reinhardt02

The LS1TECH community has failed me. I should have done my homework, so I am ultimately to blame. Anyways....

I was under the impression all mustangs from 79-04 came stock with the 8.8 rear end. I was wrong. Only the V8 cars came w/ the 8.8, the base model came with a 7.5 that looks remarkably like the 8.8. The covers are very similar.

I already have an explorer center section loaded with 4.10 gears and trac loc. I bought a mustang housing to splice a pair of 10 bolt axle tubes into. Then I found out the mustang housing I bought was actually a 7.5, after I cut the tubes off of it. There went $50. Damn the bad luck.

djsanchez2

iTrader: (14)

I thought it was common knowledge.

Tbird232ci

iTrader: (4)

86-93 GT's and 5.0 LX's.

8.8 cover is more square, 7.5 cover is more oval.

dr_whigham

iTrader: (49)

Is there anyone that's going to eventually market these, ready to bolt in?

Regulator

iTrader: (7)

Probably not, given the other options that are already available to us (9in., 12 bolt, S60). I imagine a company that goes through the hassle to retrofit an 8.8 is going to charge a similar price as a complete aftermarket unit, so other than being unique you wouldn't be saving much coin.

chevrunner21

iTrader: (1)

google is your friend. i'm getting my info between therangerstation and here.

hiltsy855

iTrader: (35)

You might give Hawksthirdgen a shout.....

tom falco

The 8.8 ford rear is just as strong or stronger than a a 12 BOLT depending on the year of the unit. Just saying!!

therabidweasel

iTrader: (5)

Wait, you guys are defiling your sweet rides with Ford garbage?!! 10 bolt forever baby!

dr_whigham

iTrader: (49)

I know. I'm changing my mind though. I've seen a few 8.8's for sale around 1500, and that is SO much cheaper than anything else I've found. I truly do believe there would be a market for them at the right price.

chevrunner21

iTrader: (1)

there would be but because a lot of people are charging soo high for labor you wont find any of the bigger companies asking the "right price". only reason im considering this is because a good friend of mine is pretty sick with fab skills and another friend actually runs his own fab shop so i wont get boned by labor costs.

tom falco

Just curious would you run a 10 BOLT over a FORD 9"???? I think NOT!!! Believe me when i tell you that an 8.8 FORD is a very very strong final drive!! The cobras have them and believe me when i tell you a cobra can put down some nasty PONIES and torque. 8.8 fords are cheap and very strong!!!

therabidweasel

iTrader: (5)

How about I put it this way: i'd rather walk and carry Chevy hubcaps than drive a Ford. But, my daily is a fiesta and I'm waiting on my MWC 9".

That's clear, right?

10 bolt forever tom falco!

tom falco

That's clear, right? CHRYSTAL BUT!!!


Clearly you do not understand how strong an 8.8 ford final drive is. But with 100 more RWH than a chevy the new mustang would fit my big BUTT just FINE. Cant bad mouth 650 PONIES FROM A DEALER!!!

Wesmanw02

iTrader: (4)

The 2013 GT500, with 662HP and a curb weight of almost 3900lbs, uses the Ford 8.8" rear. Thats how strong it is.

I think there would definitely be a market for an 8.8" rear in F-bodies for guys that don't want the expense, extra weight, and power loss of a 9" or S60. You can buy a brand new 8.8 rear for a late model Mustang for less than $1500 retail.

The hardest part, as always, is fabricating a stupid torque arm mount to work.

tom falco

Thank you westmanw02 I have been building final drives for 48 years and i know a strong rear when i build them.

therabidweasel

By the way a FORD 8.8 has a 10 bolt ring gear. Or didn't you know that!!

chevrunner21

iTrader: (1)

yea but thats the problem, unless joe schmoe welder desides he wants to start fabbing 8.8 housings for f bodies your not going to find them any cheaper than the 9 or 60. If someone was to start fabbing up 8.8's for our cars im sure hiltsy would be glad to produce some of his tq arm mounts and problems solved, you'd have some fabbed 8.8's with a proven and solid tq arm mount, the problem is no one wants/has time to build them and if any of the big boys (strange,mwc, etc.) was to mass produce 8.8's they wouldnt ask a whole lot less for them than they do for a 9" or dana60.

dr_whigham

iTrader: (49)

Didn't the "Hiltsy tq arm mount" get released?

I saw a 8.8 in the classifieds for like 1300 a few weeks ago. I should have jumped on that deal. Maybe I just need to get a hold of one of you guys that has the jig and all and just get you build me one.

The 8.8 has to be less of a power robber than a 9".

**Edit** Just saw Hiltsy posted in this thread.... maybe he'll chime in.

chevrunner21

iTrader: (1)

$1300 for an empty housing or everything??

hiltsy855

iTrader: (35)

There's really no incentive for Moser, Strange, MWC, etc. to do the engineering required to put a boneyard 8.8 in an F-body. They already have good packages that include a new housing and they are priced accordingly.

My TA mount only works on the Explorer housing, if you want more info please send a PM.