found this on a mustang site thought it would be of some help Ford Axle Widths: 65-66 Mustang 57.25 inches 67-70 Mustang 59.25 inches 71-73 Mustang 61.25 inches 77-81 Versailles 58.50 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 79-93 Mustang 7.5 and 8.8 57 inches Lincoln Mark7 LSC, SVO Mustang and Fox Body Saleens use a 59.5 inch wide rear axle 94-98 Mustangs use a 58.5 inch wide rear axle 99 and newer Mustangs use a 59 7/8 inch wide rear axle
does the 8.8 rear bolt into the mav? What mods are need to get it to fit. The alxes are from rangers and aerostars. drive side and the drums are ranger drums 9" not the 10" drums
LilDave just picked up a set of factory Cobra 17 x 9 wheels to put under our 71 Comet Gt Clone. We are trying to decide whether to find a wider 8, or a wide 9 or use a 99 up mustang rear. The disks sound cool, as we upgraded the front to disk from a 74 gt(got the hood too) a few years ago. what brake proportioning valve would you use??
All of the above is good info ...I recently re-did this swap onto a 66 Mustang (it was installed incorrectly, which leads me to the following reply). Yes - Explorer (96 and newer are what you need from a boneyard or new from Ford Racing as a kit) is the way to go. Get EVERYTHING - ebrake cables, backing plates, rotors, calipers, hoses, and brake line (altho the ends are all you really need - I suggest bending new line with the fittings you get in the yard) Mavman - I have a solution for your disc brake access...flip the mounting brackets! This places the calipers higher, tucks the ebrake cables out of the way (thus keeping it from interfering with leaf springs or wide tire/wheels) Here are pics I have of a customers (note - installed INCORRECTLY) - note the caliper on the left rear is at the 4 o'clock position (still stops the car, but makes it harder to bleed/connect ebrake cables, plus, potentially interferes with suspension) Second pic is right hand side disassembled, just prior to removing bracket and swapping it to the drivers side, thus raising the location of the caliper...I'm happy to report no interference issues whatsoever, even with 17x8 wheels (actually, looks kinda small now, and the vehicle owner wants BIGGER discs! ) Hope this was helpful to those of you contemplating this swap (using commonly available parts no less! )
An adjustable one is the way to go for simplicity sake...Wilwood's lists about $40...highly recommended
Seems like the 94-98 mustang rear ends would be a good choice for newer model wheels with the bigger offset. Plus they come with some pretty decent gear ratios from the factory and parts can be easily found for them.
8.8 swap We picked up a 2002 exploder 8.8 complete with springs and brackets for 150.00 off of craigs list.!!!3.73 posi!!! the 8.8 pinion is longer, will have to set it back further or shorten the drive shaft. I am thinking of moving the front spring hangers to the bottom of the frame instead of the outside instead of replacing the spring perches. this should also correct the pinion angle as the stock perches put the 8.8 at an angle. we mocked it up using the stock shock plates, but the shocks hit the sway bar mounts. so do we loose the sway bar or try to remount the shocks. Still have to change the rear brake residual valve in the proportioning valve to disk (2lb instead of 10lb pressure) any suggestions?
If you move the front, you have to move the rear. The springs will not be perpendicular to the axle if you dont. They will be at some angle.
right now, the front is way offset from the axle, the rear will work with offset shackles after the front is moved this will also increase the room for tires. we are putting on a set of 17x9 chrome cobra R wheels on it
i have both. but the newer rears are a bit wider than the stock one so sometimes a person may need to compensate with more offset wheels
I want to keep my better original cars as they are,but I've got the itch to build a car just to play around with.I have a lot of parts,351cj cleve,a toploader or 5,and lot of 9 inch options,and I have 1 explorer rear w discs.Ijust dont have enough time.Go figure!!
Found this today while "researching". Take a look at page 39, it has all the Ford 8.8" axle dimensions. Also, if you're narrowing the DR side to use a second PASS side axle, you can buy a new stocker here for $89.95 if the J/Y won't sell one individually. BTW, I wonder what the difference is between the 91 - 93 axle and the 95 axle? I know the latter uses disc brakes, what would the difference be? Almost forgot, anybody ever try a C-clip eliminator kit for the 8.8? I used one on a 12 bolt years ago, but didn't have it long enough to gauge any leakage... Russ
