Who builds/sells 8.8's?
10-27-2013, 04:10 PM
#5
Just a few reasons that come to mind quickly:
1) heavier than the 9"
2) definietly not as strong
3) not as easy to work on as a 9"
4) fewer diff unit/axle options
5) no real good way to mount a torque arm.
There's several reasons for the popularity of the 9" and S60 rearends. I have looked into offering a bolt-in 8.8 but by the time it's rwady to go out the door the cost is very close to the 9".
Figure the f-body torque arm rearend has been out since 1982, and the Ford 8.8 has been out even longer. If it were that good of an option someone whould have been doing it a long time ago.
1) heavier than the 9"
2) definietly not as strong
3) not as easy to work on as a 9"
4) fewer diff unit/axle options
5) no real good way to mount a torque arm.
There's several reasons for the popularity of the 9" and S60 rearends. I have looked into offering a bolt-in 8.8 but by the time it's rwady to go out the door the cost is very close to the 9".
Figure the f-body torque arm rearend has been out since 1982, and the Ford 8.8 has been out even longer. If it were that good of an option someone whould have been doing it a long time ago.
10-27-2013, 05:29 PM
#6
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Theres a lot of 1000 hp cars still running the 8.8 ........ it is very strong. Yeah not as strong as a ( built 9 inch ) but a 9 inch in stock form is also weak and only good to 400 or so rwhp ... maybe less.
10-28-2013, 11:47 AM
#7
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If it were more economical, it would be a more popular swap than the s60 or 9". Short of doing a ton of manual labor and junk hard searching..a new rear is going to be in the $2200-3k range regardless. As with all things, there's variables that can help you save money but you pay for convenience/peace of mind.
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10-28-2013, 12:04 PM
#8
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While it is true there are lots of 1000hp cars running around with the 8.8, not many of them are as heavy as a 4th gen F body and even fewer have a torque arm mount hanging off the side of the pinion gear area.
10-31-2013, 10:10 AM
#10
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In the process of building an 8.8 for my car right now. Gonna throw it in the car in about 2 weeks and see how it does. If all goes well I might build a few to sell.
10-31-2013, 05:18 PM
#12
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Had a friend of a friend tell me he heard a story about a guy who as soon as he moved the gear shift into drive, his 9" grenaded. The shrapnel ripped apart both rear tires and severed the legs of a jogger a 1/4 of a mile away.
Yep. Stay away from the 9".
10-31-2013, 08:12 PM
#13
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So your saying stock 9 inch center sections arent weak? lol Ask any 9 inch builder , a stock center section is only good to about 400 rwhp in a drag racing application. Ive broke the pinion out of half a dozen or so in ford trucks...... Stock 9 inch fords are not strong after market ones are!
11-01-2013, 06:58 AM
#14
^^True, I found out the hard way last weekend. Was running a 9" Moser housing, 31 spline axles and an OEM Ford center with 3.89 gears. I got lucky and only damaged the 3rd member and drive shaft. Damage in link below.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-m...nd-damage.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-m...nd-damage.html
11-03-2013, 07:41 AM
#15
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The trick to making ANY high performance 8.8 live is keeping deflection of the pinion away and axel tube bend away. Hence why they brace the ever loving you know what out of them.
Then Fbody guys weld on thinner tubes, and make the pinion area support the torque arm load all of which hurts the strength.
Are they stronger than a 10 bolt? Yep. If you have the ability to do the work your self it can be worth it. Is it a great option for drag cars? nope
Then Fbody guys weld on thinner tubes, and make the pinion area support the torque arm load all of which hurts the strength.
Are they stronger than a 10 bolt? Yep. If you have the ability to do the work your self it can be worth it. Is it a great option for drag cars? nope
11-03-2013, 12:00 PM
#16
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I used the entire explorer rear end with 3.25 inch axle tubes (narrowed 3.5 inches both sides from stock fbody width , mini tub) welding on 9 inch ends, and hilsty torque arm mount , cnc cut suspension brackets from racecraft. 35 spline spool/axle . Street/strip car with 550 or so rwhp on the bottle. Id like to know the highest hp someone has put to a 8.8 with a torque arm mount with success. I know 8.8s in stangs have gone 7s in the 1/4 !
