Rearend question/help

[jeff]

Ok - here's the deal. I'm trying to find a gizmo that lets older Ford 9" rearends "talk" to the newer computer controlled Ford trucks - that way the speedometer and transmission perform as they should. I don't give a hoot about ABS, if that worked too big deal. Has anyone seen anything like this? Is there any way to take the electrical guts from a working 8.8 and "adapt" them to work in a 9" ?

Thanks,

Jeff

[rdc]

I went through this same thing! I have a 9" in mine now and it works great but no speedometer. Take the sensor out of the housing and leave it plugged in or the truck will not run right. The speedo wont work but it will run fine and shift fine.

[jeff]

I was under the impression that the computer needed the speed sensor to properly operate... and that the transmission shift points also rely on the speed sensor... Does anyone know how exactly the sensor works? There has got to be a relatively inexpensive way to get a 9" setup to use an 8.8 sensor system. I figured that maybe somebody in the aftermarket would have a conversion "kit" considering all the 9" swaps out there. I sent an e-mail to Currie - I'll post whatever they reply with.

[mike_hinson]

Jeff,
Contact:
United Speedometer Shop
2431 University Avenue. Riverside, California 92507
Phone (909) 684-0292 Fax (909) 684-0146 Order Desk 1-800-877-4798
e-mail: usimail@earthlink.net
Website: www.speedometershop.com

They helped me out on a 1997 Chevy 4.3L OBDII conversion. I'm sure that they will know what to do. All cars 1997 and later and some 96 models must conform to fed standard On Board Diagnostic II (OBDII). The speed sensor is required to tell the computer when the vehicle is moving in order to start the drive cycle as well as speeds for shifting and many other things. I hope this helps.
Mike Hinson

[rdc]

Currie will tell you there is nothing out there. I have a friend who had his 9" machined to accept the sensor but it was very expensive and finding someone to do it might be hard. Yes the sensor has to be plugged in for the truck to run but you just dont plug it in to the housing. Pull it out of the housing and leave it plugged in and the truck will run fine..Hope this helps

[jeff]

My Currie reply was sort of lame-o.

Jeffs Question: Is there any possible way to retain the speed sensor from the 8.8 and run a Ford 9" rearend?

Currie Reply: "No."

Jeffs Next Question: So can a 9" housing be modified to use a speed sensor that can send the proper signals to the "brains" in the truck? Any ideas?

Currie Reply: "There's really nothing you can do here, either use the 8.8 and beef it up as much as possible, or do a 9" and convert the rest of the truck back over to older analog parts that are not computerized."


No offense to Currie, a company I highly respect and admire, but this total lack of creativity is just pathetic. We've got space stations orbiting the earth, but can't modify a Ford 9" to use a speed sensor? I'll keep searching for a real solution.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

[rdc]

Dude I will figure it out. Damn can't be that big a deal!!! I mean just drill a freakin' hole in the 9" and weld a bung to thread the sensor to. What does the sensor read? A magnet on the ring gear? I think the minds in this forum can come up with a solution!!!

Tony http://www.race-dezert.com/cgi-bin/wwwthreads/images/icons/wink.gif

[jeff]

Mike-

Here is the reply I got from United Speedo...

------------------------------------
Dear Jeff,
Thank you for writing. After showing your e-mail to three technicians and the service dept., the best answer they could come up with was to contact "Currie Enterprises". I believe they are a rearend specialist. Unfortunately, I do not have the telephone number. I know they are a race sponser and may have a web site?

-------------------------------------

Wheeeee.... :)

[rdc]

Kind of a long shot but Perry Mcneil might know some tricks-I don't have the # but I know his shop/house is in lemon grove-try 411.

[rdc]

how about trying sandy cone at 805-239-2663. he may have something up his sleaves that will work. he knows a lot about rear ends and stuff like that.

[rdc]

I will try and get a picture of my friends third member that has been modified to accept the sensor, check back tomorrow

[rdc]

Here are three pictures of the modified 3rd member. I hope this helps you.

[rdc]

Another angle

[rdc]

And yet another

[jeff]

Bitchin'

That's all I can say... Anyone in SoCal modifiying 9" housings in this manner?

[rdc]

Looks like it is time to run to Home Depot for more tie wraps!! Hey nice pics.. It is about time we found the answer. I am sure just about any fab/race shop can do it from the pics.

Tony

[scott]

The only thing that plugs into the differential is the ABS........ Who needs it !!!!!!!!! Get a widened 9"