If you ever get to see the Classic Gear Jammers race,tell me how many 8.8s you see,same with Pro Stick.
All the very serious cars that came equipped with them will swap away from the 8.8's to the 9". And all the serious cars that didn't come with them in the first place will rarely build an 8.8" over a 9". Not just about the power levels either.. lots of 1,000+ horse boosted cars out there using premium OEM parts.. but moreso depends on how hard the car leaves and hits the rear gears/axles(sudden high rpm shock hurts parts much easier than progressively loading them at even higher power levels).. and also how much budget is available. Can you put serious power down and make an 8.8" work for years?.. yep. Lots of very fast cars out there using them. Then again.. lots of very fast cars out there running stock transmissions(T5's and T56's) that are rated for FAR less power than they are being subjected to as well. Do those cars side step their clutches at 6,000 rpm on slicks to run those ET's?.. no way. Despite that, all the guys I've talked to that race them harder say that it doesn't make much sense to build and toss all new parts/modify an 8.8" setup to work in place of the 9". And.. to just say no to c-clips. Right or wrong.. sometimes monkey's just keep doing what they see all the other monkey's doing. Yet 9" conversions are still popular for a reason. But.. who really cares about all that when the OP isn't going to notice one way or the other at a more reasonable power level typically seen on a street/strip car. If 8.8"?.. still wise to use c-clip eliminators though because it's no damned fun at all when they break.
Why the Ford 8.8? There are many reasons to use a Ford Explorer 8.8 from the 1995-2004 Ford Explorer. Here are a few key “pluses” Easily found at almost any junk yard Variety of gear ratios and options (LSD, open diff, etc.) available Easy to fit into most RWD vehicles Rear disc brakes (typically an upgrade) Common 5 x 114.3 0R 5 on 4 ½ lug pattern Plenty of Aftermarket support for future upgrades Very strong. Handles abuse from track racing to offroad and everything in between 31 Spline axles.
I am not here to put down anyone,only to try to help & I do not know everything.It`s your money,however,no 8.8 is ever going to hold up like a 9,especially when you start talking spools,35 & 40 spline axles,Mark Williams,Moser & Strange housings,there is no comparison.Plus,if you have 2 hogsheads it is fairly easy to have 2 gear set ups for diff. tracks & swapping them out is not to difficult,a lot harder w/ an 8.8.
I think there is room for both under our Fords. Depends if you are building a dedicated race car or one for dual use. Most racers would build a 9" for a race car for the reasons stated in multiple posts on this thread, including me. It is a flat out stronger and more versatile rear end than an 8.8'. Having said that, I would have to be making sick HP to motivate me to swap out an 8.8 for a 9" on a dual use car and as groberts pointed out, the clips would have to go in favor of bolted axle flanges.
Sure everyone knows 9 inch is stronger then 8.8. But for the OP's use the 8.8 is great alternative. It's super cost effective that's for sure. And also I have a 9 inch in my drag car. Not here to step on toes just show other options.
I got my housing and hog head with 3.89 gear in 1999 have no problems with it I am running 28 splice axles. Western Drivetrain, Inc 303-364-8098 Bill Abel
$159.00 eliminates the c-clip. I have a 9" in my car but I may some day swap it for an 8.8. Absolutely everything about it is cheaper but with that said iv never broken anything on my 9" and iv probably made more passes and street miles than 90% of these guys.
I went with a 59 Ford 9" 50$ at junkyard rebuilt possi with 3:50 gears. Axles are weak ,I run them on road and got a set of good axle and spool for track. Everything bolts right in and for around 400$ I've got a 9" track lock possi and another set of good axles and spool for track.
I built a 9 inch housing for my maverick...I have the 28 spline maverick axels in it now..I have some 389 gears on a spool...a mustang aluminum driveshaft..car goes 11.95 with some old drag ta drag radials ...has any one used a 28 spline mini spool at drag track ??are the strong. ...??my brother has some 430 on a mini spool chunk..we ran them in a oval track car a few years sgo
I have a 8.8 28 spline mini spool in my 1993 Lincoln Mk8 with IRS with CV shafts running 11.3's at 3700 lbs. The mini spool is getting beat up that's for sure. You can buy 28 spline full spools for cheap too.
I ran a mini spool for years and never had a problem I broke 2 axels at different times with it the mini spool needs the hardened pin then all you have to worry about is the carrier but I personally never had a problem and I was running 12.0s at 115 through the mufflers back in the day
