8.8"

Rearend Swap info – FAQ
Rearend Swap info - FAQ - Mustang Forums at StangNet

08-24-06, 08:34 AM

here is the information on Ford 9" rearends I have compiled...

All of the following has come from various sites:

These measurements are from flange to flange. Subtract 5" for bare housing length.

65-66 Mustang 57.25 inches
67-70 Mustang 59.25 inches
71-73 Mustang 61.25 inches
77-81 Versailles 58.50 inches
74 Maverick 8" 56.50 inches
75 Mustang II 8" 57.00 inches
67-73 Mustang, Torino, Ranchero, Fairlane 9" 59.25 inches to 61.25 inches
57-59 Ranchero and station wagon rears, 57.25 inches
66-77 Bronco 9", 58 inches
77-81 Granada/Versailles, 58 inches
67-71 Comet, Cougar, Mustang, Fairlane, 59.25 inches
71-73 Mustang, 61.25 inches
64 Falcon 58 inches
67 Cougar 60 inches
67 Fairlane 63.50 inches (coil springs)
72 Ford Van 3/4 ton 68 inches
73-86 65.25 inches
57-59 Ranchero and station wagon 57.25 iches (narrowest 9" housing)
66-77 Bronco 58 inches but has 5-on-5 1/2 inch diameter bolt circle
67-73 Torinos, Rancheros, Fairlanes 59.25 inches or 61.25 inches
67-71 Comets, Cougars, Fairlanes 59.25 inches

Where to find the 9" rear axle

67-73 medium and big block Mustangs and Cougars
66-71 Fairlanes, Torinos, Montegos, Comets, and other Ford intermediates
with big blocks
57-59 V8 Fords and Mercurys
77-81 Lincoln Versailles & Trucks

Type of 9" axle housings

67-73 Mustang/Cougar - light duty, thinnest housing material, small axle
bearings, 28 and 31 splines
57-68 passenger car and 1/2 ton truck - medium duty, stronger than Mustang
type, 28 and 31 splines
Ranchero/Torino - heavy duty thick wall housing, 3.25 inch diameter axle
tubes with flat tops
69-77 Galaxies (coils), Lincolns (coils), and late pickups (leaf)- 3.25
inch diameter all the way to the backing plate, coil housings have upper
control arm mount

How to recognize 9" housing centers

57 - no dimples, flat center band up the center of the rear cover, bottom
drain plug
58-59 - two dimples on back of housing, flat center band, some had drain holes
60-67 - two dimples, flat center band, oil level hole in back cover
63-77 Lincoln, LTD, Thunderbirds had 9.375 inch centers, housings were cut
away at the gasket surface for ring gear clearance, one curved rib at the front
top portion of differential. Strong, but no gears.

Types of 9" Axles

28 spline axles cannot be shortened and resplined (they're tapered)
Some can: 69-73 Mustang and Cougars have a straight 28 spline axle.
72 and earlier 31 spline axles have the ability to be shortened
73 and later 9" (big cars) have a 5-on-5 bolt circle and the axles cannot be
shortened
67-73 Mustang axles identified by wheel flange:
oval hole - 28 splines two large holes and counter sunk center - 31 splines



Various informative web sites:

CLASSIC CONCEPTS

http://www.maliburacing.com/ford_9_i..._nine_inch.htm

http://www.ultrastang.com/Rearinfo.asp?Page_ID=1

Kevinstang's Ford Nine Inch Differential Page +

Versailles Swap:

Lincoln Versailles 9" Rearend Swap

Mustangs Plus - Tech Articles - Lincoln Versailles Rear Disc Conversion Tips

Rear Axle

http://www.ultrastang.com/Ultrainfo.asp?Page_ID=4





Anyone running an early 90's rearend in a 66 - Corral Forums

Ford 8.8” Rear end Faq:


Vehicle Application Axle Width (inches)
'86-'93 Ford Mustang 8.8 59.25
Late 90’s Crown Vic 64.50

FORD
'65-'66 Mustang 57.25
'67-'70 Mustang 8.0 59 51/48
'71-'73 Mustang 61.25
'67-'71 Comet, Cougar 59.25
'71-'77 Maverick 56 11/42 and 57

CHEVROLET
'67-'69 Camaro 59 51/48
'70-'81 Camaro 60 51/48
'62-'67 Chevy II 58 71/48
'68-'74 Nova 59 51/48


Fox Body 4-lug – 59.25”
94-98 Mustang 5-lug - 60.75”
91-01 Explorer - 59.50”


Explorer Rear End Info:
91-94 had Drum brakes
95-01 Had discs
Came with 31 Spline axles, Trac-Loc, and either 3.73’s or 4.11’s
Explorer Rear end differential if offset 2.5”.




8.8 into 68 Mustang - Vintage Mustang Forums

The Ford 8.8 Mustang Rear End - Car Craft Magazine

Ford 8.8 Inch Rear End - 5.0 Mustang Magazine

I have all of the info saved to a word file because I will someday get around to swapping my rearend. I need to finish my engine and aod swap first.

Not all my doing, just put together from various sources.

Hope that helps.

The 1990 Vic 5.0 is a roller motor (they went roller in 86) But it's got the crappy E6SE heads (look for the "S" cast into the lower front corner, next to the valve cover of the pass. side head) with these heads will be the flat topped pistons with no valve reliefs. Same block, crank, rods as the HO 5.0. It'll also have the smallest of the factory roller cams. Should have an aluminum std rotation waterpump. These motors are good for buildup fodder with different heads, cams and pistons. As for the 8.8 rear, you're really better off starting with an Explorer 8.8, most had better gearing and traction loc plus 31 spline axles.

For a 4 bolt cleveland (don't know why you'd insist on this feature, the 2 bolt block is just as strong, same block actually) got to Ford 335 "Cleveland" Series Engine Forum you'll find one a lot easier there than a junkyard

Great info guys. I am reading all of this but still scratching my head about the driveshaft.

Say the car is a 67-68 Mustang, 302 with a T5 and an 8.8"

What is the best choice for the driveshaft? Aluminum is prefered.

YLWRCR said:

Great info guys. I am reading all of this but still scratching my head about the driveshaft.

Say the car is a 67-68 Mustang, 302 with a T5 and an 8.8"

What is the best choice for the driveshaft? Aluminum is prefered.

Click to expand...

I just get my driveshafts made at the local truck shop. Not aluminum but they are great quality and made for big rigs. You supply the ends and they supply the tube. Costs $75 + $1/inch of pipe. So, roughy $130 + ujoints.

thekid760 said:

Rearend Swap info – FAQ


91-01 Explorer - 59.50”

Explorer Rear End Info:
91-94 had Drum brakes
95-01 Had discs
Came with 31 Spline axles, Trac-Loc, and either 3.73’s or 4.11’s
Explorer Rear end differential if offset 2.5”.

Click to expand...

So if a 66 8" rear is 57.25" and an explorer is 59.50", then an explorer rear narrowed 2.5" to match the short side comes out at 57.00" It seems like this would be just about perfect. All I would need is another short side axle and I'd be set.

I am currently running 17x8" wheels with 4.75" backspace. A .25 inch narrower rear shouldn't make any noticeable diffence should it?

This seems like the best way to get 31 splines, limited slip diff, disc brakes, and improved efficency.