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 Comparing the 9-Plus Race...  Comparing the 9-Plus Race case (right) with its grey iron stock counterpart is illuminating. The higher quality iron and larger ribs allow this race case to handle up to 900 hp, while the stocker can only survive up to the 300hp level. The cost of upgrading from a stock case to the 9-Plus Street case, which can handle up to 500 hp, is about $120. Or you can opt to upgrade to the Race case, as we did, for an additional $120 over the Street case. |
 Ray Currie points out where...  Ray Currie points out where an original 9-inch housing has been retubed. If you look closely at the housing, you can see where the original factory 31/4-inch diameter tubing ends. Curries new 3-inch tubes eliminate size differences in the bracket areas that often require using two different-sized U-bolts. Shown below is the Currie 9-Plus housing, which features full-length 3-inch tubing that also extends deeper into the carrier housing for additional support. |
 These are all the race case...  These are all the race case internals you need to be able to corral 900 hp with the Currie 9-Plus rearend. If we ever decide to replace the third member for one with a set of freeway friendly gears, all we need is a couple of jacks, a 3/8-inch socket, and about 30 minutes to complete the swap. |
 Abraham Benavides at Currie...  Abraham Benavides at Currie Enterprises starts by applying a layer of sealant on both sides of the gasket. |
 Once dropped into the housing,...  Once dropped into the housing, the nuts were torqued to 40 lb-ft. |
 Next the Explorer backing...  Next the Explorer backing plates for the disc brake assembly are mounted. Notice the drum assemblyExplorer brakes use this as the parking brake. This design also offers an additional 2-inch clearance, making this conversion ideal for cars with limited space due to shock-mount placement. |
 Abraham then inserts the axles...  Abraham then inserts the axles and secures them into place with the four retaining bolts. |
 Finally both calipers and...  Finally both calipers and rotors are mounted. Currie starts with blank rotors and drills them for the appropriate bolt pattern. We got a kick out of Rays parting comment, Now all the Biscayne needs is some horsepower. CC |
It can be hard to purchase parts that dont offer some sort of aesthetic appeal or an obvious increase in power.
Take the fuel system, for example. A trick fuel pump doesnt really make power, it simply allows you to support the power your engine is capable of producing safely and reliably. The same principal applies to a rearend. Sure, 99 percent of us wouldnt hesitate to toss in a set of steeper gears or a posi. But what about supplying the third member with the rest of the equipment to withstand the torque youre going to throw at it? Some may question if its even necessary to beef up the rear at allespecially if theyve never witnessed the carnage resulting from an exploded rearend. But how do you know when enough is enough?
Not everyone needs a spool or tree-trunk sized axles in their 14-second bracket racer. Also, how do you know when a modified stock rearend is sufficient, or if you should just go ahead and upgrade to an aftermarket unit? Much of the decision is contingent on how you use the car. Do you drag race, road race, desire a wider selection of gear ratios, or just want better brakes for your street machine? In the case of our 65 Biscayne, we wanted everything, and brutal strength was a must. After discussing our needs with Currie Enterprises, we decided to build a Currie 9-Plus housing complete from brake to brake. If youre not familiar with the 9-Plus series, well just tell you its everything Ford originally designed the 9-inch to be, only better.