8.8 axle swap revisit

74ProII · Feb 7, 2006

hey guys, I seem to remember some questions about 8.8 swaps. Well anyways while searching for another article in the stacks I found one from Mustang Illustrated, DEc 90, vol 5 #6". If someone likes I can make a scan of the article. There was a rear spring and shackle kit specifically for the purpose. I don't know if the company is there, I haven't looked yet. The kit was around $120 then.

Compnay info:
Precision Street Rods and Machines
19158 Roscoe Blvd. Dept. M.I. Northridge
CA 91324
(818)886-5018

jeffnoel · Feb 7, 2006

Please scan and post or email jeffnoel@hotmail.com

Gael · Feb 7, 2006

I'd like to check it out too if possible.

Gael · Feb 7, 2006

They're supposedly Heidts dealers. Found this on Heidt's site.

Precision Street Rods & Machine
19158 Roscoe Blvd.
North Ridge, CA, 91324
818-886-5018

Gael · Feb 7, 2006

Got it! http://www.precisionstreetrods.com/

74ProII · Feb 11, 2006

Sorry for the delay guys, barely even seen my house this week. I will try to get it done this weekend. Just only managed to check the board on a break at work.

2muchtime · Feb 12, 2006

i dont understand this whole thing with the 8.8
its a crap setup. the 8in is just as strong and can be made
pretty much bullet proof
if your gonna waste your time fitting an 8.8 in your II your a fool.
you will spend less money and time installing a 9 inch..

jeffnoel · Feb 12, 2006

I have to disagree the 8.8 can be picked up fairly cheap with a trak-lok. Finding a 9-inch that fits as is is hard and to modify it to work ain't cheap.

74ProII · Feb 12, 2006

As far as 8' goes, try to find one. Dissapearing at a rapid rate. At least ones that do not require major rework. As to that point why bother use a 9". Let alone the expense of a 9" or built 8". You can pick up a t-loked 8.8 pretty much which gears of your choosing most times for $100 of $150. That makes it pretty much a no brainer. Especially if you add in taht Ranger and Exploer 8.8's are rear disc setups. As for mine, it's a Mark V setup, narrowed and hardened axles, bar for a rear brace it doesn't get any stronger. Other people need options taht take alot of abuse, or just the mere fact of an easier setup that updates technology and bolt patterns with a better choice of rims.

78CobraII · Feb 16, 2006

Fox 8.8 is a little wider than the stock 8", so you can use Fox 4-lug wheels with no spacers or at least thinner ones.

Turbo T-Bird 8.8 is too wide, but its disc brakes will fit the Fox 8.8.

Anyone know the width of the Explorer 8.8? It would give a cheap source of rear discs and the 4.5" 5-lug pattern.

I'm looking for a Trac Loc for my 8" now...everything I've seen is over $400 new.

jeffnoel · May 11, 2007

I finally picked up that issue on eBay so here's the article.

itsaMustangtoo · May 12, 2007

"i dont understand this whole thing with the 8.8
its a crap setup. the 8in is just as strong and can be made
pretty much bullet proof
if your gonna waste your time fitting an 8.8 in your II your a fool.
you will spend less money and time installing a 9 inch..

Well I guess I have a crap setup, wasted my time, am a fool, and have more money than brains I have an 8.8 explorer rear in my stang, setup with coil overs and ladder bars. I smile every time I mash the throttle and that foolish setup applies the power from my 347 stroker to the ground( better than ANY 8" rear I have ever had)
As far as the 8" as strong as a 9", I do not think so
Anything can be made bullet proof
I have broken 9" rears in my pro streeter ( and chevy 12 bolts)
Unless you are still living in the 60's and 70's --9" rears are not cheap anymore

Lastly, an 8.8 rear is as strong as a 9" ,it is lighter, and offers less parasitic loss internally.The 8.8 can take the punishment of a 9".Yet, it does it with less weight and drag. Oh and I did not have to cut mine, It was damn near a bolt in!
So don't knock it just cause you can't understand it, and join us here in the 21st century. I guess EFI swaps are total crap too?

itsaMustangtoo · May 13, 2007

I just read a post where guys are swapping the 8.8 rears into Jeeps!
Just like the 9" rears, the 8.8's will get used up. I am going to stock pile a few
while they are still cheap. " Crap setup"? JEEEEZZZ

Wart · May 14, 2007

2muchtime said:
i dont understand this whole thing with the 8.8

Price and availability.

When the good stuff becomes difficult to find and pricey the second tier
becomes the new good stuff.

its a crap setup.

By what I hear it's a coin toss.

One good thing about the 8.8 vs the 8, you can get perches for the 8.8,
The 8 has sub 3" tubes, IIRC 2 7/8 in diameter. It's a real PITA welding a
3" perch to a sub 3" tube.

I don't know the diameter of the narrow 8.8 axles but since so many are
being used in so many applications you can get the proper perches.

Wart · May 14, 2007

Thanks for digging up the artical, but

DAMN, I hate over width images!

Scrolling back and forth to read stinks, and I have a wide screen monitor!

So I did a little cropping:

If Mustang Illus or Supermotors want me to remove these graphics they can reach me HERE

jeffnoel · May 14, 2007

No problem Mark.

fastmonkeywheel · May 21, 2007

74ProII, you said you had rear coil-overs? Can I see a picture please? Does this do away with the leaf springs? Was it a bolt in kit or fabrication? I need to upgrade my rear diff soon, it's a stock unit from a 2.8 MII. My 2.3Turbo should break it soon...

8.8 axle swap revisit

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