Yet another Explorer 8.8 thread...

in my mustang i had 3.73s, 4.10s, and 4.56s. in the end i stayed with 4.10s. this was with a 28" tall tire. i had a t5 and a tremic tko. not shure if they have the same overdrive ratio. the 4.10s are great for performance and you can still go on the freeway and not hold up trafic. if your looking for more cruiseing ability than dragrace performance then goto 3.73s or 3.55s.

 

I need to step up to a tko some day, I have a bad feeling about the t-5

 

the tko was stong but a pain to shift compared to the t5. if i was to do a stick i would get one of the aftermarket t5s that is suspose to handle high horse power. i never blew up my t5 because i would use cheap clutches that you can get at regular autoparts stores. the clutches started sliping pretty bad when i was running low 12s. thats when i steped up to the tko and a good clutch, that change put me into the 11s.

 

I'm goint to set my mav up too race autocross and some drag. I was thinking a 3.55 would work best. I am running a T-4 four speed with a 3.00 gear right now. I do want to go to a 28inch tire so I think I will start with the 4.10 and see how it drives.

 

I have a t-5 with 3.55 and 26" tires. HW cruising is great with 70mph being about 2200 rpm. It cruises best at 2400 though which I suppose is due to the power range of the motor. It doesnt pull too well going over hills at less than 2K. I'd like to go to a 27" tire with 3.73's some day but I already run out of 1st gear way too fast as it is. So I supose a close ratio performance t-5 might be in the future as well.

 

finally notes

Will this work?

1. grab 96 explore rear with the right gears and posi for me
2. grab the brakes lines to adapt into the back
3. while at the yard grab an extra short length axle out of another explore
4. cut down the long tube to the same length as the short side then install the extra axle I grabbed. This will center the unit correct?
5. using an extra set of 8" shock plates chop them for material to adapt a set to the correct width for the shocks. (will this work?)
6. bolt in mustang AOD driveline since I plan on installing sc aod
7. cut off old perches and weld on new ones.

done?

 

just run the fox body mustang axle grind off the brackets weld on new perches it is one inch widder per side

brad

 

most of that should work fine for you. the shock plates will be the hang up. i think that the 8.8 has a larger tube than the 8". so take the explorer shock plates and u-bolts. i think if you use two driver side ones from a explorer you can make them work by changing the shocks out for ones that have eye holes on the top and botom. also when you weld on the spring pads it will warp the housing tubes. a chassie shop should be able to streighten the diff after the welding.

 

and then order some 5 lug axle shafts and get a rear disk brake setup off of an explorer to put on that axle (sorry had too)

 

just use sn95 mustang rear disk brakes

 

what year

ok what years are good for the explore rear end swap? I located 2001 rear with 4.11 posi complete for 150 here in town.

 

SN95 (Late Fox) have rear discs and 5 lugs.

It is still much easier and lighter to use a 9" rear with Crown Vic or Exploder discs.
To use an 8.8" rear in our cars is just alot of work to end up with a heavy rear. Add to that the fact that a 9" rear is stronger than an 8.8", and it's a no brainer.

Who drug up this ancient post anyway...

 

Did we ever get the swap done and a detailed writeup on this?

 

Nope. After I did the Explorer disc swap on my 8" this become less of a priority. At this point my goal is to save my pennies and watch the junkyards for a locking 8" center section with good gears. I know I might as well be looking for a unicorn, eventually I'll just give up and buy the stuff.

 

I plan to finish the swap soon on my maverick. I'm running 05 mustang rims so the offset is fine for the 8.8 , I may need to clearance for the driveline being offset. Its cheaper this way, just need to move the perches in.