Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: smithgs13 on January 03, 2013, 08:24:00 PM
Post by: smithgs13 on January 03, 2013, 08:24:00 PM
I have the possibility of getting an 8.8 really cheap (basically nothing), its out of a 92 mustang. I know its narrower, and i was wandering what is involved with making that fit, and whether or not it is worth it.
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: QUICKSHIFT on January 03, 2013, 08:46:21 PM
Post by: QUICKSHIFT on January 03, 2013, 08:46:21 PM
What's it going into?
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: smithgs13 on January 03, 2013, 08:52:35 PM
Post by: smithgs13 on January 03, 2013, 08:52:35 PM
its going into an 88 cougar
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: QUICKSHIFT on January 03, 2013, 08:59:04 PM
Post by: QUICKSHIFT on January 03, 2013, 08:59:04 PM
I can't help you as much as the others here who have 88s...I could however give you the low down on an 84.
M
M
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: vinnietbird on January 03, 2013, 09:00:10 PM
Post by: vinnietbird on January 03, 2013, 09:00:10 PM
Use the axles from your Cougar in it.
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: smithgs13 on January 03, 2013, 09:03:02 PM
Post by: smithgs13 on January 03, 2013, 09:03:02 PM
I can use the axles from my 7.5 with a shorter 8.8?
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: QUICKSHIFT on January 03, 2013, 09:20:44 PM
Post by: QUICKSHIFT on January 03, 2013, 09:20:44 PM
......near the bottom of the pg.
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?3664-Help!-7.5-quot-Axle-to-8.8-quot-Trouble!/page6
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?3664-Help!-7.5-quot-Axle-to-8.8-quot-Trouble!/page6
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: Beau on January 03, 2013, 09:45:04 PM
Post by: Beau on January 03, 2013, 09:45:04 PM
Tbird axles are longer than a Fox stang...
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: dragon574444 on January 05, 2013, 09:57:06 AM
Post by: dragon574444 on January 05, 2013, 09:57:06 AM
Quote from: QUICKSHIFT;406154
......near the bottom of the pg.
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?3664-Help!-7.5-quot-Axle-to-8.8-quot-Trouble!/page6
Awesome chart, but it lists the 84-92 Lincoln MKVII having a 7.5 inch rear end, I'm pretty sure they all got the 8.8.
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: Clayton on January 06, 2013, 06:28:22 PM
Post by: Clayton on January 06, 2013, 06:28:22 PM
Not entirely. The older mk7's did have 7.5's. I ran across a diesel mark at a junkyard once it had a 7.5
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: Aerocoupe on January 07, 2013, 01:53:18 PM
Post by: Aerocoupe on January 07, 2013, 01:53:18 PM
I have a Mustang 8.8 in my '83, axles and all. Bolted right up and I like the narrower rear as it was much easier to fit my 17 X 9 wheels. All of the 8.8 housings are the same from 87-98 in the Mustangs. What changed was the axle length in 94. The '99 - 2004 housings are a little longer as are the axles and the housings are completely different in 2005+ cars.
If I can make a suggestion it would be this, get the '92 unit and sell it to make some $$. Then go and find a 94-98 GT rear with disc brakes and be done with it. Five lug, rear discs, correct width, and you can upgrade to the Cobra rear discs for about $200 with new parts.
Darren
If I can make a suggestion it would be this, get the '92 unit and sell it to make some $$. Then go and find a 94-98 GT rear with disc brakes and be done with it. Five lug, rear discs, correct width, and you can upgrade to the Cobra rear discs for about $200 with new parts.
Darren
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: Haystack on January 07, 2013, 02:24:27 PM
Post by: Haystack on January 07, 2013, 02:24:27 PM
Quote from: 87thunderbirdBlackJack;406334
Not entirely. The older mk7's did have 7.5's. I ran across a diesel mark at a junkyard once it had a 7.5
I got one in my garage right now. 3.73 and a locker. Had about 20k on it when I pulled it.
