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A rear end question

Dne'

Dne'

Well-Known Member
Hi! I was talking to a "new" mustang friend here in Houston, and he was telling me about installing a rear axle out of a Ford Explorer, 8.8, posi, disc, 373 gears? not sure. After we spoke, I didn't care much for the rear disc setup as I'd have to unistall my adjustable ssbc proportioning valve and put in another booster(no way), and then relocate the spring perches, and heaven only knows what to do about the parking brake!

I would just like more umph on the take off and posi would be nice too! right now I have a stock 8" with 279 gears. at about 70mph i'm running about 2500rpm, so you can imagine what my take off the line is.

What can I do without breaking the bank, mainly telling Gary I need this upgrade! :yah (like I don't have enough to do)
dne'
ps; thought a photo would be nice :bowdown of my rear end!
photo.jpg
 
Put in 3:50 or 3:73 gears. If you don't go to a track loc, the price is reasonable.

The trac loc is sweet....but more money.

I won't tell that you showed your rearend......
 
i have a line on a 8.8 with 3.73 and traction loc out of an explorer for my 65...i am actually liking the disc brake setup all the way around..and also since i am swapping over to 5 lug ..i am just needing togo pick it up...its on the too do list
 
Rusty~ 1100. bucks! I'll keep that on the consideration list :wor

Now, fordrule, what is involved?

I have a stock power booster, front disc, adjustable proportioning valve. I know what I said about not caring for the rear disc, that's not necessarily true :roll! how does the parking brake connect? I'm just picking your brain! :part Can you tell me what needs to be done or that you know of?

"fordrule" said:
i have a line on a 8.8 with 3.73 and traction loc out of an explorer for my 65...i am actually liking the disc brake setup all the way around..and also since i am swapping over to 5 lug ..i am just needing togo pick it up...its on the too do list
Click to expand...
 
It was a bit on the pricey side for sure but I didn't want to jerry rig something into mine and liked how it worked with my stock rear end
 
As Pete said you can just change the gears to 3.25 or greater, it's not too expensive if you don't upgrade to the tracloc which basically means another 3rd member. With taller gears you'll get more snap off the line but still have the one wheel peel w/o tracloc. Start surfing fleabay and see what 8" 3rd members with tracloc cost as it's not that difficult to swap out as one piece. You may find a seller or rebuilder near you that will take your conventional 8" 3rd member as a core trade in to lower the price a little, that's what I did.
How are you getting 2500rpms @70mph? do you have OD or 5th gear? mine was 3-3500 rpm @70-80 with C4 and 2.79:1 gears.

8.8 isn't a bad deal but is more appealing if your going from a 7.5 4 lug,etc. since your car is in good shape and running I'd just upgrade the gears unless you gotta have 2 black stripes out of your driveway, then get the 8" 3rd tracloc.

I hate to say this to a lady but those springs make your rear end look big :steer

Jon
 
A simple change to a 3.50 gear and a posi unit would make a huge differance in stoplight to stoplight.
Check out the FleaBay for a drop in unit, I got a 9in 3.50 tracloc for $525.00
 
What would someone specifically be looking for on eBay when searching for a 3.50 trac-loc posi third member, and what are signs to run away?
 
Do a search for Ford rearend 8 or 9 and look for a complete ready to install unit.
As with anything do some research before buying, But I would stay away from a used one.
 
Used housings are fine.....you want new gears to prevent gear whine and other related problems. Seals, gaskets and brake stuff can be replaced if needed. As said, research.
 
I've got a completely rebuilt 8" Posi third member with 3.80 gears I'd sell..... The case is a 67-68 8" with all new posi carrier, gears, seals and bearings. I bought it for my 65 last year at Carlisle Ford show. Before I installed, I found an 8.8" and went with that. $625 + Shipping.
 
pumpkin vs. the 8.8 rear axle

Jonk, as far as my rpm's go, my speedometer is way off! I just know when I'm going what I think is 65 or 70mph, my tach is 2500 give or take an R.
This is just something I'm toying around with~ pumpkin vs. the 8.8~ something I want to do in the near future(near meaning a year or so or sooner! lol), but have plenty to keep me occupied on the stang and my chevy and my moms truck, kids cars, etc. I've become the fleet mechanic! It's just that the guy I spoke of said I could buy a 8.8 for a very reasonable price2-400 bucks that would have everything I'd ever want, except the modifications to be burdended with! But people are doing it and I'd just like to hear more about this option :part. Then I could sell my rear axle and recoop a tiny bit!


"Jonk67" said:
As Pete said you can just change the gears to 3.25 or greater, it's not too expensive if you don't upgrade to the tracloc which basically means another 3rd member. With taller gears you'll get more snap off the line but still have the one wheel peel w/o tracloc. Start surfing fleabay and see what 8" 3rd members with tracloc cost as it's not that difficult to swap out as one piece. You may find a seller or rebuilder near you that will take your conventional 8" 3rd member as a core trade in to lower the price a little, that's what I did.
How are you getting 2500rpms @70mph? do you have OD or 5th gear? mine was 3-3500 rpm @70-80 with C4 and 2.79:1 gears.

