Explorer 8.8 rear axle swap into a Maverick?

I think I would like to swap in an Explorer 8.8 into my Maverick. Reasons - limited slip, more gear ratio selections, stronger & disc brakes.
Has anybody here done this swap?
Is there a thread here that tells about doing this swap?
I have read that by cutting the long side housing by the length of the short side axle it will be the same width as the Maverick 8.0 housing.
Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks
John

 

ive done a few of the narrowed explorer 8.8s in other cars. it will be about 1/2" narrower than the 8".

 

I have one in my garage going into my 69.5 but wont get to it till next year....im gonna cut the long side and it should be pretty close to stock lengh

 

Do you have to have a shortened axle or just narrow the housing, I'm assuming there is enough room for 1/2 inch of axle?

 

One side is about 3 inches longer....once you cut the housing just get another short axle.

I have been told that if you cut and re spline the long axle it will loose strength so we are better of getting a hold of another short axle

 

Not sure how they did it but I bought my maverick with an 8.8 rear out of 97 gt

 

I am thinking there should be no problem with the 1/2 inch difference. Also, after staring at the unit sitting on the floor, I got thinking if I had a second complete assembly, I could simply swap out the long side with the second short side housing and all.
I was hoping to hear from someone who has actually done this swap into a Maverick.

 

I have always thought this would be a good way to get a great rear axle in the car .... most Explorers are 3.55 or 3.73 gears, limited slips are in more of them than not, and the axles are the beefier 31 splines. The bolt pattern is the standard Ford 5 bolt pattern, too.

All that being said .... the news that the axle will be 1/2 inch narrower sets me back a bit. Our stock set-up puts the tire close to the spring, with a good amount of room outboard. You will need some wheels with deep backspacing if you are trying to stuff a lot of tire under there. I would much rather see an axle that is 1.5 inches wider than stock ... the extra 3/4 inch per side would center the wheel face in the wheel tub, and you can use that more if running wheels with close to a factory backspacing. In light of that, I would rather buy 1 custom axle shaft, 2 inches longer than the short side. You would still come out of this deal cheap compared to other alternatives.

 

I'm doing the Explorer rear under mine and you take 2 3/4" off long housing. Axel for shortened housing can be bought at Southern Gear in Marietta, Ga for $110.00, Get an Explorer with towing package and the rear end will be 3:73 or 4:10 gear,, Explorer rear gives you limited slip, beefier 31 spline axles, disk brakes, and parking brakes on both sides, Also will need to weld on new perches.

 

In doing the 2 and 3/4" cut, what does the overall width of the axle become? Same as stock Mav?

 

This is a very interesting read. Seems like a 8.8 explorer rear end might be in my near future.

 

I have the explorer 8.8 in mine. 3.73 gearing. Everything stated above is dead on.

 

I have done this swap...well worth it...

 

The axel tubes (from what I have read) are held in place by a plug/rivet, would it not be possible to just remove the long side axel tube by drilling those plugs/rivets out and just sticking a shorter tube in place? and of course the shorter side axel, also from what I have read you would need to weld the tubes to the housing anyhow, just seems like it would be pretty easy to shorten, the pick n pull here will sell a complete axel assembly and I could actually change out the short side right there in the PnP yard and walk out with a complete ready to roll (other than welding the tubes) axel!

 

That and a pretty healthy press-fit, I don't think they pop out with ease after grinding the welds... I did a Ranger rear for my (other brand) swap back around 2001-ish. Been running it like this for a dozen plus years...