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: slowbird on January 12, 2013, 11:31:11 AM
Post by: slowbird on January 12, 2013, 11:31:11 AM
So you guys are saying a 87-93 mustang rear won't bolt into a 88 tbird? I just got a fully built one for $250. Was planning on running it in my car
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: Aerocoupe on January 12, 2013, 11:52:23 AM
Post by: Aerocoupe on January 12, 2013, 11:52:23 AM
It will bolt right in however it will be approximately 3/4" narrower on each side than the stock axle housing that came with the car. If you use an 8.8 out of a 94-98 GT Mustang it is the exact same width as the stock axle housing that came with the car. The 8.8 housing itself from 87-98 Mustangs and 87-88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupes are the exact same housing. The difference in the trac widths in the Mustangs is the axles on the 94-98 cars. They are 3/4" longer on each side to compensate for the ABS exciter rings.
With that being said, you could simply remove the Fox Mustang (87-93) length axles from the $250 rear end you are going to buy and simply install SN95 Mustang (94-98) length axles in the same housing and it will be the correct width.
Brakes and bolt patterns are another topic but It has been covered here several times.
Darren
With that being said, you could simply remove the Fox Mustang (87-93) length axles from the $250 rear end you are going to buy and simply install SN95 Mustang (94-98) length axles in the same housing and it will be the correct width.
Brakes and bolt patterns are another topic but It has been covered here several times.
Darren
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: Bob on January 12, 2013, 12:03:53 PM
Post by: Bob on January 12, 2013, 12:03:53 PM
Quote from: vinnietbird;406146
Use the axles from your Cougar in it.
I don't think you can do that cause the tubes are shorter. I think I tried that and when I got it all together it the axles were sticking out and couldn't get the drums back on. I put the stang axles back and I did swapped the 9" mustang drums for the 10" cougar drums on the 3.27 mustang rear I have now.
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: slowbird on January 12, 2013, 01:36:16 PM
Post by: slowbird on January 12, 2013, 01:36:16 PM
Quote from: Aerocoupe;406738
It will bolt right in however it will be approximately 3/4" narrower on each side than the stock axle housing that came with the car. If you use an 8.8 out of a 94-98 GT Mustang it is the exact same width as the stock axle housing that came with the car. The 8.8 housing itself from 87-98 Mustangs and 87-88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupes are the exact same housing. The difference in the trac widths in the Mustangs is the axles on the 94-98 cars. They are 3/4" longer on each side to compensate for the ABS exciter rings.
With that being said, you could simply remove the Fox Mustang (87-93) length axles from the $250 rear end you are going to buy and simply install SN95 Mustang (94-98) length axles in the same housing and it will be the correct width.
Brakes and bolt patterns are another topic but It has been covered here several times.
Darren
thanks i already bought the rear like a month ago. i'll just keep the axles it has (there Strange)
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: Beau on January 12, 2013, 01:47:57 PM
Post by: Beau on January 12, 2013, 01:47:57 PM
I had a Fox Stang 8.8 on my Sport for awhile, looked goofy as hell with the wheels set in. If you had wheels with less offset, it might not look too bad, though.
I ended up finding a TC 8.8, yanking the disc brake parts, slapping in axles from a '97 Stang, and using my Sport's original 10" drum backing plates, and drums from an '88 Marquis. I stayed with drum brakes, mostly because I didn't want to have to buy an expensive master cylinder to be able to move the extra fluid for the newer disc brake setup, and partly I did it to see if it could be done. I've got about 90 bucks into it, and I have to space the drum out away from the backing plate about 3/16" of an inch to keep it from rubbing, other than that, it's great, it works, and to me it's less of a headache than the pesky Varga calipers, and the issues they have.
