1997 v6 rear end swap

[88LXSleeper]

Inherited a 1997 v6 mustang, wanting to use as part time road course track car. Don't want to spend much on it, thinking of swapping rear end to an 8.8. What junkyard cars would have one that would work without alterations, Thanks.

 

[RaggedGT]

‘94-up Mustang GT would be the only direct swap I know of

 

[Mustang5L5]

Just to expand further...94-98 Mustang 8.8. If you got a 94-95 rear you would just discard the brake lines mounted to the axle. The 99-04 rears are a little different

If you don't mind a little work, the 86-93 fox body rears can be made to work. You'd just need to swap your brakes and axle shafts over.

 

[88LXSleeper]

Could something from another Ford be made to work with some work? Ranger, Explorer, Crown Vic ?

 

[Mustang5L5]

Negative.

Well, not without a lot of custom fabrication. Ranger and Explorer rears are leaf springs

 

[88LXSleeper]

Just to expand further...94-98 Mustang 8.8. If you got a 94-95 rear you would just discard the brake lines mounted to the axle. The 99-04 rears are a little different

If you don't mind a little work, the 86-93 fox body rears can be made to work. You'd just need to swap your brakes and axle shafts over.

So my 7.5 axles and brake set up will work on Fox rear end ? That will help in my search, local pull a part is full of v6 stangs not many v8. Would tear it apart anyways to change rear gear, probably 4.10 for road course use.

 

[Mustang5L5]

So my 7.5 axles and brake set up will work on Fox rear end ? That will help in my search, local pull a part is full of v6 stangs not many v8. Would tear it apart anyways to change rear gear, probably 4.10 for road course use.

Yes. the axle shafts and brake parts are the same between the Gt and V6. Just the housing is different (7.5" vs 8.8"). Just pull the axles out, remove all the brake parts and swap it onto a nice 86-93 fox housing and you pretty much have a 94-98 8.8 rear.

Will just need to take care of the brake lines after that

 

[GOvert]

I realize that this is an old thread, but I have a relevant related question.
At the shop, we have a 1986 Mustang coupe that was formerly a 4 cyl car. We have a 1999 Explorer powertrain for it. The 7.5 diffy will work but we were wanting to do an 8.8 upgrade.
???. are the 1997 Mustang 8.8 housing the same width??? Can the housing assemblies be swapped and keep the 4 lug/stud axles and brakes.
We ARE NOT wanting to get into a rear disc brake upgrade currently and the telephone dial/10 holes are in really good shape and 4 lug.
Thanks for any information!

 

[squeak93]

Its been a while since I've messed with sn or fox stuff but IIRC 97 is the same width as a fox housing but the disc brake brackets make it a tad wider iirc. You will have to move brake lines etc over but it should all work - minus axles fox axles are shorter due to no abs rings I think. The new edge ones are the widest due to body changes.