Ok guys, I have tried to read all the postings and still have the dilemma. I am restoring a 73 Comet GT, trying to do it well, but have not won the lottery yet. I am installing a 5.0 HO motor with GT 40 heads out of an Explorer. I have a 5 speed manual out of a Cobra. I need something stronger than the stock open end 8" rear end with 3.00 gearing. I want to use it as a daily driver. I am not a lead foot, but will not let a rice burner get me at the redlight. I am red, white and blue, period. If you like the foreign junk, go live there! After reading all the discussions, I think, what is the best choice for my application? 1) Put an Auburn gear & 3.55 center section in my 8" rear end and call it a day? It will still look factory and will probably end up costing around $700. Disc brakes are another $500 or more. 2) Locate an 8.8" rear end from an Explorer? It won't look original, but if I can find the right combo, I will have posi, lower gearing and discs? Are they pretty easy to find? It looks like one off of a Mustang will work, too? 3) Locate and build a rear end off of a Lincoln Versailles or Monarch, or Granada. They are probably hard to find & the parts are harder to find & the disc brakes are not all that good, from what I read. There is one for sale on Ebay now. 4) Locate and buy a 9" rear end from an early Stang. If it is not from an early Stang, I will have to have it shortened, which I understand costs big bucks. Give me a ballpark figure. It probably will not have discs. So, there you have it. What is your experience and vote? If you had, let's say, $1,000 to spend, what would you do?
I am building a similar car as you. 5.0 with all the goodies, built AOD etc. I stayed with the 8" and installed a 3.80 posh rear center section. Also added discs to it. I couldn't justify spending a ton of money for something when 95% of my driving will be light duty. Yes the occasional spirited rip, but for the most part just "normal" cruising. I would rather put the extra money towards for a 9" or whatever somewhere where I really need it. But thats just my opinion.....
mine is an....8" ...Detroit Locker...3:55 gear...Explorer disc brake conversion... http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=62914 Frank...:Handshake
For what you describe that YOU want to do....I say an 8", 3.55 gears, drum brakes. Sounds like $1000 should be spent somewhere else. Maybe a really nice stereo system!!
Thanks for the info! In the mean time, I have ran across a rear end out of an Explorer that is local. It is, of course, an 8.8 rear end with 3.73 gearing and is traction lok or whatever their term is... & has discs! Somebody, tell me more about the possible problem of having the drive shaft off center by 1 1/2 inches (?) & what I need to do to fix the problem. What is the problem with wheel offset? Oh yeah, the cost of the whole unit is $600. What else will I need to purchase if I go this route?
I would stay with the 8", only reason I bought a 9" for mine was it was $300 for one with low gears and disc brakes!
i would go with the 8". you already listed its benefits. it will be strong enough for what you say your using it for. if you want to do the explorer, the driveshaft comes very close to the side of the tunnel. if you are running dual exhaust you will need to make sure the passenger side muffler will clear the drive shaft. the explorer is about 2" wider than the maverick rear end. you will need wheels with 1" more off set to work with the 8.8 explorer rear. being a used rear there is a good chance that there are worn out parts in the rear end. it may need a rebuild.
I'm running an 8" with 3:80's and a posi with rear disc's, which just happened to be on there when i bought it, otherwise the drum's would be fine.....As long as you're not doing top fuel launches, stick with the 8" which saves a lot of fab work over the explorer and a bunch less weight { the same as adding HP} than the 9"
