how hard is it to convert an 8.8 rear end

Check out my cardomain site... there is a page (full of pics) that have what I did to a 91 mustang rear end... it drives/runs great and it was very simple to do. Good luck

It was amazingly easy.... you have to take some time in the angle measurements and then its just welding. I had to have a custom driveshaft made, but that was expected since I was installing an AOD with the conversion.

Again, if you HAVE to buy one... I might go the disk brake option, but this one was free and I can always convert it... but yeah... it was easy and everything drives/works great

Now, if you get the explorer one... you have to worry about the offset... also the 65-66 you have to worry about the width, so for a 67-8, it cant get much easier.

I put an Explorer 8.8 in my '66. One side of the Explorer housing is like 2.93"? (I can't remember exact number) longer than the other side. You need to cut it down to the same length as the shorter side. Then you use 2 of the shorter axles. There used to be a great write up that someone posted on the internet about this project, but I can't find it. It wasn't too difficult, but I have a friend who has experience welding the rear end up straight. I think I would have screwed that up. I did the whole thing for less than $300. That included rebuilding the 3.73 traction loc, a junk yard aluminum drive shaft, new bearings, seals, etc.
The down side is questionable strength compaired to a 9", and it is about an inch narrower than the stock 8". I had to use spacers. For the price though, I had to give it a try.
Good luck.

gbarber said:

I put an Explorer 8.8 in my '66. One side of the Explorer housing is like 2.93"? (I can't remember exact number) longer than the other side. You need to cut it down to the same length as the shorter side. Then you use 2 of the shorter axles. There used to be a great write up that someone posted on the internet about this project, but I can't find it. It wasn't too difficult, but I have a friend who has experience welding the rear end up straight. I think I would have screwed that up. I did the whole thing for less than $300. That included rebuilding the 3.73 traction loc, a junk yard aluminum drive shaft, new bearings, seals, etc.
The down side is questionable strength compaired to a 9", and it is about an inch narrower than the stock 8". I had to use spacers. For the price though, I had to give it a try.
Good luck.

Click to expand...

Here is a chart you can use to see what you are looking for as a replacement.. This is difficult to read in this format but if you would Have ms excell I can email the file to you. It is a work in progress. I add data to it everytime i find it. Also this is hub to hub width. Usually you can get away with up to 1.5 inches wider. This is really the limit I have seen and usually that much means rolling your fenders. But for example I am using a 96 8.8 in my 69. I had to cut off the axle mount and put new perches on. But the rest is getting used as as and I will be running 17x9 wheels. I test installed and all of my clearances we tight but within limits. I may have to do a little inner fender work where the spare tire mount to prevent rubbing.

Rear end Width,Mustang,Cougar,Commet,Granada-Monarch,Ford Ranger,Explorer,Aerostar,crown vick,T-Bird
1965,57.25,,,,,,,,
1966,57.25,,,,,,,,
1967,59.25,60,59.25,,,,,,
1968,59.25,59.25,59.25,,,,,,
1969,59.25,59.25,59.25,,,,,,
1970,59.25,59.25,59.25,,,,,,
1971,61.25,59.25,59.25,,,,,,
1972,61.25,,,,,,,,
1973,61.25,,,,,,,,
1974,,,,,,,,,
1975,,,,58,,,,,
1976,,,,58,,,,,
1977,,,,58,,,,,
1978,,,,58,,,,,
1979,,,,58,,,,62.8,
1980,,,,58,,,,62.8,
1981,,,,,,,,62.8,
1982,,,,,,,,62.8,
1983,,,,,,,,62.8,
1984,,,,,,,,62.8,
1985,,,,,,,,62.8,
1986,58.75,,,,,,,62.8,
1987,58.75,,,,,,,62.8,
1988,58.75,,,,,,,62.8,
1989,58.75,,,,,,,62.8,
1990,58.75,,,,58.75,,59.75,62.8,
1991,58.75,,,,58.75,,59.75,62.8,
1992,58.75,,,,58.75,,59.75,62.8,
1993,58.75,,,,58.75,,59.75,62.8,
1994,60.25,,,,58.75,59.75,59.75,62.8,
1995,60.25,,,,58.75,59.75,59.75,62.8,
1996,60.25,,,,58.75,59.75,,62.8
1997,60.25,,,,58.75,59.75,,62.8
1998,60.25,,,,,59.75,,62.8
1999,61.0625,,,,,59.75,,62.8
2000,61.0625,,,,,59.75,,62.8
2001,61.0625,,,,,59.75,,62.8
2002,61.0625,,,,,59.75,,62.8
2003,61.0625,,,,,59.75,,
2004,61.0625,,,,,,,
2005,,,,,,,,
2006,,,,,,,,
2007,,,,,,,,
2008,,,,,,,,
2009,,,,,,,,
2010,,,,,,,,

You know, now I'm thinking about trying to talk the wife out of the 8.8 we had built for her 90, so I can stick it under my 68. I also have five lug axles and rear disc brakes laying around for it too.

hmmmm............

shoguun said:

trick her and say it doesnt fit on hers but fits perfectly on yours

Click to expand...

I can't, she knows better. She knows more about Mustangs than most other "Mustang guys" that I know. The 90 GT is her baby. And its funny that we can't afford to buy parts for my car, but just earlier we spent 150$ on stuff for hers.

get used to it... I had to buy my wife a mercedes for waiting so long to finish my car... still worth it though!