Any good rear end swaps?

I didn't want to spend much on the old 8", don't really want to put in a 9", but I was wondering if anyone ever put an 8.8 in one. I heard they fit Cougars (from and Explorer) But I never saw the proof. I work at a Ford dealership, so parts are available for 8.8....

 

one of the mags last year did an article on the 8.8. said it would probably be the next 9" since there are now so many around.

 

wonder if those 8.8 are strong as a 9....i didnt think they were that strong

 

The Maverick is my street car, low HP, so I don't want to 9" it. Parts are very limited, and probably $$$ for the 8" I just want some sort of posi, mid 3. gears. The Stang has the good stuff in it, but it's a BBF with nitrous, so it's worth it to me. There was a turbo Stang coming out with 8.8 in it, going high 4.s in the 1/8, sounds plenty strong to me, I'm just looking for the budget stuff here, prefer bolt in, don't know anything about narrowing/axles on these 8.8's

 

8 inch you can get 3.40s 3.80s , posi are on ebay all the time , 8 inchs are very good rear ends

 

Forget the 8.8 or the 9". just gear the 8" to 3:55 and You'll be fine!

 

I didn't think about e-bay. I was maybe going to just throw a mini-spool, and some 3.55's at it.

 

Nothing wrong with the 8-inch. The only advantage to the 8.8 would be rear disc brakes. I'd stick with the 8"...

 

Unless you want rear discs and are putting out good horsepower, I see absolutely no reason to change the rear. Just get a gear for the 8 inch and your good to go...

 

8.8s are fairly strong. tho not quite as beefy as a 9", they are stout enough for most of our applications. they ended up as std equip in E-150 vans, etc. just like the 9". not a simple bolt in for mavericks, tho. most are too wide, need spring perches welded on, etc.

 

Today's 8.8" rears ... think Mustang GT and Shelby GT500 ... handle way more horsepower than 9" rears ever did back in the 60's and 70's ....

 

I think that would be debatable.

You can't tell me that a 9-inch with 31-spline axles and a nodular center section is gonna be weaker than a 8.8"...

And the fact that it's a C-clip rearend, immediately turns Me off...

 

you can buy c-clip emlintators(SP) now....8.8 are in gt mustangs and shelby gt500 , and the cobras...execpt the cobras are IRS

 

I shouldn't have to buy C-clip eliminators. That's Chevy crap. A good rearend should already have them, or be designed like the Ford 8-inch, 9-inch, or even the Oldsmobile 12-bolt...

 

well maybe so , but im not a huge fan of them anyway ill stick to my 8/9 inch set ups