8.8 isn't a bad deal but is more appealing if your going from a 7.5 4 lug,etc. since your car is in good shape and running I'd just upgrade the gears unless you gotta have 2 black stripes out of your driveway, then get the 8" 3rd tracloc.

I hate to say this to a lady but those springs make your rear end look big :steer

Jon
Click to expand...
 
I can tell you this much.

3.55 is great for stop light to stop light driving and gives the car a lot of snap.

However, if you do much freeway driving at all you'll want to go with 3.25

Luckily for me, I rarely get on the freeway in my Mustang and when I do it's only for short distances more often than not running down the feeder road, etc.
 
Rusty, which do you have? 3:55 or the 3:25? about the only driving we've been doing is from our home to Katy, tx for the www.westhoustonmuscle.com getogether! or I'l just drive around the nearby streets. Or someday I'd like to come out to see you! I should be happy the way it is! What's the matter with me! I'm having fun :roll! but I miss a big job, I need another 3 year project! :shrug Well, if anything, this is a good topic for discussion.
me, dne'

pss~ and those springs do not make my rear end look big! :hide

"RustyRed" said:
I can tell you this much.

3.55 is great for stop light to stop light driving and gives the car a lot of snap.

However, if you do much freeway driving at all you'll want to go with 3.25

Luckily for me, I rarely get on the freeway in my Mustang and when I do it's only for short distances more often than not running down the feeder road, etc.
Click to expand...
 
"Dne'" said:
Rusty, which do you have? 3:55 or the 3:25? about the only driving we've been doing is from our home to Katy, tx for the www.westhoustonmuscle.com getogether! or I'l just drive around the nearby streets. Or someday I'd like to come out to see you! I should be happy the way it is! What's the matter with me! I'm having fun :roll! but I miss a big job, I need another 3 year project! :shrug Well, if anything, this is a good topic for discussion.
me, dne'

pss~ and those springs do not make my rear end look big! :hide
Click to expand...

I have the 3.55 gears. They're fine it just runs at a little higher on the rpms if you get to freeway speeds. Not that big of a deal though. I've run the Mustang up to Conroe before for cruise ins and I've also run it down Gosling (going 50 -55 mph steady for about 15 - 20 minutes) over to Nifty 50's and it's fine, you just get a few less miles per gallon due to increased rpms and I suppose over the long term it works your engine harder.

If you do a lot of freeway driving the 3.25 would probably be a little better but still an improvement to the stock set up.

After I changed the gears I had some issues getting my speedometer to read even close to correct but after a little experimenting I have it now where it reads about 6 mph faster than you're actually going. I could get it closer than that but just not worth the $ it'd take.
 
I suppose with my type of driving, the non posi would be ok :roll, yeah right! I've spent a gazillion dollars on this mustang, what's another few hundred bucks for the posi! and my labor is very cheap and the lift should make the job that much easier! oh me~ I'm up for a challege that's for sure. My friend that works on our modern cars has a small shop and he told me that when I'm ready, he'd build me a pumpkin for his cost~ think I'll swing by his shop next week and see what's up on that idea! In the meantime, I have my gas filler neck and gas gauge to get working better. Gives me an excuse to get the car up on the lift! darn I love that thing!

"RustyRed" said:
I have the 3.55 gears. They're fine it just runs at a little higher on the rpms if you get to freeway speeds. Not that big of a deal though. I've run the Mustang up to Conroe before for cruise ins and I've also run it down Gosling (going 50 -55 mph steady for about 15 - 20 minutes) over to Nifty 50's and it's fine, you just get a few less miles per gallon due to increased rpms and I suppose over the long term it works your engine harder.

If you do a lot of freeway driving the 3.25 would probably be a little better but still an improvement to the stock set up.

After I changed the gears I had some issues getting my speedometer to read even close to correct but after a little experimenting I have it now where it reads about 6 mph faster than you're actually going. I could get it closer than that but just not worth the $ it'd take.
Click to expand...
 
I am planning on swapping it into my 65.the modding is needed for the width difference between the 65-6 and the 67-8. you have to cut and weld the housing to fit and then sourcing another short axle ..i was under the understanding if you went to the tunnel mounted e-brake then you should be fine about the e-brake. there is a guy on stang net that is running a 8.8 on his 67 and all he did was fix the spring perches. he didn't cut the axle tubes..

http://forums.vintage-mustang.com/mod-custom-forum/603784-8-8-rearend-conversion-advice.html
 
"RyanG85" said:
I've got a completely rebuilt 8" Posi third member with 3.80 gears I'd sell..... The case is a 67-68 8" with all new posi carrier, gears, seals and bearings. I bought it for my 65 last year at Carlisle Ford show. Before I installed, I found an 8.8" and went with that. $625 + Shipping.
Click to expand...

This is a pretty good deal. Gear is a little low but would probably be just the ticket you're looking for.

On a side note......Are you going to WSM cruise in Katy tomorrow night?
 
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