i have been reading about 8.8 swaps in early mustangs. i have a 66. i know there will be some welding involve but i am looking for more info on this swap. also what about the explorer rear end??
thanks for any help
If you'd do a search here, you'd find more about this than you might care to read. This topic comes up about once a week, seems like. The Explorer rear has several advantages--- most if not all have Traction-loc, lower gears ( the one I picked up had 3.73's), and 31 splined axles. Down side is the pinion is offset 4" to the right, so you'd have to at least narrow the long side to bring it more toward the center. The car and Stang 8.8's don't have the 31 spline axles, they got 28's and only a few applications got Trac-loc, mainly the Stangs ( 86-up) and the cop cars ( Crown Vics)
I would do a search like he said. I just got done putting an 8.8" out of a SN95 under my 68. It went pretty smoothly. But your car is about 2" narrower overall than mine. This might allow you to run late model wheels without spacers though.
I asked the same question about a month ago. The information that I have is that the 65 & 66 rear end it 57.25 inches wide. A 8.8 from a 86-up Mustang is 59.75 from what I measured. If you use late model wheels ( I purchased a set of used Bullitt wheels) they are 5.75 back spacing. This rear-end will allow you to run these wheels without the 1" spacer and should work fine from the research that I did. I am a couple of years away from getting mine on the road but hope to have it bolted togather next spring. Yes, you will have to change to leaf spring perches, I ordered mine for rear-end specialty company that was mentioned in one of the monthly Mustang magazines. ( I think with shipping around 35.00) I have also purchased the 5 lug conversion axles from E-bay. (around 75.00)
If you already have a 86-up rear end or can get one cheap this is probably cheaper than the explorer which you will have to cut one of the tubes, or the 9 inch will more than likely need rebuilt or have a posi unit put in. That is the reason I am looking at it. Besides I had an 8.8 with 4.10's setting around from another project.
One thing that was stressed when I posted my question was be sure of the pinion angle before you weld the perches.
Just something to keep in mind if you are not 100% sure of the pinion angle they make wedge shaped shims for the purpose of adjustment. I belive they are available in 2* increments.