Here's my ford explorer 8.8" rear end with 3.73 ratio and posi I got for $89 at the local u-pull-it. I narrowed it 3'' and put on some Mopar spring pearches ($12.99 at Jegs) It's ready to install.

  
<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/howtoplaydead/.Pictures/mustangmopar_rear.jpg">

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Franklin
'61 Valiant

Looks good, but didn't the exploders come with rear disk brakes?

'94 and later came with disc brakes, earlier models had 10'' drums. All have 5 on 4 1/2" bolt pattern.

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Franklin
'61 Valiant

What does that sucker weigh? I'd really be interested before you install it...

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

It weighs about 190 lbs with the drums on a bathroom scale.

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Franklin
'61 Valiant

Thanks much for the weight - about 10lbs lighter than a comparable 8.75" mopar axle.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Yes, it's a little lighter than a 8 3/4 or 9" and supposedly less parisidic drag yet nearly as strong.
I was originally going with an A body 8 3/4" but after getting all the parts together and realizing I'd spent $700 for a housing, sure-grip and decent gears, I sold it.
The junk yards are full of explorer 8.8s with posi and 3.55 or 3.73 ratio. If you want 4.10 or 4.56 ring and pinion, they're cheap on e-bay.
It's real easy to narrow, you don't have to re-spline any axles.

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Franklin
'61 Valiant

How is the explorer rear narrowed without resplining axles?

nice question ? how to shorten the rear end ? i,m also in this trouble got a 8" 54 "" and need 52" long . how to shorten a rearend ?
btw . i only have acces to euro cars , not easy for me to go to a yunk yard and pick a 8 ore 8,8 axle ! did took me 1 year to get a 8 axle , and it is to wide !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://member.chello.nl/h.omvlee

btw :http://members.chello.nl/h.omvlee/

i,m always looking into this site too , nice forum ! good tips and how to .

Hey,

When you say that you narrowed the FMC 8.8 3" do you mean 3" total or 3" on each side? Also, what would prevent you from using a disc brake version of the same rear? Ideas?

JRC

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When in doubt, empty the magazine.
'72 Dart Swinger /6 - My Yard Dart!
'01 Ranger P/U 4x4 X-cab
We buy and sell MOPARTS & Ford Parts!!!
http://www.usironauto.com

The explorer 8.8 is 59 1/2", but the center section is offset about 3" to the right. So I cut 3" off the left tube and used another left axle and now its aprox. 56 1/2" wide.
You could use the disc brake model with no problem except adapting the parking brake cable, which looks pretty easy.

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Franklin
'61 Valiant

That should read, "I used another right side axle".

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Franklin
'61 Valiant

Ah,

I am very curious how this entire project turn out. This rear end swap is of particular interest to me since I am also into Fords. I've owned 2 explorerers and modified one fairly extensively, the rear end never broke, even when being used for makeshift rock crawling. Can't say as much about the TTB Front suspension though

you should really submit this entire thing to the powers that be here on sl6 and get it made into an article!

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When in doubt, empty the magazine.
'72 Dart Swinger /6 - My Yard Dart!
'01 Ranger P/U 4x4 X-cab
We buy and sell MOPARTS & Ford Parts!!!
http://www.usironauto.com

Hmmmmmm.....I wonder if a spool is available for the Ford 8.8? I'm giving some thought to a rear-engine , slant-powered dragster, but really don't want to use an 8.25" rear.

Roger