rear end tagged posts

On a recent trip to our local U-pull it yard we came across this once posh 1973 Lincoln Continental Mark IV now left for dead for the scavengers to have their way with it. It’s big 460 cubic inch 4-barrel Ford V8 was still mostly intact. The Ford 9 3/8 rear end is still in the car. The 9 3/8 is a close cousin to the 9-inch and is strong with 31 spline axles  but parts are not near as plentiful as they are for the much revered 9-inch. A 9-inch center section will bolt directly into the housing. According to the warranty plate, the rear end in this Lincoln is sporting freeway friendly 2.75 gears. This car will also have the not as common 5 on 5 inch wheel bolt pattern. This once proud example was built at the Wixom, Michigan assembly plant which was closed in 2007.

The scavenging has alrea...

Well we’ve finally had enough with that puddle of 90-weight gear oil puddled on the shop floor under our Starliner’s rear end. The seal was so bad that oil would actually run out when the rear pumpkin was filled up. While we’re at it we are going to install new axle seals, ARP  differential mounting studs, and a new differential gasket as well. We started by jacking the car up and placing jackstands under the frame, letting the rear hang down. This job is much easier to do if you have an automotive lift, but alas we are relegated to the shop floor for the time being. After removing the rear tires and brake drums, marking the drums with chalk so they are re-installed in the same position, we removed the four nuts which retain the u-joint retaining straps...