Dana 44 from a TJ ( same axle width of 60" from Supa F Spares was worth $3300. You would then have to re-gear it ( stock 3.07 TJ, 3.54 XJ ) and pay for the install and removal of all brackets and swapping the XJ ones on to it. You are looking at minium of $1000 for ratio's and labour installing it without factoring in the bracket swap and without a diff centre change like a Tru-Trac which adds another $1096.70.
There is only one direct swap but it is not avaliable here and that is a not that common, a Dana 44 from pre 91 XJ with a tow package. Been quoted $1500 just for the housing alone and maybe the axles. Then still have to fit the ratios and centre to but the brackets are ready to go.
A Ford Explorer runs 8.8 axle but is 1.5" narrower so you must run wheel spacers ( illegal ) to stop the tyres from rubbing on the springs. You still have to cut all the brackets off as they are spring under and the shouck mounts are wrong too.
As for Ford 9" They have way more to choose from in the States then we do. Also the 28 spline is not that great either once you are in low range as have snapped one of those axles first time out in my CJ7 with a shortened F100 rear. The 31 spline I never broke though!
Axle Widths:
65-66 Mustang 57.25 inches
67-70 Mustang 59.25 inches
71-73 Mustang 61.25 inches
77-81 Versailles 58.50 inches
67-73 Mustang, Torino, Ranchero, Fairlane 9" 59.25 inches to 61.25 inches
57-59 Ranchero and station wagon rears, 57.25 inches
66-77 Bronco 9", 58 inches
77-81 Granada/Versailles, 58 inches
67-71 Comet, Cougar, Mustang, Fairlane, 59.25 inches
71-73 Mustang, 61.25 inches
64 Falcon 58 inches
67 Cougar 60 inches
67 Fairlane 63.50 inches (coil springs)
72 Ford Van 3/4 ton 68 inches
73-86 65.25 inches
57-59 Ranchero and station wagon 57.25 iches (narrowest 9" housing)
66-77 Bronco 58 inches but has 5-on-5 1/2 inch diameter bolt circle
67-73 Torinos, Rancheros, Fairlanes 59.25 inches or 61.25 inches
67-71 Comets, Cougars, Fairlanes 59.25 inches
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Where To Find:
67-73 medium and big block Mustangs and Cougars
66-71 Fairlanes, Torinos, Montegos, Comets, and other Ford intermediates with big blocks
57-59 V8 Fords and Mercurys
77-81 Lincoln Versailles & Trucks
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Type Of 9" Housings:
67-73 Mustang/Cougar - light duty, thinnest housing material, small axle bearings, 28 and 31 splines
57-68 passenger car and 1/2 ton truck - medium duty, stronger than Mustang type, 28 and 31 splines
Ranchero/Torino - heavy duty thick wall housing, 3.25 inch diameter axle tubes with flat tops
69-77 Galaxies (coils), Lincolns (coils), and late pickups (leaf)- 3.25 inch diameter all the way to the backing plate, coil housings have upper control arm mount
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How To Recognize 9" Housing Centers:
57 - no dimples, flat center band up the center of the rear cover, bottom drain plug
58-59 - two dimples on back of housing, flat center band, some had drain holes
60-67 - two dimples, flat center band, oil level hole in back cover
63-77 Lincoln, LTD, Thunderbirds had 9.375 inch centers, housings were cut away at the gasket surface for ring gear clearance, one curved rib at the front top portion of differential, strong but no gears
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Types of 9" Axles:
28 spline axles cannot be shortened and resplined (they're tapered)
72 and earlier 31 spline axles have the ability to be shortened
73 and later 9" (cars) have a 5-on-5 bolt circle and the axles cannot be shortened
67-73 Mustang axles identified by wheel flange:
oval hole - 28 splines
two large holes and counter sunk center - 31 splines
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More Facts:
5 on 5 lug pattern is a truck pattern
A 9" complete rear axle is approximately 35 pounds heavier than an 8.8 rear axle with approximately the same components.
It is common to find a 9" in a old Falcon or Comet that has had a HIPO SMALL block with 31 splines and a locker.
If the case has two verticle RIBS ,from top to middle of case it is a good IRON type IF in the very center of this case there is the letter "N" than this is a NODULAR CASE (GREAT) this is the strongest factory case made BY FORD!!!
The ranger truck works good with a 9" from a 64 to 71 Falcon, Comet, some 65 to 69 Mustangs or 64 to 67 Ranchero V8 cars.
I believe that our Falcon's are around the 64-65" according to a axle builder near by. Not sure on the Bronco axle like Jimmy is running but he says it is quite wide and would be around the same then as a Falcon but has the wrong stud pattern of 5 on 5" instead of our 5 on 4.5".
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