ive been busy 
8.8 Build
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From: Humble Tx
well my local junkyard has a bunch of 96-98 mustang gt axles complete with brakes and everything for 100 bucks. so im gonna pick one up in the next week or two, and start building. hope to have the axle ready with 4.10 gears and tracloc by next month when it starts to get cool. gives me a little time to figure out how to do the t/a mounting bracket, as im definitely going to go that route. im just gonna go with the moser 31 splines and get a used set of cclip eliminators. should be plenty beefy, and we'll see how it holds up to 5k rpm launches on slicks. hahaha.
Hey guys, I have a friend that picked up a 8.8 for his 02 ws6. It has a mount welded on for the torque arm. He has been running that setup for 3 years. It has seen many high 1.30 60fts being behind a forged ls7.
Now as for the 8.8. i have gone through a few and built alot more. I currently have one in my 03 cobra. Simple build, 31 spline mosser axles with a full spool. 8.8 ends with c clip eliminators. my car has seen many 6k plus launches and now sees 5k trans brake launches. I have been beating on my for over 3 years. No problems.
The 9 inch ends are very good. But not a must. Yes the 8.8 ends are more prone to leaking, but can be sealed with a little work.
I am about to build the same setup as in this thread for a buddy that has a 416 lt1.
Great work on the build. and dont be scared to give it hell. The parts are good for it.
Now as for the 8.8. i have gone through a few and built alot more. I currently have one in my 03 cobra. Simple build, 31 spline mosser axles with a full spool. 8.8 ends with c clip eliminators. my car has seen many 6k plus launches and now sees 5k trans brake launches. I have been beating on my for over 3 years. No problems.
The 9 inch ends are very good. But not a must. Yes the 8.8 ends are more prone to leaking, but can be sealed with a little work.
I am about to build the same setup as in this thread for a buddy that has a 416 lt1.
Great work on the build. and dont be scared to give it hell. The parts are good for it.
I just unexpectedly picked up a complete 8.8, was supposed to pick up a 9 inch housing and the guy had the 8.8 sitting in the corner. Im going to set it up just like you've posted in the next couple of months.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 367
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From: Eastland,Texas
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
From: Eastland,Texas
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 367
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From: Eastland,Texas
On The Tree
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From: Humble Tx
hey 98silver, what backspacing are you using since the axle is shorter then the 10 bolt? i think what i may do is just find some 15x10 mustang pattern Prostars and run those and some cheapo summit stars in the front, that way i can just throw the 8.8 and 4.10 gears in and then upgrade to the moser axles and chevy boltpattern and all that good stuff as money becomes more available. hopefully i'll have some progress pics within the next month.. just need to figure out what backspacing i'll need and start looking for prostars.
Did you by any chance try to adapt your ls1 brakes to fit? I've got a spare set of backing plates and i think im going to give it a shot to keep cost down, junkyards around here are a bit overpriced.
I got to thinking the other day helping my buddy work on his ranger.....fox body guys use ranger axles to swap to 5 lug axles and brakes. Well if they can swap axles from a ranger to a fox, can I use a ranger rear to put it in my car? It technically should be the same housing minue the upper control arm mounts and will have leaf spring brackets instead of the LCA mounts, but other than that it should be the same width.
Kind of thinking out loud, but its ALOT easier to find a ranger rear end than a mustang rear, I called a buddy and he told me $350 for a 8.8 with 4.10s, rebuilt trac lok, and drum brakes. Too much IMO especially since all I could use are the housing and gears.
Kind of thinking out loud, but its ALOT easier to find a ranger rear end than a mustang rear, I called a buddy and he told me $350 for a 8.8 with 4.10s, rebuilt trac lok, and drum brakes. Too much IMO especially since all I could use are the housing and gears.
I agree. It is my understanding that Explorers are the same rear end too and all have trac-lok's and 31 splined axles. I know around here you can buy used Explorers for $500 for the whole truck. I think this is the route I'll take when the time comes...
Those with 8.8's, how is the drive ability, and how does it handle? I won't go this route if it's going to handle like ****. I have the option to buy a fully rebuilt 8.8 for 150$ and im considering it, but nothings happening till I know it won't **** up my drive ability. I'm building this car more for road racing then drag.
Last edited by fortmyerspolice; Aug 31, 2009 at 09:04 AM.