Get an explorer rear. Take the passenger side axle out of another explorer. Shorten the driver's side to match the passenger side axle. This will give you an axle with 31 spline axles, disc brakes, and 52 inches outside of the hub to outside of hub. Been there done that more than once.
The last time I have one shortened it was $200 in labor. I have found that its best to just buy the ones that are still in the vehicle. Its helps with identification and allows the opportunity to pull the brake lines and emergency brake cables with it. If the ranger does not come with discs you may end up spending near the same acquiring those as shortening a disc explorer unit.
this actually helped me identify which was the ford 8.8 rear end. I'm looking for one out of a 95 explorer to swap into my jeep cherokee. I found several explorers the right year and photographed the axles. so I could come home and do some research. thank you regular car reviews.
This is cool if for nothing else, but showing what car modification was like pre-internet. You didn't go on google to find what rear end would work, you went to the junk yard and got your tape measure and fiddled with your bits until you found something that might work
can confuse you even more, there is a 28 spline 8.8 and 31 spline 8.8...... 28 spline 8.8 are the same axle shaft as a 7.5. and all explorers from 91-01 are 31-spline 8.8
IIRC, if you are looking for an 8.8, the shortest most commonly available will be that exploder 8.8 @ 58" how short are you looking for? can you get away with just changing the wheel spacing (deeper set)?? alternatively... take an explorer 8.8, which has a uneven long/short side axle tube/and axle... get 2 of the short axles and 2 of the short tubes. mash them together. you'll have to weld on the brackets/spring cups etc... get a 95/96+ year rear end and you'll be able to have disk brakes w/ 5 lug IIRC.
Well over the phone I have found the best deal I think I'm going to find on an 8.8 out of a mustang. I'm going to go pick it up tomorrow and I wanted to watch this video one more time to make sure I wasn't getting the smaller unit. Saw this 2 months ago I appreciate it then and I appreciate it now 🌞
One thing you can do to shorten the 8.8 is to get the 8.8 off a front axle of an Explorer. They had the offset pumpkin which you can then cut down the longer driver side axle housing and use two passenger size half shafts. This shortens the 8.8 and makes it equal on both sides and shorter. Its what I'm going with for my 1974 Toyota Hilux to make the track width closer to what I'm looking for.
If you end up with a rear end with disk brakes don't forget to swap the master cylinder. Power drums have constant pressure through the lines so you cant use the same master.
Crown Vic's/Grand Marquis/Town Car all have 8.8 rear ends also. 1998 and newer have a watts link suspension setup you can use to increase handling if you'd like. Civilian versions have a 2.73 gear ratio while P71's usually have a 3.27 gear and sometimes steeper
that independent rear suspension had a rear differential bolted to the chassis and then two cv joints or half shafts coming out of it and driving the wheels. it's kind of like a transaxle on a fwd but shoved to the back of the car using a driveshaft to transfer the motion. Accomplishes the same task just handles better.
The Explorer 8.8-Inch has larger 31-spline axles, a larger ring gear, and 1995 and newer models can be found with disc brakes. Avoid 8.8’s from Ford Rangers. All but the FX4 Ranger only had 28-spline axle shafts
Brandwagon240 is right Mr. RCR... Id say search for a 95 to 97 Ranger with the V6 engine, 3L or 4L. Here in Uruguay Ive seen Falcons similar as yours with those rear ends and they work perfectly. Offcourse, double check the meassurements but Im sure they will work!
Ford actually used the 7.5 in 85 5.0 Mustangs. For a mild driver like the Falcon, you'd probably be OK with one of the ranger 7.5s provided it has the limited slip. A friend ran one in his 5.0 Ranger with no issues. You can also look for the Lincoln Versailles 9" with disks - this is possibly a bolt in, but could be hard to find at this point.
The joys of axle hunting. I’m currently on the search for a 3.73 LS to replace the Open 3.55 in my 2000 Explorer. Btw Explorers only came with the 8.8.
