Yes, Yes, and Yes...and the 8.8 can be built from junkyard parts, if you want. About the same weight as a 12-bolt; stronger than a 12-bolt; less parasitic loss than a 9". You can use TCS and ABS. You can use Ford 9" ends with big-bearings. On M6 cars, 12-bolts will start to whine after a few high rpm clutch dumps. An 8.8 will not. Then, if you so choose to use a Mustang-style torque arm, you'll find the geometry and the strength much improved over the F-body style (Mustang-style Torque Arm is nearly center-mounted on the axle, instead of offset to one side....helping to keep both wheels evenly planted, vice a twisting moment due to an offset TA.)

Take a look around and see how many Fox-body 'stangs in the 7s or 8s have 8.8s in the rear...it might surprise you.

http://www.popularhotrodding.com/hot...g/viewall.html

Lastly, the 8.8 is different...and I like that; I built it myself and I take pride in my work. I didn't call the local hi-po parts guy and order a rear end and then install it.... I built the rear end and then I installed it. When guys ask me what rear end is under the car, they all assume a 12-bolt or a 9. You should see the look on their faces when I tell them a hybrid F-body/8.8.

Honestly, the 8.8 build isn't for everyone. But, if you have some reasonable experience building this type of stuff, there are guys on the road with strong 8.8s with less than 1000 bucks in them. I went a little overkill on some of the parts, but I only want to do this project once.

Hope that helps,
Jon

 

Very interesting, thank you for the education. Looks like good work that's well outta my league for now.

 

now your making me more work! but then, maybe less work. I didn't realize you could put the 31 spline carrier in the mustang housing. Now I'm going to have to go back to pick n pull and look at the mustang housing. what year mustangs should I be looking for?

 

Look for explorer, f150, bronco 31 spline carriers .

 

i have the center section out of an explorer loaded with 4.10 gears and trac loc. I want to verify I can stick the carrier from the explorer into the center section of a mustang housing.

 

Not a problem it is still an 8.8 you just need 31 spline axles which that you would get from a Ranger 2 passenger side axles you would need to look since the pass side and drivers side share 2 different length axles one of which is the same length as the stang axle.......

 

cool. I plan on having moser make me a pair of axles to use the camaro axle tubes, so I can use the stock brakes, traction control, and abs and maintain the same width of housing. Thanks for the info though on the ranger axles fitting the mustang housing.

 

Good info in here!

 

.

That's because they need to be set up when new with a tighter back lash than the std .007-.010 ish. Try 4-5 thou and do a good slow break in then a few hi rpm dumps.
-That's how Tom's Differentials told me to do it-

 

There's a company that makes a 8.8 TA rear cover mount for RX7 swaps. Link is on other PC.
Not to much to make it f body ready I'd think.

 

$1300-$1600 vs $3500



Plus some of us just like tinkering and love saying - "Yeah I built that"

 

eh i can understand the tinkering part but as far as cost and reliability goes i wouldnt say a 8.8 is stronger b/c ive had my 12 bolt for a year now ive been down the track probally 150 times in my m6 car and it put down 750 rwhp on the old build 5500-7k clutch dumps and it hardly whines at all(just as much as my buddies 8.8 in his turbo gt). mine was set up properly and broke in properly and i have every suspenion mod you can think off..also i picked a spare 12 bolt up for 800 bucks so you just have too look around the only reason they sale high or people ask way too much is b/c they know guys on this fourm will pay it if they stop selling and sit there for a long time then the prices will drop

 

i did like how you used a differnt set up than most ive seen with the 8.8 set up's ive seen...i would deff. like too do this too my next f-body for fun and too save weight lol

 

Where in the world did you find a spare 12 bolt for 800? Complete rear, built for a torque arm F-body?

 

saw a moser 12 bolt on craigslist for a 98-02 f-body for a 1000 obo called the guy talk too him for a little while went and picked it up two hours after it had been posted..

 

Wow, I've gotta look at craigslist more often! Good for you, man!

 

oh yeah man you have too keep a look out on there alot b/c what happens is alot off guys buy f-bodys wreck them ect then part them out and doesnt rly know what everything is worth...i picked up a set off prostars with brand new 325/50r15 et streets the front wheels need new tires there worn out and a lq9 block for 250 all from the same guy on there

 

THANK YOU, couldn't find anything last night when I was looking

 

That's interesting. Didn't even think about that. Nice!

 

In all the research I did before building the 8.8, it seemed like the 8.8 was stronger. Sounds like you're having great luck with the 12-bolt, though, so that's awesome. Great find for 800 bucks, too. That's sweet!