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A local guy is building my 8.8 rear. Used a 99 explorer housing, swapped all the brackets and mounts from my stock 10 bolt to it, as well as narrowed it 2.5” per side. New 35 spline axles and lightweight spool from strange, billet ends, hiltsy mount, PEM rear brakes...and I’m still about half the cost of what a 9” with aftermarket brakes would run me. I’m stoked.
Is the housing centered? On mine, I added 3" to the short side and used 2 long 31 spline explorer axles. I was going to narrow and use 2 short axles but then the lca brackets would have been into the end brackets.
Is the housing centered? On mine, I added 3" to the short side and used 2 long 31 spline explorer axles. I was going to narrow and use 2 short axles but then the lca brackets would have been into the end brackets.
Yes it’s centered. I’m using custom length strange axles.
Can i ask how much the shop charged you for this conversion? I can't find anyone around here willing to do this kind of work and the closest shop is 2 hours away that will install housing ends wants $400 just to install those.
You say 2.5" narrow on both sides, was that 2.5" narrower than the stock 10 bolt?
Im planning on a similar build but am torn between using my 10 bolt tubes and running the limited slip or going spool and welding on different housing ends, i want to keep my factory brakes to keep costs down.
Hey, when all is installed please let us know if it drones or is quiet. I keep thinking of doing this swap, but a friend's 12 bolt made so much noise I couldn't even hear his radio.
Oh, and what was the total cost (parts and installation)?
Hey, when all is installed please let us know if it drones or is quiet. I keep thinking of doing this swap, but a friend's 12 bolt made so much noise I couldn't even hear his radio.
Oh, and what was the total cost (parts and installation)?
That's the thing about the 8.8 is its virtually Fords 12-bolt as they even share bearings. Most vendors such as ourselves stopped selling the 12-bolt over ten years ago because they was prone to gear noise over time and I have had multiple conversations over the years with the popularity of trying the 8.8 build and gear happening eventually. I just had another customer with a broken differential call me for a replacement today and he is ready to make the swap to a different housing.
The torque arm mounted so far out on the left side is the killer of the stock rearend and smaller housings with smaller ring gears. The S60 survives on pure girth alone and why housings designed for strength like our fabricated housing or the M9 mount the torque arm off the top and bottom and towards the middle of the housing.
Just some insight from someone who talks housings all day every day for many many years.
Another thing I always considered before deciding on the MWC fab 9 was how light it can be built. It's expensive in a way but when you look at the big picture and think of how much we pay for weight saving items you can't rule out the bang for the buck you get with the strength/weight of the Fab 9. I just couldn't bring myself to do the S60 based on how heavy it is.
You say 2.5" narrow on both sides, was that 2.5" narrower than the stock 10 bolt?
Im planning on a similar build but am torn between using my 10 bolt tubes and running the limited slip or going spool and welding on different housing ends, i want to keep my factory brakes to keep costs down.
It's about 2.75'' narrowed per side from factory 4th gen 10 bolt width...9'' housing ends were welded on from Strange. PEM Brakes were used, their cheap "drag" kit. Fits drag wheels.
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8.8 build 