I could be wrong, but I'm reasonably certain that the gen 1 Exploder at 5:20 was built on a Ranger chassis, so you might have found your axle there. If not, you can definitely cut down an axle. Chop the axle tubes yourself (measure 5 times, cut once) and have a machine shop cut and re-spline the axles. Mopar A-body guys frequently cut down C-body axles, because original A-body 8.75 axles are like hen's teeth.
If you use, I think, two RH Exploder axle shafts, you can get the Explorer axle short enough to use in a classic Mustang, anyways. A Mustang axle can fit in the rear, but only with Fox length axle shafts since those axles are 1" shorter per side. That's what I have in my '65 Mustang. You can compensate by getting wheels with deeper backspacing, though. Also, you'd have to cut off control arm brackets and weld on spring perches, but you'd need to weld on or move spring perches for any axle you get.
+paul289 Mustang is much wider than the Falcon. I tried a '65 Mustang rear end in my '62 and the tires poked out past the fenders. '64-65 Falcon and '65 Mustang are 58" '60-63 Falcon are 56" Fox Mustang axles are also 4 lug. And not the same 4 lug as the Falcons.
RegularCars Suppose I should have explained further. All of the 4L Rangers and Exploders will have an 8.8. This includes the SportTrac. In the case of a Ranger, a V6 is not an automatic 8.8 score in the second generation unless it is 4 liters strong. Just a thought, have you thought about compensating for axle width with wheel offset? Changing the offset on some steelies has to be cheaper than reducing axle width.
+RegularCars door stickers in the door sill are an easier way to find out what rear end and ratio is on there. Supposing you want an LSD in a normal-ish ratio, look for R5 or R6 in Rangers, 3.55 and 3.73 respectively. I put a (R7) 4.10 locker in my truck, and now I hate doing highway driving. IIRC all ranger rears have same hub to hub length.
It's best to yank the pumpkin out of a fox, rebuild the differential and install new gears into whatever rear you get. I don't trust old junkyard ring and pinions.
Apparently the Exploder axles are asymmetrical... and what you do is modify the driver's (longer) side with a passenger shaft & tube. The end result being the right symmetrical axle for your Falcon. So if you need it done that way would be cheapest.
Mr. Regular - One side of the explorer 8.8 is longer than the other. You get 2 axles for the short side, and shorten the long side of the housing to match the short side. You'll only have to shorten 1 side of the housing that way, rather than having to shorten axle shafts and the housing. I don't think you'll find a 56" or a 56.5" wide 8.8" Even the Mustang II / Pinto were 57"
the first gen v6 exploders got the better 31 spline 8.8 but wider 59.5" 90-92 ranger v6 manual has the weaker 28 spline 8.8" but is 56.5" and is the narrowest ...any machine shop can narrow a rear cost about $300ish but keep in mind that doesnt account for new axles which of course would be shorter ... the best to get would be a second gen exploder v8 it will have a 3.73 gearing option 31 spline and track lock (tag reads 3L73) and just have it narrowed and you get disc brakes with it .
I don't know if you can find a used axle from 2011 vintage truck, but my 2011 Ranger (one of the last ones made) has a 8.8 with limited slip and I'm not sure of the width, It's likely 58-1/2. It might make that work with the right offset rims. Just a thought.
I had a 1998 Ford Expedition XLT. 8.8 Rear under warranty they paid $1000.00 to get it rebuilt. After a year rear blow out again. No more warranty. I paid $900.00 for a used rear at a local junk yard. That was about 10 years ago.
7.5 flat top, 8.8 round top, 9 no cover (3rd member comes out the front by the driveshaft). Um... you could always look in the DOOR of the car/truck. Most of them have a sticker that says what size rear end and SOMETIMES what ratio.
The 85 thunderbirds turbo coupes and 85 cougars came with 7.5 rears in my opinion these were stronger than the 8.8 cause unlike the 8.8 they didn't have clutch discs on the limited slip rears, the 7.5 have cone clutches which are stronger and grab more.
