why a Ford 9"?
One application specific item with an A body is gas tank clearance. I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that the 9" Ford in an A body creates some hassles here as does the Dana 60. 8 3/4, 8.25 and 7.25 fit no problems.
I've ran the 57-59 Ford 9" in several A-Bodies and had no clearance issues at all, in fact the Ford 9" out of the 57-59 Ford cars is a direct bolt in for the A-Body Mopars with no modification needed except drive shaft length, the perches are correct as well as the brake cables.
As far as strength, I see so many trying to compare apples to oranges in this thread. There are several different 9" Ford options as there is 8 3/4 options and if you try and compare any 8 3/4 to, lets say a WAR case 9" the 8 3/4 is stronger without a dought. But if you actually compare an 8 3/4 to the equivalent 9", the 9" is stronger hands down. Go to any drag strip from the late 50's till now and see what is under any of them? it's a 9" and it isn't because the 9" has more aftermarket options, it's because it was proven to be the strongest and that is why all these aftermarket companies started building aftermarket 9" rears.
If the 8 3/4 was so strong, why did mother Mopar stick a Dana in all the factory built Hemi cars? And if you want to compare Ford to Mopar, all Ford trucks as well as Dodge trucks prior to the mid 80's both used a Dana 60's in the 3/4 ton and 1 ton's
And to those that think if you need something stronger than the 8 3/4 then go with a Dana, you could if you want to ad 100+ pounds to your car over the weight of a 9" and not be able to switch gears at the track.
The 8 3/4 is a very good rear end and I have one in all my cars including my 50 Merc, with the exception of my blower car which I stuck with the 9" that was in it since 1969 by a previous owner.