I ended up finding a TC 8.8, yanking the disc brake parts, slapping in axles from a '97 Stang, and using my Sport's original 10" drum backing plates, and drums from an '88 Marquis. I stayed with drum brakes, mostly because I didn't want to have to buy an expensive master cylinder to be able to move the extra fluid for the newer disc brake setup, and partly I did it to see if it could be done. I've got about 90 bucks into it, and I have to space the drum out away from the backing plate about 3/16" of an inch to keep it from rubbing, other than that, it's great, it works, and to me it's less of a headache than the pesky Varga calipers, and the issues they have.
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: canadiancarguy on January 13, 2013, 07:02:49 PM
Post by: canadiancarguy on January 13, 2013, 07:02:49 PM
Spacers are cheap! Why screw around when you don't have to? I used a turbo coupe 8.8 too and did the disc conversion, ended up costing as much as a 9 inch rear would have cost! I would have gone with just spacers if I had to do it again because of all the hassle.
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: STANG8U on January 13, 2013, 07:44:19 PM
Post by: STANG8U on January 13, 2013, 07:44:19 PM
You won't pass tec with wheel spacers I don't think
But you can order different bs rims so its really no big deal
But you can order different bs rims so its really no big deal
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: Aerocoupe on January 13, 2013, 10:28:05 PM
Post by: Aerocoupe on January 13, 2013, 10:28:05 PM
He had to space the drum out away from the axle about 3/16" if I remember from the thread he made on the conversion. Tech would never see the spacers as they would be in between the backing plate and the drum and not everyone races.
Ordering rims may be a big deal if you already have wheels and cannot get out of them what you paid for them.
Solve problems, don't create them.
Darren
Ordering rims may be a big deal if you already have wheels and cannot get out of them what you paid for them.
Solve problems, don't create them.
Darren
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: STANG8U on January 13, 2013, 10:47:02 PM
Post by: STANG8U on January 13, 2013, 10:47:02 PM
Well if you really want to solve the problem he would need to get the right size rear
The answer to the problem if he wants to use that rear would to get a different bs rim and call it a day
The guy clearly drag races and I would hate to see a guy not pass tec
From what I herd some people won't let you run with them and some times you can if you have enough stud but I would think it would take a good size spacer to make it look right and there's no way to make that legal
If he wanted run spacers on the street a just get 2 rims with the right bs for the slicks
The answer to the problem if he wants to use that rear would to get a different bs rim and call it a day
The guy clearly drag races and I would hate to see a guy not pass tec
From what I herd some people won't let you run with them and some times you can if you have enough stud but I would think it would take a good size spacer to make it look right and there's no way to make that legal
If he wanted run spacers on the street a just get 2 rims with the right bs for the slicks
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: Aerocoupe on January 13, 2013, 10:53:28 PM
Post by: Aerocoupe on January 13, 2013, 10:53:28 PM
I am not sure where you read the OP drag races and the guy who installed the spacers did not imply that either. The gentleman who posted on the thread that does drag race did not mention anything about spacers and I am pretty sure he is aware of the rules. Reread the entire thread and I think you will see what I mean.
Darren
Darren
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: STANG8U on January 13, 2013, 11:18:58 PM
Post by: STANG8U on January 13, 2013, 11:18:58 PM
I'm simply trying to offer a simple solution to the problem
I'm sorry you disagree with just buying a different bs rim
My 2 cents
I'm sorry you disagree with just buying a different bs rim
My 2 cents
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: Beau on January 14, 2013, 12:43:11 AM
Post by: Beau on January 14, 2013, 12:43:11 AM
Quote from: Aerocoupe;406885
He had to space the drum out away from the axle about 3/16" if I remember from the thread he made on the conversion. Tech would never see the spacers as they would be in between the backing plate and the drum and not everyone races.
Ordering rims may be a big deal if you already have wheels and cannot get out of them what you paid for them.
Solve problems, don't create them.
Darren
Darren, I wonder if he meant use the Stang width 8.8 and use spacers to put the wheels out to the "proper" place?
