1976 Mustang rear end swap

Anickm3 · Sep 30, 2019

I have read where on the 1976 Mustang that the axles can be swapped out for 5 lug axles.
I also just heard from a guy at a car show this weekend that several years of Ford Explores rear ends will bolt right up into a Mustang II, can anyone verify the years and what it will take to do a swap like this?

LILCBRA · Sep 30, 2019

Yes, you can swap the axles from any 8" as long as the length is correct. It's been a while since I've seen the info on this as I still run factory 4 lug axles, but it seems that, as long as your axles are the correct length, you can use drums from a Ranger as well. But I don't recall what year you'd have to get them from.

As for the 8.8 from an Explorer, I don't know if any of them are an actual bolt in. And, from what I am finding through internet searching is that the Explorer rear is roughly 2-1/4" wider than that of the II's 8". I know that they have been swapped into a II, but I don't know if the perches are located properly. But I also understand that the 8.8 is super-simple to narrow and as long as you have the capability to weld you can put the perches in any location that works for you. But as far as a bolt in, I don't think that they are.

Here are the 2 pages where I retrieved all of this info, someone else may know more about this topic than I do....

Ford 8.8-Inch Rear Axle History & Specs - The Ranger Station

Ford 8.8-Inch Rear Axle History & Specs, identification tips, axle codes, spline counts, dimensions, and Ford Ranger & Explorer applications.

therangerstation.com

http://www.mustangsandmore.com/ubb/FordRearDimensions.html

Adieu · Sep 30, 2019

There was a full how-to on MustangII.net before it shut down on how to shorten an Explorer rear to fit a II. (It's not a bolt-in affair, spring perches need to be cut from the II axle and moved over after shortening the Explorer axle).

I still have the URL bookmarked on my PC, for all the good it does.

extra_stout · Oct 1, 2019

You can also remove the lug studs from you axle weld one (or all) holes and redrill for the 5 lug pattern (a 5-lug drum can be used to get the pattern right). Or you can find a machine shop that will do it for your.

About shortening the 8.8: most cut a piece of tube from the middle of the tube and weld it back together. I like what this guy did: Link

StadEMS3 · Oct 2, 2019

You can use Explorer 8.8 with disc brakes but the drivers side needs to be shortened 2". Then you get another passenger side axle to put in the shortened side. The axle need to be stripped of all mounts and II spring mounts welded on. Here is the old Mustang II net site that is still viewable.. http://web.archive.org/web/20170415051308/http://www.mustangii.net/default.asp

Adieu · Oct 2, 2019

StadEMS3 said:
You can use Explorer 8.8 with disc brakes but the drivers side needs to be shortened 2". Then you get another passenger side axle to put in the shortened side. The axle need to be stripped of all mounts and II spring mounts welded on. Here is the old Mustang II net site that is still viewable.. http://web.archive.org/web/20170415051308/http://www.mustangii.net/default.asp

The problem with Web Archive and Wayback Machine is, they only archive about 1-2 to layers deep. I can see the link for the thread on Explorer differential narrowing in the modification tech forum, but you click it, and the actual thread isn't archived.

429MII · Oct 5, 2019

5 stud swap easy on a fox with 8.8 and two ranger short axles...not sure on a II..

mustangiiwithsomebass · Oct 7, 2019

LILCBRA said:
Yes, you can swap the axles from any 8" as long as the length is correct. It's been a while since I've seen the info on this as I still run factory 4 lug axles, but it seems that, as long as your axles are the correct length, you can use drums from a Ranger as well. But I don't recall what year you'd have to get them from.

As for the 8.8 from an Explorer, I don't know if any of them are an actual bolt in. And, from what I am finding through internet searching is that the Explorer rear is roughly 2-1/4" wider than that of the II's 8". I know that they have been swapped into a II, but I don't know if the perches are located properly. But I also understand that the 8.8 is super-simple to narrow and as long as you have the capability to weld you can put the perches in any location that works for you. But as far as a bolt in, I don't think that they are.

Here are the 2 pages where I retrieved all of this info, someone else may know more about this topic than I do....

Ford 8.8-Inch Rear Axle History & Specs - The Ranger Station

Ford 8.8-Inch Rear Axle History & Specs, identification tips, axle codes, spline counts, dimensions, and Ford Ranger & Explorer applications.

therangerstation.com

http://www.mustangsandmore.com/ubb/FordRearDimensions.html

what is the year model to find the 8" rear axle on the explorer???

Adieu · Oct 7, 2019

mustangiiwithsomebass said:
what is the year model to find the 8" rear axle on the explorer???

Explorers all had the 8.8.

1976 Mustang rear end swap

Anickm3

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LILCBRA

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Ford 8.8-Inch Rear Axle History & Specs - The Ranger Station

Adieu

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extra_stout

StadEMS3

Adieu

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429MII

mustangiiwithsomebass

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Ford 8.8-Inch Rear Axle History & Specs - The Ranger Station

Adieu

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1976 Mustang rear end swap

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