Shortening a rear end really isn't that bad. A good fab shop can chop the axle tubes to length, square them to the center section, and weld the collars. Shouldn't cost you much more than the rear end itself, its mostly labor. You'll need to get axles made to length.
use the 8.8 out of an explorer! easiest to find, easiest to modify, spring pads on the same side as your falcon! alternately, a comet/maverick's 8" rear will work but no traclock, no decent gearing, and good luck finding one!
AH the joy of Pick a Parts. For the wrenching types it's like being a kid in a candy store. Just by looking at cover...won't the 8.8 have a more "square"...albeit rounded corners....shape vs the 7.5 would be more rectangular...wider than tall?
Crown Vics, Grand Marquis, and Town Cars all have 8.8 rears. For all years. 79-11. They would probably be the width you were looking for. Probably too late now. Maybe it will help someone.
Just be careful you don't get the dreaded 8.75" turd. It looks a lot like the 8.8. The 8.75" is found in a lot of late 70's cars. It has WER on the axle tag. Avoid the Fox Body stuff. In addition to having a 4 lug (which is a different bolt pattern from the Falcon 4 lug) you'd have to shorten both sides and cut off all the trailing arm and spring mounts.
Dangerous to use? I thought you said it was going to be a cruiser not a tire burner. I love how you go to the fox bodies but ignore the 60s mustang sitting right there which may have had an 8 or a 9 inch. Wider than the Falcon? A bit but also would be easier to bolt to the car. Probably should have looked up what an 8.8 looked like before ya left as well. Also don't understand the whole disk brake thing for the rear as well. Sure, up front if ya wanna stop use disks. This car is looking less and less like a regular car and more like any TV car rebuild. I had hopes that I may learn a few things to help with my Comet but if this video tells me anything I should watch just for a laugh.
Huh, well now I know. I have a small 7.5 in my v6 mustang, I think the new 3.7s come with 8.8s. I wonder what the difference visually would be from a 9 inch rear end
+CKYJDM98 You can get the shortened, but ideally finding one close enough to the right width would save a crapton of work and money. Then again getting one shortened, and in that process rebuilt is probably going save you frustration in the future anyway
The best thing to do is get an 8" from a 70-77 comet or maverick. They were 5 lug from 74 and up and there not to hard to find. My maverick has an 8 inch and I will be using a v8. Alot of maverick guys in the tri-state area.
The thunderbird's IRS is better than anything you're looking, Regular. Thunderbirds make mustangs feel like f150's in the handling the department. Also grab the steering rack k member out of one too. They're just WAY better than the mustangs. If you can find a 96 thunderbird LX. 8.8 irs in the rear and ridiculously good steering feel for a car that's ultimately a luxury coupe.
7.5 would be fine on a mild build. I've seen guys run 12 sec 1/4 miles on them. The tlock is the weak point. Gm used the nearly identical 10 bolt rear behind camaros in the 80's and 90's, plus the 7.5 weighs about 80lbs less.
Those aren't the first generation rangers f.y.i. The first gen rangers were actually a full sized truck. The ones being called out as first gen are actually second.
+Amrikanpsyko00 Yes they are. Ranger used to be a trim package on full sized trucks. Explorer was also a trim package on those trucks. That's like saying those aren't first gen explorers, they are second gens because first gens are full sized trucks en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_F-Series_sixth_generation
narrowing axles isnt that big a deal. also cant you just run a wheel with a different offset in the rear to make up for a small difference? you said that one you found was only an inch or so off.
Rangers didn't come with a 8.8 back then. The newer rangers came with a 27 spline 8.8 but that's the 3rd to 4th gens. The explorer rear is the best choice. That 8.8 has a 31 spline its stronger then jeep rears.
Great vid. That tbird with it's looked an awfully lot like our Commodore centre sections interesting...i might be conspiracy theorist cos now I think Holden used Ford centre sections.
You don't wan't the 8.8 out of the ranger. It has 28 spline axles. The explorer and sn95 mustang have the good 31 spline axles. Maybe you could get away with the extra width by messing with rim offset.
