Well now that I got the clutch pedal situation squared away I can get to the rear-axle.I wasn`t about to spend $500-$600 on just a good posi center section,and a spool was tempting,but not enough drivabilty.I ended up doing some measuring and researching.I would have had to get a set of like 1 1/2" bolt-on wheel spacers to run the wheels I`m planning to run anyways,so I decided on a fox-body Mustang 8.8" posi rear end.The rearend in my car is 57.25" from axle flange-to-flange,and the Mustang one is around 59" or so.The extra couple inches will mean I will only have to run front spacers to clear those damned ball joints.I picked up a T-Bird Turbo-Coupe rear (same as `stang minus brakes) with posi and 3.55 Gears for $100...I know I can sell the 4-lug rear disc stuff off it easily,and find a set of 5-lug Ranger rear axles/drums pretty easily and be set to go,I`ve done this swap on fox-body cars before so I know it`ll work.Only hard part is the 2 hours I spent tonight taking all the unneccassry crap off of it.And I`m only have done.Then gotta cut the perches off the Maverick rear and measure out where to weld them to the 8.8.Still need to do alot of cutting/grinding on that 8.8 though before I get to that point.This way I should have a rearend thats easier to fix/find parts for,and cheaper overall.
sounds like a nice project to create a "tech" article on. Take plenty of pics, documentaion and what-not....might be of great help to someone in the future.
I think if your going to go with the 8.8, I'd find a Explorer rear. Its already 5 lug and disc brakes to boot.
Try www.ringpinion.com They were advertising new Trak-lok units for 8 in. rears in Mustangs and Fords. I called, they are about $310. Seth
hey, thats a new site to me and a very cool one at that. if anyone has any questions about the different types of differentials and such, check out thier Technical Help section, it is very informative!
Thats $300 for just a posi,then figure a set of gears/install kit is atleast another couple hundred.....It adds up.I should have under $200 into this one whe its all done and have 3.55 gears and posi.
Actually, I checked on the locker unit, ring and pinion and install kit. His posi units are cheaper than several that I have found, but his gears are around $300 as well, plus $75+/- for the entire install kit. I have picked up 8 in. posi units at swap meets for $350-$450. Seth
The 8.8" is in!! I got my new spring perches delivered today,so I took out the 8" rear tonite and mocked the 8.8" in place,tacked the perches on and bolted it all in,mounted the wheels/tires and let it off the stands.It ended up working just like I thought it would.With 275/45/17 tires in the rear on 17x9 wheels I have no clearence issues and actually have room to spare.I need to take it back out and finish welding the perches in place now that I know there where I want them.and clean/paint and assemble all the brakes,etc.Sorry,forgot to take progress pics,but its not that complicated of a process,mostly alot of time cutting off the old brackets/grinding everything smooth.
Whatever the 8" had....I just used a level and compared the pinion angle to the spring perch angle and copied that onto the new rearend.No idea what the exact angle is,but I just copied the stock angle I guess,it looks right.
