My 8.8 build (pics added, rearend finished)
 

This is my 8.8 build started with explorer rearend, narrowed. im - 4 Inches both sides. doing wolfe race craft mini tubs. 4.30 gears , 31 spline axles, 31 spline locker.plan on running 275 60 15 mt drag radials.

Man the bracket look simple and strong at the same time.

new pics added

damn thats nice! are you 4" shorter all together?

thanks.4 inches each side. well like 3.75... did wolfe craft mini tubs.

That TA bracket looks very nice. You tested to the car ?

Looks good I see you put fbody brackets on 8.8 tubes instead of retubing the 8.8 center section with 10bolt tubes.

I wish you the best of luck with your torque arm setup. Few people seems to have any luck with welding on the cast center section.

its been fitted in car and mocked up, waiting on parts to set up gears.think the reason they had bad luck is they only welded to the cast center... and didnt make a brace going back to the mild steal axle tube. you can weld to the center its cast steal not cast iron, i preheated center with a torch and just welded it. i beat on another test housing with a 3 pound hammer and coudnt break the welds....

what are you gonna do about the brakes?

Explorer brakes, they are plenty big and fit inside drag wheels with no mods.

Pics added 8.8 finished
 

Ready to bolt in

Lookin good.

The center section is cast iron according to Griggs racing.
Have you seen the solution Griggs racing has for a torque arm?
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...s/P7110965.jpg

its cast steal, CAT certified welder at work says it is cast steal, do some more reading youll find its not cast iron.... that torque arm set up wont work on a 8.8 from an explorer. all those are for fox body mustangs. nice set up though.

thanks nighthawk. installed pics coming soon. waiting on wheels. 15x10 3.5 bs billet specialties :)

keep us update on your set up.

The 8.8 centers should all be cast iron, and require careful heating/cooling cycles during and after welding. I also believe you're supposed to use nickel rod or nickel wire when welding cast iron.

https://ls1tech.com/forums/gears-axl...8-project.html

Its some kind of cast steal i promise. i took it to our caterpillar certified welders at work.ive had them weld several 8.8s in mustangs. they preheat it and just mig it. the guy who did it has been welding 30 + years for us.look around online... i repeat they are not cast iron. they say cast iron will pop, crack and explode when trying to mig weld it. this is some kind of cast steal alloy.

Man, agree to disagree, I guess. Throw a grinder on these 8.8s, and they throw off small red/orange sparks....a tell-tale sign of cast iron. They just grind and cut way too easy to be cast steel. Cast iron also rusts easier than cast steel. Plus, every chassis builder and Ford rear-end guru I have ever talked to, says they're cast iron. Weird. Nice-looking setup, though!!

where did u get the f-body brackets..