Why don't you go to junkyards that specialize in classic cars? Try to find a rear end from a old first or second gen Rustang. (I think thay had 8.8's as an option) The Mustang was built on the Falcon platform so I would think it should be the correct size.
+TheTarrMan Any Mustang axle will be too wide by at least 1". Pretty much any Ford axle other than the Maverick 8" will be too wide. The 60-63 Falcon was the narrowest axle Ford made at 56". Even the Mustang II was wider, it was 57".
This is a long shot, and by no means am I claiming to know a lot about trucks, but maybe try to do some research and see if the Mazda B-series has what you're looking for, because I know Ford owned Mazda about a decade ago before Mazda became it's own company. I hear a lot from my friends that a B-series is practically a Ranger with a Mazda tag on it.
Fantastic video! The best way to remember something is to learn it, not be told it, that's what makes this great.
Get an explorer rear. Take the passenger side axle out of another explorer. Shorten the driver's side to match the passenger side axle. This will give you an axle with 31 spline axles, disc brakes, and 52 inches outside of the hub to outside of hub. Been there done that more than once.
How much power will the stock axles handle?
@@shitbox7413 we've put 700whp through one. I've seen people put 1000whp through them
Nivlac57, Good to know, thank you. 👍🏻
The last time I have one shortened it was $200 in labor. I have found that its best to just buy the ones that are still in the vehicle. Its helps with identification and allows the opportunity to pull the brake lines and emergency brake cables with it. If the ranger does not come with discs you may end up spending near the same acquiring those as shortening a disc explorer unit.
It looks so fun to just pick around a yard like that. Good luck finding what you need!
this actually helped me identify which was the ford 8.8 rear end. I'm looking for one out of a 95 explorer to swap into my jeep cherokee. I found several explorers the right year and photographed the axles. so I could come home and do some research. thank you regular car reviews.
+sexymikeization I have heard that the 8.8 is a good common swap ,just wondering why?
+P Kuudsk beefy. cheap. the correct width to fit under a jeep. if you find the correct one you can get a limited slip. too.
I just pulled the pumpkin from a 95 cherokee and pinion for a lsd swap way less work,and my 87 yj has retaing plates instead of c clips
Which rear end is best rear end?
+Ramon B My rear end is best rear end because IMPLANTS
+Ramon B My rear end is best rear end because SAMPLED SIR MIX-A-LOT
+Ramon B My rear end is best rear end because WELDED SPIDER GEARS.
+Ramon B My rear end is best rear end because DEAD AXLE
+Ramon B My rear end is best rear end because DEAD AXLE
This is cool if for nothing else, but showing what car modification was like pre-internet. You didn't go on google to find what rear end would work, you went to the junk yard and got your tape measure and fiddled with your bits until you found something that might work
Fancy seeing you here Mr.cone
Normally only see you on kurtjmac videos.
+ConeDodger240 hehe, Dirt Rally...
+ConeDodger240 I have often fiddled with my bits, and have found many things that work
+ConeDodger240 Oh hai trackday bro :D
+HoodieMack Internet sure is small place sometimes :D
can confuse you even more, there is a 28 spline 8.8 and 31 spline 8.8...... 28 spline 8.8 are the same axle shaft as a 7.5. and all explorers from 91-01 are 31-spline 8.8
2007 7.5 mustang rearend specs
IIRC, if you are looking for an 8.8, the shortest most commonly available will be that exploder 8.8 @ 58" how short are you looking for? can you get away with just changing the wheel spacing (deeper set)??
alternatively... take an explorer 8.8, which has a uneven long/short side axle tube/and axle... get 2 of the short axles and 2 of the short tubes. mash them together. you'll have to weld on the brackets/spring cups etc... get a 95/96+ year rear end and you'll be able to have disk brakes w/ 5 lug IIRC.
