Fox 8.8/Explorer 8.8 hack for 68 Cougar

[Dictator Tom]

Been looking for answers but haven't found anything concrete yet.. Was hoping the collective here may have what i'm looking for.

I have an Explorer 8.8 traction loc/3.73/31 spline rear end. I had read about people putting these in other cars and the like. I'm going a bit different route in that i'm ordering the AJE 4 link rear subframe that mimics a fox body mustang setup which requires me to use a 8.8 housing out of a fox/sn95 mustang. First, is it possible to move the Explorer dif to the mustang housing? Second, what vehicle can i get the 31 spline axels from that will fit the mustang housing and Explorer dif?

Any help would be appreciated and if its not clear, let me know. i'll explain more if need be.



Thanks!

[1985olds]

I may be wrong, but I think two left side explorer axles fit fox rears and are 31 spline.

[Zachalanche]

sounds like the majority (all but the gears and diff) of that explorer axle needs to be replaced for your application. Might be easier to just find a 31 spline mustang axle. I'm pretty sure the later model ones are. 2005+ some even have 3.73 and torsen diff. Everything but the long axle ( and im not sure about the short axle) should swap over, but I'm not sure you'll come out money ahead on that. However, I don't know the going rate for 8.8 axles out of mustangs. Perhaps they are expensive enough to force you to mix and match parts.

[Dictator Tom]

The reason for the mixing and matching is that none of the Mustang rears that were Quadralink are 31 spline that i know of. Also when you get up into the 94+ year models, they are wider. the 86-93 are the same length as my 68 8 inch. I may just bite the bullet here and order some Strange axles and call it a day. My goal was if my car broke for some reason, i could hit up Autozone or O'Reillys for parts to fix and get on my way. But if i figure if i slap in some of those axles, i won't break them.

[1985olds]

31 spline Lsd diffs are pretty inexpensive for the 8.8. A ford racing 31 spline trac loc for a fox is $229.