I am tired of looking for information, the SEARCH feature only seems to bring up "Speculation" and "Arguments".

-Who has shortened a FORD 8.8 rear end and put it in an A-Body?

-What Engine, Transmission, Tire size do you use?

-What Ratio rear end did you choose?

I found about (20) of them at the local yard, but the ratios were almost all 3.73, with a few 4.10!

This will go in my Daily Driver.(Stock 225, 904 Pushbutton, 15" wheels)

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1964 Dart GT

Shortened and installed.

225 5 speed 235/60/14

3.55

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

Me too. I shortened one side and it has 3.73 gears. I fits well under my 62 Lancer. I have 15 inch wheels.

Barnaby

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These ones go to eleven...

Finished going through the local yard today. (9) 3.73 and (5) 4.10 and various other Explorers that had already been striped!

2.26, 2.47, 2.73, 3.08, 3.27, 3.31, 3.45, 3.55, 3.73, 4.10 & 4.56, 5.14
I was hoping to find a 3.08 or 3.27, but no luck so far.

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1964 Dart GT

Did you also check Ranger pickups?

Roger

Roger - Everyone at the yard was a 3.73!

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1964 Dart GT

Hmmmm. You'd think that there'd be some differences, depending on engine/trans, and 2wd/4wd combos.

From my understanding, the 8.8 is not a centered diff rear. One can "narrow" an 8.8 by getting two of them, and swapping the short side axle and tube onto one housing, in place of the long side axle/tube.

Roger

yes Roger. That's what I am working on. Getting the correct ratio (3.08 or 3.27 for my application) cut the (Long) side down 2 5/8", weld the pieces back together, get a second axle (short), add New spring perches, and be done with my axle headache!

From what I have learned, most Explorers (in the Junk Yards) are/were 6 cylinders with 3.55 or 3.73. Cash for Clunkers Number 1 Vehicle!

The Limited Slip was only available in 3.73 and 4.10

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1964 Dart GT

Picked up my Ford 8.8 project rear end today.
3.27 Ratio ($100) (109K miles listed?)
extra short side axle ($35)
Hope to start disassembly tomorrow and remove the pearches this coming week.

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1964 Dart GT

You got the sway bar, too. Hope it'll be able to mount up reasonably well.

Roger

I got the Rear Sway Bar, but I don't imagine I will use it. I do not have a front sway bar either, but could possibly someday! (my Oldman driving style doesn't call for it!)

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1964 Dart GT

1) Can you identify if it is limited slip by the tag?

2) When you get 2 of them what are you taking from the second one just the axle?

3) Are the axles from limited slip and open rears the same?

Thanks

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1966 Dart GT
4 spd. OD conversion
8 3/4 - 3.55 SG (Sold)

62 Lancer GT
B Body 8 3/4

Driveshaft?

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1966 Dart GT
4 spd. OD conversion
8 3/4 - 3.55 SG (Sold)

62 Lancer GT
B Body 8 3/4

1.) Yes. (Tag on the diff. & tag on the door both)
2.) Yes, just second short axle.
3.) Yes 1995 -2001 are both 31mm (LSD or Open) "Ford Explorer"

Driveshaft I am going to pickup next weekend is from a 1994 Aerostar (Aluminum). It will be shortened and balanced first.

This is some of the little bit of progress I have made.




Alot of people cut the tube and weld the pieces back together. I decided to drill the weld plugs out, press the long side tube out, cut it down (2-7/8") and press it back together, re-weld the plugs and around where the tubes are pressed in. I live in Corsicana,Texas where Oil City Iron Works is based, they have a patented technique for welding cast iron to steel (pre-heating and slow cool down technique of some sort), so I am doing the grunt work and letting the professionals handle the welding.

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1964 Dart GT

When I did mine we just cut the end off in the cutoff saw....removed another 2 7/8" with saw.....welded it back together in the driveline lathe.

Presto-swappo

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