Well over the phone I have found the best deal I think I'm going to find on an 8.8 out of a mustang. I'm going to go pick it up tomorrow and I wanted to watch this video one more time to make sure I wasn't getting the smaller unit. Saw this 2 months ago I appreciate it then and I appreciate it now 🌞
I love walking around those yards. I wish we had more in VA.
One thing you can do to shorten the 8.8 is to get the 8.8 off a front axle of an Explorer. They had the offset pumpkin which you can then cut down the longer driver side axle housing and use two passenger size half shafts. This shortens the 8.8 and makes it equal on both sides and shorter. Its what I'm going with for my 1974 Toyota Hilux to make the track width closer to what I'm looking for.
If you end up with a rear end with disk brakes don't forget to swap the master cylinder. Power drums have constant pressure through the lines so you cant use the same master.
+Noah Ferrari I'd upgrade the master cylinder anyway to a dual master cylinder, if that hasn't already been done.
Swapping an 8.8 into a friends S10 (among other things..) These videos are gold!
this could be the most educative automotive video on youtube
Godamnit. I don't even like cars, how did I end up watching 2 dozen videos and subscribing?
Thanks for the video. It nice to learn something new.
interesting that I came across your video. I'm building an 8.8 for my 57 f100 which looks similar to the green truck at 3:59. thanks for the tips.
Crown Vic's/Grand Marquis/Town Car all have 8.8 rear ends also. 1998 and newer have a watts link suspension setup you can use to increase handling if you'd like. Civilian versions have a 2.73 gear ratio while P71's usually have a 3.27 gear and sometimes steeper
that independent rear suspension had a rear differential bolted to the chassis and then two cv joints or half shafts coming out of it and driving the wheels. it's kind of like a transaxle on a fwd but shoved to the back of the car using a driveshaft to transfer the motion. Accomplishes the same task just handles better.
Where is this yard? I need ford parts
Good info, I’m looking for an 8.8 that is similar to the stock width of my S10 7.5, this was very helpful. 👍🏻
The Explorer 8.8-Inch has larger 31-spline axles, a larger ring gear, and 1995 and newer models can be found with disc brakes. Avoid 8.8’s from Ford Rangers. All but the FX4 Ranger only had 28-spline axle shafts
Brandwagon240 is right Mr. RCR... Id say search for a 95 to 97 Ranger with the V6 engine, 3L or 4L. Here in Uruguay Ive seen Falcons similar as yours with those rear ends and they work perfectly. Offcourse, double check the meassurements but Im sure they will work!
Ford actually used the 7.5 in 85 5.0 Mustangs. For a mild driver like the Falcon, you'd probably be OK with one of the ranger 7.5s provided it has the limited slip. A friend ran one in his 5.0 Ranger with no issues. You can also look for the Lincoln Versailles 9" with disks - this is possibly a bolt in, but could be hard to find at this point.
The joys of axle hunting. I’m currently on the search for a 3.73 LS to replace the Open 3.55 in my 2000 Explorer. Btw Explorers only came with the 8.8.
I could be wrong, but I'm reasonably certain that the gen 1 Exploder at 5:20 was built on a Ranger chassis, so you might have found your axle there.
If not, you can definitely cut down an axle. Chop the axle tubes yourself (measure 5 times, cut once) and have a machine shop cut and re-spline the axles. Mopar A-body guys frequently cut down C-body axles, because original A-body 8.75 axles are like hen's teeth.
If you use, I think, two RH Exploder axle shafts, you can get the Explorer axle short enough to use in a classic Mustang, anyways. A Mustang axle can fit in the rear, but only with Fox length axle shafts since those axles are 1" shorter per side. That's what I have in my '65 Mustang. You can compensate by getting wheels with deeper backspacing, though. Also, you'd have to cut off control arm brackets and weld on spring perches, but you'd need to weld on or move spring perches for any axle you get.
+paul289 Mustang is much wider than the Falcon. I tried a '65 Mustang rear end in my '62 and the tires poked out past the fenders.