On the other hand, IMO, that's WAY too much spacer, and as mentioned, different offset rear wheels could negate that, but as you said, if you've already got a wheel set bought or picked out, then there might be problems with that method.
As far as MY setup...you're correct, the space would be made up inside the drum, and it wouldn't be enough to create a problem if it could be seen, as it would only be a nice flat washer on each lug stud.
I did try it with a couple of washers I found that were the same thickness, but since I only found two, I didn't risk torquing down the wheel, for fear that it might bend or warp something, and since I only found two, I still have not ever tried them, as the other side would need to be addressed also.
I need to go get 10 flat washers of the exact same thickness, mock them up, put the car on jack stands and rotate the rear to see if it the contact is overcame. Hmm, maybe I need to make a list for tomorrow..lol
But, even with the wheels off, there would be no way to tell there was a spacer of sorts there, unless tech made me pull off a brake drum. I don't plan to ever race it in a cirspoogestance that would require it anyway, unless I hit the lottery or something lol.
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: canadiancarguy on January 15, 2013, 08:45:11 AM
Post by: canadiancarguy on January 15, 2013, 08:45:11 AM
I have a 91 Camaro project going on, I have 3 different sets of wheels and I have 2 different sizes of spacers. I am not saying it is the proper way, but if you not very good or comfortable at tearing down a rear end and replacing the axles, it is a solution. Don't pile up washers unless that is just to see what bs or offset you will need, driving around like that is not safe. I see so many threads recommending in order to do things the "right way" you gotta do all this extra work and mix and match parts only to send some poor kid who knows nothing about wrenching into tearing stuff apart with no hope of getting it back together without taking it to a shop and spending money the poor kid don't have and then do the guys on the forum go and help the kid after he bit off more than he can chew, nope. Not only that the 7.5 will take some abuse if built right, there is not need to replace it if you are running a stockish 5.0, I had one with a ranger traction loc and 3.55s last for a year and half behind a 347 tbird that ran 8.70 eighth miles. Maybe I am not understanding something here, but why complicate simple things?? Fords can be the biggest pain to work on cause if you don't know what parts go in what you will have problems. I don't why I keep buyin em to be honest. Just my 2 cents
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: slowbird on January 15, 2013, 02:52:39 PM
Post by: slowbird on January 15, 2013, 02:52:39 PM
^^ if that's Ment about me I would never use spacers etc I plan on ordering new rims anyway. Reason for my switch is cause the 8.8 is stronger
I plan on spraying the car with 250 off the trans break ..
I plan on spraying the car with 250 off the trans break ..
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: STANG8U on January 15, 2013, 03:16:17 PM
Post by: STANG8U on January 15, 2013, 03:16:17 PM
Yea new rims would be the way to go if the ones you do not look right or rub
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: Pro SC on January 18, 2013, 10:22:16 AM
Post by: Pro SC on January 18, 2013, 10:22:16 AM
Have any of you used a fox stang 8.8 and mini tubs? I was wondering if anybody has done something similar? I tried searching out mini tubs but not much came up. I guess it really would not make much of a difference as you could spec out the wheel to fit the biggest rubber possible, just was wondering if any mini tub kits are available for my 85 tc?
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: Aerocoupe on January 19, 2013, 11:56:03 AM
Post by: Aerocoupe on January 19, 2013, 11:56:03 AM
Pretty much anyone I know that has mini tubbed or just tubbed a Fox Bird has done is the custom route. The Mustang inners are complete different from what I understand.
Darren
Darren
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: canadiancarguy on January 26, 2013, 12:06:55 AM
Post by: canadiancarguy on January 26, 2013, 12:06:55 AM
Title: 8.8 rear
Post by: STANG8U on January 26, 2013, 12:11:12 AM
Post by: STANG8U on January 26, 2013, 12:11:12 AM
dude that's nice