All though I prefer a fabricated nine inch for all applications because you can never out grow it but the S60 is the best bang for the buck purchase for the F-Body platform. The stamped nine inches, 12-bolts, and these 8.8 conversions are bad choices all for different reasons. Before anyone ever did an 8.8 into these vehicles we looked into it as we could get brand new housings. The reason for a brand new housing is most 8.8 we have ever built for the Mustang platform using customer supplied housings is they are already bent or the axle tubes have been twisted. These issues take time to fix and should be addressed and not sure if many have the tools and understand to do so. The scariest 8.8 build I have seen to date is axle tubes just butted up together with multiple pass welds at the center section portion.

Secondly for a 8.8 to fit into a F-body platform correctly the torque arm bracket mounting holes would have to go directly through the pinion. This too means you are altering driveline angles and torque arm angles that can cause fitment issues. Not the mention of all the customers who have ditched their 8.8 for leaks around the pinion bearing which makes sense because you're welding thick steal to a cast housing.

I think it was 2016 or 2017 we had roughly 18 customers that one year replacing the 8.8 they bought else where for either an S60 or our fabricated nine inch because of all the issues they were having. It still happens yearly but that was the biggest year. Same goes for customers replacing their stamped nine inches for our fabricated housing. Now do not be fooled there is someone out there calling their stamped housing a fabricated housing and that is just not true.

 

If you only want to do it once :

 

That is one sexy unit bud! I wish I could say I did it once but I'm doing it right this time around and going MWC

 

[QUOTE=gjohnsonws6;20362025]If you only want to do it once :

Is that a brake line kit from Strange or did you just run new lines yourself and what size 3AN or 4AN?

 

[QUOTE=01CamaroSSTx;20362105]The Teflon lines and bulkheads are from Midwest, I bent/flared the hard lines myself. -3

 

Nice thing about the 12 bolt is it fits, and is compatible with most things meant for stock axle (sway bars, springs, shocks, torque arm, panhard). That's a big plus in the scorecard when considering your options.

 

The s60 fits exactly like stock, I had zero issues dropping the 10 bolt out and sticking the s60 in, everything bolted right up, lowers, springs, shocks, panhard bar, torque arm, brakes etc. Like Midwest was saying the s60 is the best bang for the buck if you're making moderate to decent power, I scored mine used for a song too. The only other option I would consider is their fab 9", they have it figured out and it flat works, and you'll never out grow it.

 

The only thing that does not transfer over from a stock 10-bolt to our fabricated housing is the torque arm. We do our style torque arm that many have copied because it is the lightest, strongest, and allows the most room over an aftermarket torque arm. Once you price out our housing that comes with a torque arm, crossmember, and pivot link you will find you are close to the cost of everything else that requires an aftermarket torque arm still.

Not to mention we have e-brake brackets already on the housing, brake tabs, brake clips, and brake bracket for the junction off the body. These are things no one else offers.

 

did you have to modify the torque arm bracket on your aftermarket torque arm to make it fit with the S60? That seems to be the only modification that I have seen that is needed with the S60.

 

Yes, I did have to do that, cut off the outside set of holes on the top of the bracket and use the inside set on my spohn TA. You can buy the arm with the mount already trimmed if you reach out to them.

 

o ok ive heard that spohn sells their torque arm already trimmed if you request it but I remember seeing somewhere that someone still had to trim theirs anyway. Other then that it bolted right up? Im looking at possibly getting an S60 and if all I have to do is cut the torque arm bracket then that seems like a pretty good deal to me.

 

Yes sir, I have a lift to use at work so it was super easy. I even was able to hang the brakes on the car and not have to disconnect them so no bleeding required. There was instructions with the s60 and with the torque arm about trimming, I think you can even use the stock T/A with s60. I had the torque arm for like 2 years before the s60 went in so I just trimmed it myself and hit it with a little paint to help the powder coat stay sealed up a little better. I'm super happy with it, makes no noise, it's stout, and you don't have to worry about anything breaking. The only down fall some say with the s60, is the smallest numerical gear set you can get is a 3.55, but that works just fine for me.

 

Tweaks I needed to make to the TA adapter and brake line bracket to fit my S60.

 

that's very helpful thanks

 

I had my Strange 12 bolt installed back in 2002 behind my 436ci stroker engine (500RWHP/500RWTQ). I bought it with all the heavy duty upgrades back then. 33 spline if I recall. Posi. 3:73 gears. It was just rebuilt about 1 year ago for the first time. Never makes a sound at all, its 100% silent like a stock rear end. A couple friends of mine have slight noise but nothing bad, I can't even hear it but they say they can. When they ride in my car they say my Strange 12 doesn;t make the noise they hear in their cars. Either way, its too little of a sound to hear unless you are maybe windows up, no stereo on, crusing on a flat good road at 35 mph and listening very closely.

rear-end that has withstood abuse for 19 years and well over 250,000 miles......pretty good.

I love mine.

 

OH......I need to replace the pinion seal on Tuesday......slight drip.