junk and needs everything it may still be a bit cheaper in the long run than some of the other options and it will be a bolt in.