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Topic: Mark VII rearend (Read 7779 times) previous topic - next topic

Mark VII rearend

Reply #15 –
Do you have the axles/brakes from the 85TC axle? 

Double-check that the 85TC housing is the same as the 8.8 you have.  If so, then swap the axles. brakes, etc from the 85TC rear end to the Mustang 8.8....
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon-  '81 Granada GL 2dr

Mark VII rearend

Reply #16 –
The braes on the 8.8 are 10 inch,and 9 inch on the TC rear.I may just add longer studs and get a couple of 1/2 inch spacers.I need my tires where they are supposed to be since I now have the 17x9,and would also like to keep my quad shocks.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Mark VII rearend

Reply #17 –
Well 3/4" is the difference between the Mustang and the Tbird rear width, but 1/2" might work.
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon-  '81 Granada GL 2dr

Mark VII rearend

Reply #18 –
Quote from: vinnietbird;137874
The braes on the 8.8 are 10 inch,and 9 inch on the TC rear.I may just add longer studs and get a couple of 1/2 inch spacers.I need my tires where they are supposed to be since I now have the 17x9,and would also like to keep my quad shocks.

I've got the 10" T-Bird drums, backing plates, etc (in fact, the complete setup including fairly new shoes, springs and adjusters) from my 7.5 if ya want 'em. Shipping would be a bitch though - they're HEAVY

*EDIT* Never mind, I just noticed you have an '85 TC axle, which, if I understand correctly is shorter than my 88 7.5" axle (but the axle shafts are the same, making the difference up in the backing plates and drums). Of course, that's IF I understand this rear end silliness...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Mark VII rearend

Reply #19 –
Yes, you understand correctly. 

I was going to mention some 10" backing plates for the earlier cars, but I'm not sure if they're even able to be found.
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon-  '81 Granada GL 2dr

Mark VII rearend

Reply #20 –
Yeah,I have a two 7.5 Traction Lock '85 TC rears with 3.45 gears,an '88 T-Bird 7.5 rear with 2.73's (and a traction Lock '88 T-bird rear with 2.73's in the car now),and an 8.8 Stang rear with 3.55's.I have parts,believe me.I just want my tires to fit right in the car once I install the 8.8.So,what is your idea of how to do that?
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Mark VII rearend

Reply #21 –
Personally I wouldn't worry about the 10" drums and just swap the stuff from one of the 85TC rears into the 8.8.
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon-  '81 Granada GL 2dr

Mark VII rearend

Reply #22 –
The axle shafts from the 7.5 are longer than the Stangs,which will push the wheels back out,right?Keep the 9 inch brakes and call it a day?Sounds like a plan.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Mark VII rearend

Reply #23 –
Quote from: vinnietbird;138072
The axle shafts from the 7.5 are longer than the Stangs,which will push the wheels back out,right?Keep the 9 inch brakes and call it a day?Sounds like a plan.


You're not listening are you? ;) :D Yes.

First, compare the width of the 85TC housing vs the Mustang 8.8.  make sure they are the same (the changeover to the wider housing was late '85, so just to be safe).

The Tbird axles regardless of which housing (early 7.5, late 7.5, 8.8) are all the same length and are 3/4" longer than the Fox Mustangs. 
Swap the 85TC axles and backing plates onto the Mustang 8.8 and that will give you the same width as what you have now with the 88 7.5 Tbird rear.

Also, as a homework assignment, since you have both an narrow and wide housing 7.5 there, can you measure the location of the bearing surface on an axle from each?  I guess measure from the splined end out and then get a measurement of the bearing surface width?
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon-  '81 Granada GL 2dr

Mark VII rearend

Reply #24 –
Quote from: Jim_Miller;137635
This is by far the single most confusing topic I have ever seen. Somebody should make some kind of graph or chart or something with what is what for every year of all Fox and brake style. Or at least Bird/Cougar, Mustang, and Mark


  I have to agree on the chart. Most of the hard-core Ford guys I know don't seem to know on these conversions.
Only in America do we use the word "politics" to describe the process so well: "POLI" in latin meaning "many", "TICS" meaning "bloodsucking creatures".

Mark VII rearend

Reply #25 –
I'll get measurement today from the  of the axle shafts,and the axle housings and the bearing surfaces.I have all 3 rears ('85 TC 7.5 rear,'88 7.5 rear,and Stang 8.8 rear).I was looking at the Stang rear and it looks as though it has had two pieces cut from it.I'm wondering if it was a disc rear at one time.I really don't know.I didn't notice that when i picked it up.The guy I bought it from had it under his '86 Cougar,and said he pulled it from an '88 TC,but,the rear has 10 inch drums (it also has quad shocks).Anyway,I'll get measurements.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Mark VII rearend

Reply #26 –
O.K.,here are the measurement that I came up with......
From bearing surface to bearing surface...
      8.8 Mustang rear 54"
      7.5 TC rear (1985) 54"
      7.5 '88 T-Bird rear 56"

From axle  to axle  (wheel mounting surface)
      8.8 Stang rear 59.5"
      7.5 TC rear 61"
      7.5 '88 Bird rear 61"

Those are the numbers I came up with.If anyone needs anymore info,I'll do my best.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Mark VII rearend

Reply #27 –
Vinniebird

The differance in your Stang (Bearing to Bearing) and ( to ) is 5.5 inches

The differance in your others (Bearing to Bearing) and ( to ) is 7 inches

Wondering why the differance, Are the TC and 88 Rears both Disk Brake rears?
:birdsmily:   Objects In Mirror Appear to be Loosing  :birdsmily:

Mark VII rearend

Reply #28 –
Quote from: Jim_Miller;138246
Vinniebird

The differance in your Stang (Bearing to Bearing) and ( to ) is 5.5 inches

The differance in your others (Bearing to Bearing) and ( to ) is 7 inches

Wondering why the differance, Are the TC and 88 Rears both Disk Brake rears?


NO...does no one pay any attention to what I have been saying?

The 85TC 7.5 rear housing IS THE SAME AS THE MUSTANG HOUSINGS (7.5 and 8.8).  The Tbird/Cougar USES LONGER AXLES.

The 86-88 TBird/Cougar 7.5 housing IS WIDER BUT USES THE SAME LENGTH AXLES AS THE 83-85 TBIRDS/COUGARS. 

That is why the 85 has the same housing width as the Mustang and the same overall width as the 88 TBird.

Vinnie- When/if you can, pull an axle from the 85TC and the 88 TBird rear end and compare the location of the bearing surfaces.
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon-  '81 Granada GL 2dr

Mark VII rearend

Reply #29 –
Will do.I'll post the measurements here when I do.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..