Set Back In My Ford Torino Project

[Ghost Magnum]

Everything is going just fine in my Cleveland build. I picked up lots of extra hours at work. And going to finish a little side thing this week. But I found a frustrating problem with my 68 Torino. Something I can't believe I never noticed before. My Torino has a Ford 8 inch. Not the 9 inch. The problems is me and my mechanic friend are the few ford islands in a sea of chevy's. So the correct 9 inch will be annoying to find that doesn't break the bank.
My rear end needs to be rebuilt. I found out that Ford explorer 8.8 with disk brakes actually is identical in length to my 8 inch. So I am considering the conversion. I guess what ever comes first.

 

[brucev]

Hum ... 68 Torino. Will be watching for more posts ... pictures! Sincerely. bruce.

 

[NYlakesider]

As a long time gear head I found out a long time ago if it can go wrong it will. Double down if things were going much smother than normal.

It will all work out, keep in touch!

 

[Ghost Magnum]

As a long time gear head I found out a long time ago if it can go wrong it will. Double down if things were going much smother than normal.

It will all work out, keep in touch!

I'm not slowing down. I'm doubling down on it.

This is like the Johnny cash song

It's a 66, 68, 70, 80 and possibly 94 Torino. The kids at autozone heads will explode if I go in there for parts.

 

[dmn57]

This is like the Johnny cash song

Hope you don't end up with a 60 pound title!

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

Wish I still had mine. They are worth the effort.

 

[robvious]

my 67 Mustang has a 2004 Cobra transmission.. 1989 5.0 Mustang motor.. 1977 Lincoln Versailles rear axle... the parts store guys LOVE me when come in for parts... almost as much fun as when I used to ask for Pantera parts... ended up saying Torino with A/C & a Cleveland to end their confusion.. and the 8.8 rear axle will give you almost the same available options as a 9 inch... finding that may be exciting as well... I am pulling for you... as I understand frustration... see pictures... the yoke on my new driveshaft sprung a leak - never even heard of such a thing... replaced the output seal 3 times before seeing the source... ugh... new yoke arrives today.

 

[Retired W4]

Come on man, cough up the green for the 9 inch. You will be happy in the long run. Sold my 69 Torino Cobra to an old HS classmate of mine from TN. He's got the 10 bolt top loader, 9" screaming. Engine oil cooler w/two filters keeps it running smooth.

 

[Ghost Magnum]

Wish I still had mine. They are worth the effort.

It's been a 10 year journey. I gone through 3 engines before building the Cleveland. It's worth it so far.

Hope you don't end up with a 60 pound title!

That would be funny. I played that song for my friend just morning and said that's my Torino. Lol

my 67 Mustang has a 2004 Cobra transmission.. 1989 5.0 Mustang motor.. 1977 Lincoln Versailles rear axle... the parts store guys LOVE me when come in for parts... almost as much fun as when I used to ask for Pantera parts... ended up saying Torino with A/C & a Cleveland to end their confusion.. and the 8.8 rear axle will give you almost the same available options as a 9 inch... finding that may be exciting as well... I am pulling for you... as I understand frustration... see pictures... the yoke on my new driveshaft sprung a leak - never even heard of such a thing... replaced the output seal 3 times before seeing the source... ugh... new yoke arrives today.

Yeah, frankenstein builds are very interesting. But we love our monsters. How difficult was all your conversions?

Come on man, cough up the green for the 9 inch. You will be happy in the long run. Sold my 69 Torino Cobra to an old HS classmate of mine from TN. He's got the 10 bolt top loader, 9" screaming. Engine oil cooler w/two filters keeps it running smooth.

What ever comes my way first. Like I said in my original post. I live in Chevy country. Pre 1985 Ford parts are scarce within a 4 hour radius of me.

 

[31FordA]

I have a Ford 9" rear out in the garage, Dad acquired it at some point for a project and I held onto it after he passed. If you were fifteen hundred miles closer I'd let you have it, I don't have anything to use it in. I'm sure however that there is a 9" closer to Texas than the rolling hills of Chester County.

 

[robvious]

Yeah, frankenstein builds are very interesting. But we love our monsters. How difficult was all your conversions?

the only original piece of the entire suspension are the upper control arms.. and they got the Shelby drop.. toughest part was getting the braking system to work together.. an adjustable proportioning valve helped a lot... it just took time & money.. and good friends with more skills and a car lift... mine started in 1991... so never give up...