'64-65 Falcon and '65 Mustang are 58"
'60-63 Falcon are 56"
Fox Mustang axles are also 4 lug. And not the same 4 lug as the Falcons.
Thanks for this! You at least helped one person by making this.
Look for a 92-07 4.0L Ranger, some of the 3L ones had 7.5s.
+bandwagon240 I need an 8.8
RegularCars Suppose I should have explained further. All of the 4L Rangers and Exploders will have an 8.8. This includes the SportTrac. In the case of a Ranger, a V6 is not an automatic 8.8 score in the second generation unless it is 4 liters strong.
Just a thought, have you thought about compensating for axle width with wheel offset? Changing the offset on some steelies has to be cheaper than reducing axle width.
+bandwagon240 OOOH ok that make more sense! Thanks! Will check engines for the 4L V6
+RegularCars door stickers in the door sill are an easier way to find out what rear end and ratio is on there. Supposing you want an LSD in a normal-ish ratio, look for R5 or R6 in Rangers, 3.55 and 3.73 respectively. I put a (R7) 4.10 locker in my truck, and now I hate doing highway driving. IIRC all ranger rears have same hub to hub length.
It's best to yank the pumpkin out of a fox, rebuild the differential and install new gears into whatever rear you get. I don't trust old junkyard ring and pinions.
Thank you Mr. Regular!
Apparently the Exploder axles are asymmetrical... and what you do is modify the driver's (longer) side with a passenger shaft & tube. The end result being the right symmetrical axle for your Falcon. So if you need it done that way would be cheapest.
Mr. Regular - One side of the explorer 8.8 is longer than the other. You get 2 axles for the short side, and shorten the long side of the housing to match the short side. You'll only have to shorten 1 side of the housing that way, rather than having to shorten axle shafts and the housing.
I don't think you'll find a 56" or a 56.5" wide 8.8"
Even the Mustang II / Pinto were 57"
Do you have to do solid axle? Some 90s thunderbird and cougars had 8.8. The majority were 7.5s but there are 8.8s out there. They are all IRS
You know what I love more than differentials? KNOWLEDGE
Thanks for the video! I’m going to go look at a Mustang today to do a V8 swap and the guy claims it already has the 8.8
the first gen v6 exploders got the better 31 spline 8.8 but wider 59.5"
90-92 ranger v6 manual has the weaker 28 spline 8.8" but is 56.5" and is the narrowest ...any machine shop can narrow a rear cost about $300ish but keep in mind that doesnt account for new axles which of course would be shorter ...
the best to get would be a second gen exploder v8 it will have a 3.73 gearing option 31 spline and track lock (tag reads 3L73) and just have it narrowed and you get disc brakes with it .
This is a great video keep them up for sure
Look Mah I'm LEANING!
Great video. Now I am a little bit smarter than I was this morning.
early ranger drum brake axles have a 56 1/2 inch 8.8 with an open diff
I don't know if you can find a used axle from 2011 vintage truck, but my 2011 Ranger (one of the last ones made) has a 8.8 with limited slip and I'm not sure of the width, It's likely 58-1/2. It might make that work with the right offset rims. Just a thought.
also you can use a wider differential with a wheel that has different offset.
Swayed a 8.8 into my jeep. I did have it built for me and they did shorten it for me. You could get one and cut it to size.
Ah, the fun it must be to roam the junkyard in search of your desired part.
I had a 1998 Ford Expedition XLT.
8.8 Rear under warranty they paid $1000.00 to get it rebuilt. After a year rear blow out again. No more warranty. I paid $900.00 for a used rear at a local junk yard. That was about 10 years ago.
Reminds me of the hassle I had to got through to find a 54.5 inch wide 8.5 Chevy s10 bolt rear end for my S10
3:40 "Dere."
7.5 flat top, 8.8 round top, 9 no cover (3rd member comes out the front by the driveshaft). Um... you could always look in the DOOR of the car/truck. Most of them have a sticker that says what size rear end and SOMETIMES what ratio.
