Ford 9" center-section - how to tell if it needs rebuild?

[Derek69SS]

I have a 3.50 posi center-section from a Ford truck I intend to use temporarily in my Chevelle for 2-3 years... don't want to stick money into it if I don't have to, as I'll be changing the gearing whenever I get around to swapping the engine and trans. (from LT1/4L60e to LS1/T56)

Should I just put it in and try it, or is there something I should look over before using it? It's easy enough to pull if it's noisy or the posi doesn't work, but I don't want a lot of down-time this summer during our way-too-short driving season, and I don't want it to give me problems on a trip several hundred miles from home. I put about 5-6,000 miles/year on the Chevelle, which includes some long trips, drag racing, and autocross... running about 300-325hp smallblock w/ automatic, so while I do beat on my stuff pretty regularly, it doesn't have enough power to break a lot of things. :o

[John D]

I'm guessing you're going to use an aftermarket housing for the Chevelle chassis?

Basic slop & backlash checks (as you'd do with any gearset). Visually check the ring, pinion, & spiders for chipped teeth or a nasty wear pattern. Any good service manual that has a ring & pinion setup/check procedure in it will detail what to do... it really doesn't matter make or model when you're not tearing it down - gears are gears.

[Derek69SS]

Yep, ordered a Moser 9" housing today. :)

The gears look serviceable. I'll have a local guy look it over when I take the axles to him to get the bearings pressed on. :cool:

[Derek69SS]

Had it looked at today, and he said there's nothing he could see that was cause for concern... will put it in as-is. :)