 

[Racer X]

Everything is going just fine in my Cleveland build. I picked up lots of extra hours at work. And going to finish a little side thing this week. But I found a frustrating problem with my 68 Torino. Something I can't believe I never noticed before. My Torino has a Ford 8 inch. Not the 9 inch. The problems is me and my mechanic friend are the few ford islands in a sea of chevy's. So the correct 9 inch will be annoying to find that doesn't break the bank.
My rear end needs to be rebuilt. I found out that Ford explorer 8.8 with disk brakes actually is identical in length to my 8 inch. So I am considering the conversion. I guess what ever comes first.

My partner has a 2003 mountaineer with the towing package. 3.73 8.8" limited slip and the 4.6V8. Look for the towing package, maybe with the 4.6L A place to start at least. If her truck ever gets totaled, I'm grabbing that rear end and putting it in one of my Buicks. Aluminum housing and pumpkin with disks..

 

[Autonomous]

Oh brother, just drop an LS in it...

 

[Ghost Magnum]

Oh brother, just drop an LS in it...

No… lol

I would LS anything but my Torino lol

 

[67tempest]

My 1967 Pontiac Tempest has a 468ci BBC with a 4 speed and a narrowed 9 inch Ford. The 9 inch has a 4.57 posi, Strange 31 spline axle's, the housing is back braced with a ladder bar suspension. I've been beating the snot out of it for the last 10 years, haven't broken it yet. I would highly recommend the 9 inch Ford if you can afford it..

 

[Racer X]

My 1967 Pontiac Tempest has a 468ci BBC with a 4 speed and a narrowed 9 inch Ford. The 9 inch has a 4.57 posi, Strange 31 spline axle's, the housing is back braced with a ladder bar suspension. I've been beating the snot out of it for the last 10 years, haven't broken it yet. I would highly recommend the 9 inch Ford if you can afford it..

The late model 8.8" is the modern evolution of the ford 9".

I need to build a rear and for my Stage 1 car, and if the GM corporate 10 bolt can't hack it after I'm done, it will end up with a Ford 9" built for swapping into a GM A body, or modifying a late model Ford 8.8"

 

[hemiram]

The 9 inch is the way to go on a lot of older cars. I had a friend who had two Camaros with Curry 9 inch rears in them.

The money pit that is part of old car restoration seems to happen just about every time it's done. A friend has a '71 Roadrunner that seemed to only need a dash refurb when he bought it, it ran great and had zero body/rust issues. The dash was expensive, but the "new" one was perfect. First thing that came up was the power brake booster. After that, one of the NEW flex brake lines popped, making a huge mess. Both sides are redone, and it was ok for a while. Then the wiper motor, another repro part that wasn't very good. Heater blower motor, power steering pump, and one of the repro shocks blew. The AC worked fine, but the clutch expired. It took about 18 months to get it "bulletproof", and all that's happened since then is the stereo died of old age. All together, a car that should only have needed a dash refurb has cost a couple of thousand on top of that. If he hadn't found a pair of cheap NOS door panels in some old guy's basement when the old guy was selling everything and about to go to a rest home, it would have been about $600 more. Both door panels had cracked due to old age. They looked good, but were pretty much shot.

 

[steelslaver]

The 9 inch is the way to go on a lot of older cars. I had a friend who had two Camaros with Curry 9 inch rears in them.

The money pit that is part of old car restoration seems to happen just about every time it's done. A friend has a '71 Roadrunner that seemed to only need a dash refurb when he bought it, it ran great and had zero body/rust issues. The dash was expensive, but the "new" one was perfect. First thing that came up was the power brake booster. After that, one of the NEW flex brake lines popped, making a huge mess. Both sides are redone, and it was ok for a while. Then the wiper motor, another repro part that wasn't very good. Heater blower motor, power steering pump, and one of the repro shocks blew. The AC worked fine, but the clutch expired. It took about 18 months to get it "bulletproof", and all that's happened since then is the stereo died of old age. All together, a car that should only have needed a dash refurb has cost a couple of thousand on top of that. If he hadn't found a pair of cheap NOS door panels in some old guy's basement when the old guy was selling everything and about to go to a rest home, it would have been about $600 more. Both door panels had cracked due to old age. They looked good, but were pretty much shot.

You just about described my one brothers 69 RR

 

[upcountry]

Build it Ford tough
with Chevy stuff

 

[GypsmJim]

My Grandpa went from one used car to another. Then, in 1968, just after Grandma dies, he bought a new car. His first new one. It was a Torino GT, with all the stripes. Mom said it was a sportscar and he must be going senile.

That was a year after Dad bought Mom a 1967 Catalina for their 25th anniversary. First time we had 2 cars in the family.

My first car was a 1961 Tempest. It was OK, but I sure wanted a GTO.

Boy, these threads sure bring back memories...