Brain Storming New Bumper Modification

It's enough for air shocks or air lockers. Just make sure there is a moisture/debris trap in the line. A better OBA tank can be sourced from either a broken portable like DeWalt, or even old fire extinguishers or out-of-spec scuba tanks. Check with a local dive shop as when they get out of spec they are supposed to drill them. Which is handy because all you need to do is thread that hole and put in a drain. :) Of course Sears etc also sell small air tanks in various sizes.

Years ago my brother fitted a pressure tank from a truck brake system to his jeep. It shouldn't be too hard to tuck one or two (they can be fairly small for 5-ton trucks) someplace out of the way, and they come with pressure-relief/drain valves installed.

AIR SHOCKS? On a Jeep? Why?

I can't take the idiots that swarm around Bill anymore. Bill has attracted far too many of them for my liking.

Hey, what do you know about Ford 9-inch Third Members? I have one with

31-splines and an open diff, with 3.50 gears. I want to put it on Craig's List for $75.

Will it fit _any_ 31-spline 9-inch rear end?

My understanding is that the Ford 9-inch is the same everywhere, and one can drop in any thrid member into any axle. Is this true?

Jeff, I saw that over on the Ford group and did some checking. There's a 31 spline and a 27 spline drop out. As far as the 3rd member, it'd bolt into the housing, but the axles are not interchangeable(ie. 31 spine axles won't go in a 27 spline housing). Has to do with the outer axle bearing size. Real bummer for me because my '61 F-100 needs a 3rd member and it's a 27 spline unit. None of the yards around here have anything but 31 spline drop outs. Of course the donor truck(an '82)I bought for the eng/trans swap I've got planned also has a 31 spline, and it's way too wide to just swap the complete rear end.

Considering a new case, just the case, is just over $200.00 and a used one from Currie is $145.00, $75.00 is a steel, I just looked at a used 28 spline last week, ( it's 28 not 27 ) for $600.00. When I found out my case was cracked 2 weeks ago I would of gladly had you pull everything out of your's and just send me the case for $100.00.

Heh, 27...28...I just knew it wasn't 32. Look at the time stamp on my post :-)

Or, it could be a steal.

I just looked at a used 28 spline

So, what I learned here is that 1.) I can get more than I paid, 2.) the third member will bolt up to any axle housing, and 3.) the buyer will care that it's 31 or 28 splines.

I knew that the 31 spline was larger diameter (that's how they get three more splines), and that it was the more desireable -- from a strength standpoint -- than the 28, but if one has 28 splines, they won't be interested in a 31 spline 3rd member.

I was really only concerned that the bolt pattern might be different on some housings, but that would defeat the whole purpose, or one of them anyway, of building the rear end with a case that holds the gear and can easily be pulled out.

Why are you asking about spiders?

The Ford 9-inch third member is an assembly that includes the carrier, ring gear and pinion gear, and the case to hold all of this stuff. If you want it, all you do is bolt the new case into place.

If you want it to be limited slip, then you have to replace the carrier because this one is open.

He might not have, but I did and I think you just solved the rear end problem for my '61 F-100...providing the spiders in the old rear end ain't too worn.