The 85 thunderbirds turbo coupes and 85 cougars came with 7.5 rears in my opinion these were stronger than the 8.8 cause unlike the 8.8 they didn't have clutch discs on the limited slip rears, the 7.5 have cone clutches which are stronger and grab more.
Your gonna review my daily 97 ranger with the 2.3 Lima diff swapped to a 8.8 with disc brakes
So at some point my 01 v6 mustang was converted to an 8.8 but still did 2.73s. Makes going 3.73s a bit easier though
Was that Stoneroads Upull it in Coal Township?
Shortening a rear end really isn't that bad. A good fab shop can chop the axle tubes to length, square them to the center section, and weld the collars. Shouldn't cost you much more than the rear end itself, its mostly labor. You'll need to get axles made to length.
Why not a old school ford 9"?
+vector6977 They're more desirable among the hot rodders--which means they're a lot more expensive.
Great video
Thank you very much
I feel like Mr.Regular could do a very good Christopher Walken impression.
Man, all that rust up north. Incredible.
use the 8.8 out of an explorer! easiest to find, easiest to modify, spring pads on the same side as your falcon! alternately, a comet/maverick's 8" rear will work but no traclock, no decent gearing, and good luck finding one!
AH the joy of Pick a Parts. For the wrenching types it's like being a kid in a candy store.
Just by looking at cover...won't the 8.8 have a more "square"...albeit rounded corners....shape vs the 7.5 would be more rectangular...wider than tall?
What’s the difference internally for the 7.5 & 8.8
That diff tag said it was an 8.8 with 3.73 gears and a limited slip. That would have been a good one.
What gear ratio you looking for? Or you don't care as long as you get an 8.8?
Crown Vics, Grand Marquis, and Town Cars all have 8.8 rears. For all years. 79-11. They would probably be the width you were looking for. Probably too late now. Maybe it will help someone.
good idea visiting these yards in the winter...less likely a black widow other nasty will be waiting to give you a painful surprise
Just be careful you don't get the dreaded 8.75" turd. It looks a lot like the 8.8. The 8.75" is found in a lot of late 70's cars. It has WER on the axle tag.
Avoid the Fox Body stuff. In addition to having a 4 lug (which is a different bolt pattern from the Falcon 4 lug) you'd have to shorten both sides and cut off all the trailing arm and spring mounts.
Any reason that you're not going for an 8 or 9 inch?
Dangerous to use? I thought you said it was going to be a cruiser not a tire burner.
I love how you go to the fox bodies but ignore the 60s mustang sitting right there which may have had an 8 or a 9 inch. Wider than the Falcon? A bit but also would be easier to bolt to the car.
Probably should have looked up what an 8.8 looked like before ya left as well. Also don't understand the whole disk brake thing for the rear as well. Sure, up front if ya wanna stop use disks.
This car is looking less and less like a regular car and more like any TV car rebuild. I had hopes that I may learn a few things to help with my Comet but if this video tells me anything I should watch just for a laugh.
Huh, well now I know. I have a small 7.5 in my v6 mustang, I think the new 3.7s come with 8.8s. I wonder what the difference visually would be from a 9 inch rear end
Danny Diez 9 in doesn't have a cover
I have a Chevy 350 in my 93 ford ranger and the diff is stock. Im pretty its a 7.5 and I've blown two motors before blowing the diff
Any luck with finding one yet? You couldn't get the one off the second gen ranger and shorten it in any way could you
+CKYJDM98 You can get the shortened, but ideally finding one close enough to the right width would save a crapton of work and money. Then again getting one shortened, and in that process rebuilt is probably going save you frustration in the future anyway
#69 is this matt farah's lexus?
93 and up honda passport or Isuzu rodeo rear Dana 44. strong, light, disk brakes, 58 inches wide.
The best thing to do is get an 8" from a 70-77 comet or maverick. They were 5 lug from 74 and up and there not to hard to find. My maverick has an 8 inch and I will be using a v8. Alot of maverick guys in the tri-state area.
