White97

I'm currently in the process of installing an 8.8" rear into my V6 Mustang. It's from my 87 Thunderbird Turbocoupe, which was a manual so it has 3.55 gears in it. The removal went alright, other than the lower control arm bolts on both cars, which were a huge pain in the *** to remove. The Mustang's driver side LCA bolt was rotted.. I've never seen a bolt that bad before. All the threads were almost fused together and it was so rusted that it was a lot skinnier in some spots than others.

After I got the 7.5" rear off, I had to take my axles out.. and that was fun!
The pin bolt was stripped and we had to drill the pin out to get it off. 3 hours later, the axles were out. Other than a few lining up issues the rest went smooth, until I got to the brakes, which didn't line up. All I heard was it was a direct swap and nothing other than the axle swap had to be done. I had an idea of using washers to space it out but I wanted to see if anyone on the net had any ideas of what to do for sure. Low and behold I finally come upon a post by V6Sprout on 3.8mustangs which said to use washers.

Right now I'm trying to thaw my *** off from sitting on the cold garage floor for a while. Going to get the wheels back on and go test it out. I'll post my G-tech results a bit later. If it's an improvement over 17.6, I'll be :biggrin: ing.

White97

Took the g-tech out, ran 16.84 @ 85.5mph. That was with a full trunk, 2 subs and 2 amps. I got 17.6 best I think at the track with an empty trunk and no speaker boxes for my rears. I still have a huge bogging problem with my transmission and I think it's about ready to go. Feels so much faster and the posi is nice. I completely forgot to pick up a speedo gear so my speedo is off by about 20kph at 100. All in all, a good days work. It's still slow, but not as slow as before.

V6Sprout

iTrader: (1)

yeah you need washers, the other way you could have done it to avoid the washers it to swap the caliper mounting plates, they are still on your old rear end, held on by 4 bolts, thast where the difference is I believe, if you swap those you shoudn't need washers. As a word of advice, put some LOCK WASHERS in there instead of regualr washers, we did this swap on mine and never had a problem with regular washers but on my buddies car the bolts wiggled loose and the caliper FELL OFF. :laughhard The lock washers ensure that won't happen, I switched mine to lock washers, but I am going to swpa the stock mounting plates on from my 7.5 soon.

Great job bro! Glad to hear the swap went well, yeah those lower control arm bolts are horrible, they all rust like that.

White97

I still have the other rear sitting around so if I have any problems I'll swap the mounting brackets. I didn't even notice that they were held on by any bolts, at that point we just wanted to get the damn thing on since we worked on it from around noon till 10pm and it was freezing.

White97

I just want to confirm on the speedo gear.. I have a 94 V6, AODE, 3.55 gears from the 8.8... 23 tooth white gear? I called the Ford dealers around here and they said it was discontinued.. I just want to make sure that's the right one before I order one from Steeda.

White97

I went to go swap the mounting plate but you have to take the axle shafts out... don't have any money for more fluid so I went to Canadian Tire and picked up $3 worth of washers and lock washers and got them on there nice and good.

gfong

iTrader: (2)

Sounds like it is coming along great. You doing this outside or in an unheated garage.... dedicated

I had the 3.55 gear in and it was nice. I am sure you know that already. Your car with the 8.8 swap will be excellent. Hard work I bet, but worth it in the end, keep us posted. Sorry can not help ont he tech side of things, more moral support. lol Peace.

White97

It was actually outside in the rain for a bit.. it seems every time I start to do something it starts to rain. I got the swap all finished, brakes all done up and my summer wheels on. Front Cobra brakes are in with a new passanger side line. Oh man do those things ever stop good.

fastang

iTrader: (1)

good job on the rear end swap... i did the exact same swap - it was fun!!

V6Sprout

iTrader: (1)

cool, glad to hear thigns went well.