This just doesn't make sense October 26, 2005, 01:09:38 PM I'm sure this has been beaten to death, but think about this.83-mid 85 had the narrower rear end(same as mustang)mid 85-88 had the wider rear (approx 1" each side)looking at my 86, sitting next to an 83, they are identical bodies.No noticable difference in relation to the tire/fender.another thing... The tires/wheels didn't change backspacing.So, a couple questions1) where did the inch go?2) technically if we use the narrower "mustang" rear or 83-mid 85 cougar rear, there should be no clearance issues, just that the wheels will sit slightly inboard. Since I'm working on my new project cat, I'm attempting to get all my info straight, then start hitting the junkyards. Eventually, I'll have my stroked 302 (347) done and will install it with a MAF HO EFI system. Quote Selected
This just doesn't make sense Reply #1 – October 26, 2005, 02:22:29 PM It didn't go anywhere.....The axles are the same length, the housings are different.....the track width is the same. Quote Selected
This just doesn't make sense Reply #2 – October 26, 2005, 02:27:32 PM There you have it. Quote Selected
This just doesn't make sense Reply #3 – October 26, 2005, 04:34:51 PM If track width is the same, then why does everyone make a big deal about swapping rear ends? In that case I can go ahead and install a 8.8 mustang posi rear end in and it should fit with no change to the track width, coorec? Quote Selected
This just doesn't make sense Reply #4 – October 26, 2005, 04:59:45 PM Quote from: 86CatGSIf track width is the same, then why does everyone make a big deal about swapping rear ends? In that case I can go ahead and install a 8.8 mustang posi rear end in and it should fit with no change to the track width, coorec?Incorrect....Actually why don't you be a bit more specific about what year Mustang rear...If you swap an entire FOX-Mustang rear axle (as in everything from drum to drum) it will be narrower. The housing would be the same width as the 83-85.5 7.5 rear housing, but the drum to drum width would be different due to the longer axles.You need to take the time and do a seach on this subject and read the two lengthy threads already discussed on this subject, instead of going through all of it again..... Quote Selected
This just doesn't make sense Reply #5 – October 26, 2005, 05:18:52 PM Track width is drum to drum. You said in your ealir posts that track width stayed the same......Problem is, wording. A rear axle is what rotates in the housing. Takes 2 for a complete rear end assembly. When people talk about a rear axle, sometime they mean the axle, other times they mean the complete assembly.According to http://www.coolcats.net/tech/general/axleinfo.html the 83-85 cougars shared rear end assemblys with fox chassis mustangs.if this is so, and track width didn't change, then all fox chassis mustangs/capris/cougars/and t-birds are interchangable.We know this to not be true. Something is missing. Quote Selected
This just doesn't make sense Reply #6 – October 26, 2005, 05:26:42 PM I have pics somewhere on this forum. The only thing that changes is the housing/drums. The 83-85 share the same HOUSING as Fox Stangs, not axles.Found it. http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=4484&page=2 Quote Selected
This just doesn't make sense Reply #7 – October 26, 2005, 06:26:48 PM Quote from: 86CatGSTrack width is drum to drum. You said in your ealir posts that track width stayed the same......Problem is, wording. A rear axle is what rotates in the housing. Takes 2 for a complete rear end assembly. When people talk about a rear axle, sometime they mean the axle, other times they mean the complete assembly.According to http://www.coolcats.net/tech/general/axleinfo.html the 83-85 cougars shared rear end assemblys with fox chassis mustangs.if this is so, and track width didn't change, then all fox chassis mustangs/capris/cougars/and t-birds are interchangable.We know this to not be true. Something is missing.Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth? Yes, you are missing something. You aren't reading well enough. I NEVER said the track width was the same between the Fox Mustangs and the TBirds.The HOUSINGS are the same between the 83-85 Tbirds and the Mustangs/Capris/ et al. (This applies to the 7.5 for the above TBird/Cougar years only). The 8.8 used in the Fox Mustangs and the 87-88TC's is the same as well. The AXLES are longer in the TBirds/Cougars, even though the housing is the same width.THUS the track width is WIDER in the TBirds/Cougars due to the longer AXLES.The 86-88 7.5 rear HOUSINGS are wider than the 83-85 and Mustang ones, but the AXLES are the same length as the 83-85. Thus the overall track width is the same for all years TBirds. Quote Selected
This just doesn't make sense Reply #8 – October 26, 2005, 06:47:51 PM Um, Chuck:Quote from: Chuck WIt didn't go anywhere.....The axles are the same length, the housings are different.....the track width is the same.I can see how he'd be confused with that. I'm assuming is that you mean the 83-88 T-Bird/Cougar track widths are the same as each other, but not the same as the Mustang. A little clarification Bird/Cat axles are DEFINITELY wider than Mustang axles, as I found out much to my dismay when I was replacing the axle shafts in my old Cougar. The junkyard sent Mustang shafts because, according to them, "they're all the same". They weren't. Quote Selected
This just doesn't make sense Reply #9 – October 26, 2005, 09:26:47 PM I clarified it....but this has also been discussed ad nausium...twice.... Quote Selected
This just doesn't make sense Reply #10 – October 27, 2005, 06:29:40 PM well, this is the information I read, from cool cats.netBeginning with the 1983 model year, the Cougar and Thunderbird shared a common-width 7.5" rear axle with the Mustang/Capri. Therefore, all 4 cars have the same rear endthis was cut/pasted directly from the site.then what Chuck W said in the second postThe axles are the same length, the housings are different.....the track width is the same.But yet again directly from cool cats.netThis rear end was used until halfway through the 1985 model year, when the Cougar/T-Bird got a unique width axle. It was approximately 1" wider than the Mustang unit and about 1" narrower than a Mark VII rear end.time to take a measuring tape to the junkyard. So far I've seen more contradiction than anything with no hard numbers. Which helps to explain why the subject has been beaten into the ground.I'm not here to make enemies, I'm asking all this to hopefully get some good info. If I do, I could easily do a complete photo tech atricle explaining all the differences and interchangability since i have free access to a complete junkyard. Quote Selected
This just doesn't make sense Reply #11 – October 27, 2005, 06:34:16 PM The axles themselves is what makes up the length differnece, not the housing83-85.5 got the mustang width housing and axles85.5-86 got the tbird width housing, but the mustang width axles87-88 got the tbird width housing, and tbird width axles Quote Selected
This just doesn't make sense Reply #12 – October 28, 2005, 02:14:59 AM If you want to use a rearend that is the same width, then try a 96 on up Mustang w/ 8.8 and disk brakes, they are a an inch wider than a fox 8.8. Quote Selected
This just doesn't make sense Reply #13 – October 28, 2005, 03:01:50 AM I have a mustang 8.8 and I'm installing the god thing, track width be ed. I can't imagine that an inch or a fraction of an inch on each side will make too much difference in handling. So there! Quote Selected
This just doesn't make sense Reply #14 – October 28, 2005, 08:03:01 AM Quote from: IfixyawataI have a mustang 8.8 and I'm installing the god thing, track width be ed. I can't imagine that an inch or a fraction of an inch on each side will make too much difference in handling. So there!It won't. I just didn't like the way my car looked at first. But it can pave the way for wider wheels in the rear. :) Quote Selected
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