+Mark Po All the V8 Maverick axles were 5 lug, starting in 71 which was the first year for the V8. I have a Maverick 8" in my Falcon.
Can you review a Honda tractor ? Or lawnmower ? The ones with vtak
thanks for teaching me this
The thunderbird's IRS is better than anything you're looking, Regular. Thunderbirds make mustangs feel like f150's in the handling the department. Also grab the steering rack k member out of one too. They're just WAY better than the mustangs. If you can find a 96 thunderbird LX. 8.8 irs in the rear and ridiculously good steering feel for a car that's ultimately a luxury coupe.
+nezerac didnt he get panther body frontsubframe with that stuff on?
MindBlowerWTF
Wait what? lol
7.5 would be fine on a mild build. I've seen guys run 12 sec 1/4 miles on them. The tlock is the weak point. Gm used the nearly identical 10 bolt rear behind camaros in the 80's and 90's, plus the 7.5 weighs about 80lbs less.
Those aren't the first generation rangers f.y.i. The first gen rangers were actually a full sized truck. The ones being called out as first gen are actually second.
+Amrikanpsyko00 Yes they are. Ranger used to be a trim package on full sized trucks. Explorer was also a trim package on those trucks. That's like saying those aren't first gen explorers, they are second gens because first gens are full sized trucks en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_F-Series_sixth_generation
how do you guys pick the cars you drive?
narrowing axles isnt that big a deal. also cant you just run a wheel with a different offset in the rear to make up for a small difference? you said that one you found was only an inch or so off.
Looking at car booties all day
single cab rangers have 7.5s n extended cab rangers have 8.8s I found this out from lkq when I had to get a new rear end
buy a s10 rear end, they are 54 inches wide and come in lsd 3.73 and a ton of other ratios. also can handle like 300hp on slicks.
Road salt takes it's toll on chassis up north.
Rangers didn't come with a 8.8 back then. The newer rangers came with a 27 spline 8.8 but that's the 3rd to 4th gens. The explorer rear is the best choice. That 8.8 has a 31 spline its stronger then jeep rears.
More of these junk yard videos.
Great vid. That tbird with it's looked an awfully lot like our Commodore centre sections interesting...i might be conspiracy theorist cos now I think Holden used Ford centre sections.
Irs on the falcon?
You don't wan't the 8.8 out of the ranger. It has 28 spline axles. The explorer and sn95 mustang have the good 31 spline axles. Maybe you could get away with the extra width by messing with rim offset.
Use a measure tape if your'e not sure lol. Anyway if you need to modify the length anyway you should go with a 9 inch.
Which 7.5 is best 8.8?
I just went outside and looked at the rear end of my 91 ranger. Apparently i have the 8.8.
Why don't you go to junkyards that specialize in classic cars? Try to find a rear end from a old first or second gen Rustang. (I think thay had 8.8's as an option) The Mustang was built on the Falcon platform so I would think it should be the correct size.
+TheTarrMan Any Mustang axle will be too wide by at least 1". Pretty much any Ford axle other than the Maverick 8" will be too wide. The 60-63 Falcon was the narrowest axle Ford made at 56". Even the Mustang II was wider, it was 57".
And it's 28 spline junk
This is a long shot, and by no means am I claiming to know a lot about trucks, but maybe try to do some research and see if the Mazda B-series has what you're looking for, because I know Ford owned Mazda about a decade ago before Mazda became it's own company. I hear a lot from my friends that a B-series is practically a Ranger with a Mazda tag on it.
Please do more Junkyard videos!
You might have some luck if you look for a Ford Granada with the 302. Good luck, though. they haven't been built in over thirty years.
An angle grinder, a MMA-welder and a crooked ruler will do the trick
Fuck it, why not just go with a narrowed 9", should only be a few grand...LOL
+Justin Updyke I second this motion.
+Justin Updyke few grand vs 150buck+ refurbish
8.8 is rated higher GAWR than 9". The only redeeming feature of 9" is no c-clips, so you can drag race with it.
aerostars may have 8.8?