PDA

View Full Version : 8.8 Ford rear's



eupp
09-08-2013, 05:40 AM
First post here. I am semi/protouring the 1965 Chevrolet pickup my Uncle gave me. I have read about putting a Explorer 8.8 rear under it for the advantages of; 2" wider, disc brakes, better gear ratio from stock, and posi. The only thing is, it has a 2" offset center section. I really do not want to have to go through the hassle of narrowing the rear. Do you think that offset will cause any serious issues? Thanks

RobNoLimit
09-08-2013, 09:49 AM
A lot is depending on which 8.8 you choose. We use a lot of the '96 - '04 Explorer rear axles in early trucks. The O.A. width is around 60" (I'm at home, I could get you the exact measurement from the shop) They have 11.6" disc brakes, Trac-Lock style limited slip diff, and the E-Brake works really good. Most came with 3.73 gearing which is a good match for O.D. trans. The Expo rr has a .7" pinion offset, the F150 may be more. The offset is no problem, a driveshaft can go side/side just as it goes up/down. Hope the info helps.

eupp
09-09-2013, 03:54 AM
Thanks for the response. The stock Chevy axle looks like 62" to the wheel mounting surface. You are correct the Explorer is 60". I think the 2" difference in width can be taken care of by the offset in the wheels. Since it has worked for you, that is the route I am going to take. Thanks again.

Z06killinSBF
09-09-2013, 06:35 AM
Make sure you read the data plate carefully. I had a shop try and sell me a 3.73 OPEN rear end when I went for a Trac-loc rear but I caught the mess up before I left. Just FYI if you go to a junk yard.

LowFast
09-09-2013, 12:11 PM
Z06 and I are both using cut down explorer rearends. It is a great value and with the LS and stock 31 splines the explorer set-up is pretty stout.

srh3trinity
09-09-2013, 12:15 PM
I want to use one too but I am not sure about brackets for my c6 brakes unless tobin had a solution. I can get away with the width and pinion offset and have my axles redrilled for my bolt pattern, but I would rather not have to go with different ends.

eupp
09-09-2013, 07:28 PM
I have been crawling under the Explorer's in my favorite junkyard taking pics of the tags and then taking them home to try and decode them. Some of the tags do not have the same type of system to figure out with.

48prerunner
09-11-2013, 05:41 PM
here is a pretty good link on exploder rears. http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Explorer8_8.html

I can't find the one with the codes I used to figure mine out. I ended up just taking the disc brakes off for my 9". It was a 3.73 traction loc I'll have to check the code

Z06killinSBF
09-11-2013, 06:23 PM
Trac Loc 373 looks like: 3_73

Open 373 looks like: 3 73

I believe all other gear sets follow suit (2.73, 3.55, 4.10 etc)

brawls43
09-17-2013, 10:44 AM
Here's a decoder I found. I picked up an L73. Some of the Crown Vic's have LSD 8.8's also.

http://www.explorerforum.com/ntrprize/Axle.htm

brawls43
09-18-2013, 11:44 AM
L73 is tag code for Explorers too that denotes the Limited Slip 3.73 gears. I got one of these from a local yard.

Here's where I found another decoder for axle tags http://www.explorerforum.com/ntrprize/Axle.htm