...you can't swap 5 lug axles in a 4 lug housing... yes its easy efficient and fairly cheap to add disk brakes to the rear on an old 8 inch. I did it with parts from a crown vic I didn't even change my proportioning valve and I only have manual brakes. (been in about 7-8 years.) I did a write up on how to hook the E brake up to the Mav/Comet stock cables...
You cannot swap four lug axels for five lug axels. You have to swap the whole rear end. I suggest just find a five lug rear and don't worry about the ratio. Pay to rebuild it with a posi, such as Auburn, and select the ratio you want. Most rear ends you find out there have well over 100,000 miles on them. Add that to the budget. Micah
I didnt think it was possible but Ive had a couple of people insist they knew someone who did it. kinda like the people that swear there grandma had a boss 429 in there base model maverick lol
https://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/6010794821.html Good candidate for a rebuild? My understanding is that the Expedition is the same as the Explorer. What qualities I am looking for to make it a good rebuild option other than not breaking the bank on the initial investment, and not being terribly rotted out...
Is the expedition rear the same as the explorer as far as doing the rear end swap? When looking for an explorer rear to have rebuilt and swap, what should I be looking for other than avoiding rust? Thoughts on whether that Expedition rear listing would be a good option to rebuild and fit to my car?
Getting a 5 lug 8" and rebuilding that with a posi unit and gears of choice will give you a rear end that will handle 300hp easily, and bolt in. No fab of brake lines, e-brake cables, or shock mounts, will be centered and not require adjustments to the trans tunnel. There is debate in some posts about drum vs disc stopping power differences in the rear end, and disc up front with functional drums in the rear should give you plenty of stopping power. As far as an explorer rear end goes, the bolt pattern might be bigger? Of course, if you reserve the right to raise horsepower in the future, doing the 8.8 might be a better choice.
if you stay off stickies/slicks an 8" will be fine...that's all I've ever had under mine. 3:55...Detroit locker... Strange axle...Crown vic. disc brakes and small stock driveshaft. all that behind at one time or other...250 6cyl...302...306...347...and now 5.3 LS. ......
