Well, I like doing some how to do threads, but this one is going to be a little simpler. The local 8 3/4 with nice axles, 3.23 gears, and a posi was only $2000 what a steal! So we found an alternative, I know that it was posted about Ford axles before and did my own reading. We did some measuring and talked to local junkyards. The 8.8 are reknown by Ford enuthasist as a good replacements for 9in as they are plentiful and can transfer power more efficently from the crank to the rear wheels. Like any good thing there is drawbacks, the axles are the racers for the bearings and when worn need entire replacement (Moser). The clutch packs are known for going fast when the oil gets dirty. So with a few drawbacks they meaure very closely to the old A-bodies and are $250 at the local junkyard, we got a winner.
The 7.5 is a weaker axle and can only handle some 200hp, and more commonly came with drums, the advantage is they are more common in a Ranger. Why is this important? Well the Ranger technically is closer in overall width that those availble in the Explorers. So if you can find an 8.8 out of a Ranger it will be a tad bit narrower, but I stole one out of an Explorer with 3.73 gears and could've gotton one with a posi (their was confusion, but got the newest year).
So assuming you can get some wheels with good backspacing and like a meaner look, the Explorers will work fine. Not entireling knowing this I bit the bullet and started cutting. The spring perches needed to be widened out. Since the diff is off center to measure off this would be a tad dangerous. So I did some math and was able to measure from the hubs in and be very accurate.

Next, was to check the inside and flush in some new oil, the 8.8 (and I'm sure any rear) will destruct very fast will dirt in the gears. I cut off the sway bar perches as practice for the spring perches and painted it nicely black.

So even with the wider rear is still looks great with my new wheels, I personally think it gives it a meaner look.

The brake lines were very simple to connect, the Ford's rubber end connects to the hard line. All I had to do was move the hard line closer to the axle, and connected the old bracket to my sway bar system. To connect the driveline to the Ford rear you need a spicer 2-2-19XX I'll repost later, also I had to shorten my driveline 1.25 inches.

Cool thread!

$2000 8-3/4 rears? Might be time for me to have a garage sale.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

So how wide is the Explorer 8.8 from one wheel mounting flange to the other? My Valiant doesn't have the wide hips of your Duster.

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Joshua

You must have a Duster,.....because there is no way to do this on an early A without narrowing.

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

yes I have a 74 Duster, I thought I started with that but I guess it was getting late. The width I believe was 56 1/2 inches but I have to double check. I bit the bullet knowing it was wider because I read a unkown fact that Dodge used to but spacers in the Demon's to give it a meaner look. The only drawback so far is the offset differntial was a pain to work around the sway bar kit from Just Suspension. The other problem was that the wider axles made the wider wheel/tire combo hit when I went over bumps. Problem solved, and liking it so far.

For those following along that need a stock width 8.8.....

http://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22606

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

A stock a-body rear end is only 56.5" wide. I need something 58.5" wide and I think I've found it in the '94-'98 Mustang. Of course there will be more brackets to remove from the Mustang housing, but cutting things off is cheap.

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Joshua

Please elaborate on the spacers. I have owned many Demons and never found a single thing different about them compared to any other A-body.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

It was an Ad gimick they used for the pictures. No I've never heard of one being in a car, it was some useless fact my Dad picked up from someone somewhere, I mean I guess that someone could be full of it, but from the looks of my Duster it might make sense.
The Ford A-bodies Axle thread is where I got a lot of info. However, it mostly came down to just measuring. I mean yes the Ranger would've fit in better but all I could find was 7.5 which are the weaker axle, and wanted a more permant "fix". The explorer was 1.5inches wider, and I do know I was wrong before, it wasn't 56.5 but I lost the measurement and won't be climbling back under for another day.

OK, I'm dying to know how wide is the stock disc brake Explorer 8.8?

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Joshua

99 Ford Explorer with discs 59 1/4"
Narrowed Explorer (2 5/8") 56 5/8

8.8 weight 185 lbs
7.25 160

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

Thanks for putting that Sandy, last info needed for this. I just hope this helps for those with Dusters and such. I plan on installing a posi from a stang, and Moser axles later down the road.