The popular 9-Plus Hot Rod Housing is similar to the early style 9-inch Ford stock housing,
which is now nearly extinct. The 9-Plus model is made of premium grade forming steel
with a slightly thicker gauge of steel for increased strength and rigidity. The ends
are precision machined to accept a 3-inch O.D. x .188" wall tube. A machined chamber
is supplied on each end of the Hot Rod housing to provide a good weld joint. This style
of housing is very popular for street rods, or other space limited vehicles, due to
the fact that the shape of the housing provides increased clearance for mounting brackets
and the routing of exhaust pipes.
9-Plus also offers a Heavy Duty Housing patterned after the later-style Ford 9-inch unit.
However, the 9-Plus has been specifically formed to accept 3-inch O.D. tubes that
will slide right in. The original Ford housings required a 3-1/4" diameter tube which is
not compatible with many of the commercially available brackets commonly welded to the
axle tubes. The 9-Plus Heavy Duty Housing is designed to permit the axle tubes to
go into each side up to four inches. Slots are machined in the housing ends to provide
additional welding contact. This housing is made of premium forming steel for wrinkle-free
forming. This 9-Plus Housing is made of a slightly thicker gauge of steel than a
stock 9-inch housing for more strength and stiffness, and a better base for welding
brackets to the housing without distortion. This housing is commonly used in high powered
street machines and professional racing applications.
The 9-Plus Heavy Duty Housing is available with the Stock Style Cover or Notched Back (pictured
above right) or the Smooth or Round Cover (right). Both are made from thicker material
and are stronger and more accurate than the original Ford units made some 30 to
40 years ago.