Ford 8.8 should i buy?

You can make your own braces, if you look in the right side of Bruno's pic you will see where he has braced it with additional bars to his ladder bar brackets (I assume), we also used to weld the bar he has shown below the center body, to the center body, this makes them more a less indestructable.

Do you think running a set of braces form the top of the center section to the axle tubing would work better? I mean kinda copying the same tapper as the 9 inch does.

although brunos setup looks much easier than my idea

I would do what paulie9fingers says about the bracing. We used to run one from the front of the housing as far out as possible the run to the front of the center section to the flat pieces on the cast iron. they also make bolt on kits for the rear that will tie the axle housing together with the center section using the carrier bolts on the rear cover but we didn't run one. we also used to run a piece of tubing from one axle end to the other running it under the center section (and welding it to the center section). It is easier, but not required, if the bracing is planned and welded after deciding your mounting pad locations and such.

If you don't have access to an axle jig then just make sure to weld short welds and let them cool so you don't bend or warp the housing.

sounds like ill do the bracing the way you guys sugest.

Thanks for the imput guys really appreciate it! Its nice to be able to consult people with first hand experience with these axles.

I would suggest before you start this crazy deal check your rear end in your car it just might have a 9 inch under it and it aint worth it to change out for something smaller when you allready have a good rearend..... get the tag off of it and bring it in here and give the codes off of it....if I remember right they stopped putting 8 inch axles in the cars around 68.....



Randy

I've found a quick way you can look at it and immidiately tell if it's a 8" or 9". When looking at it straight on from the front, you will be able to see all of the studs holding the center section to the housing if it's an 8", if it's a 9" you won't be able to see the ones (2 of them under/behind the pinion.

8 inch , http://www.currieenterprises.com/CEStore/ProductsRE.aspx?id=2435

9 inch , http://www.currieenterprises.com/CEStore/ProductsRE.aspx?id=1871

I know they were putting 8 inches in v8 cars in as late as 1969 because that is what my coupe came with.

cutting four link brackets off and welding perches on is easy. The bracing that an 8.8 needs is easy. Bracing a 9 inch is easy also but he has the 8.8 rear.

If he does have a 9 inch all I would do to start with if he was trying to do it as cheap as possible would be to just shim the stock posi as tight as possible which pretty much locks it. then I would put the caltracs on and run it until an axle broke. Then replace the axles with some good ones then along with a new locker, posi, or spool.

Coug, if you're that close just be a good guy and drive over there and tell him what it is. Save the guy some money, he is doing the best he can. He is trusting us to be his sources.

Maddmattmustangs wrote:

I went ahead and bought it

^^^^^ post #4


At this point he has the 8.8 already, so just go with it, but if you have a 9" housing in the car don't trash it.

Matt just check it out to see for sure what it is and make sure you hold onto it for possibilties in the future if it's a 9".

paulie9fingers wrote:

Maddmattmustangs wrote:

I went ahead and bought it

^^^^^ post #4


At this point he has the 8.8 already, so just go with it, but if you have a 9" housing in the car don't trash it.

Matt just check it out to see for sure what it is and make sure you hold onto it for possibilties in the future if it's a 9".

I agree. IF it is a 9 inch someone will want it.

Most racers would now rather go with an aftermarket case but some still want the stock stuff.

I have 3 complete 9" axles and that can be three quick gear changes if I wanted to set them up.

the Coug wrote:I would suggest before you start this crazy deal check your rear end in your car it just might have a 9 inch under it and it aint worth it to change out for something smaller when you allready have a good rearend..... get the tag off of it and bring it in here and give the codes off of it....if I remember right they stopped putting 8 inch axles in the cars around 68.....



Randy

no they used them all through the 70's it is beyond the shadow of a doubt an 8in. (it has an 8Inch ring gear)

I know its an 8 inch i was hoping it was a 9 inch so i wouldnt need a new axle but when i went to get a trac lok for it thats when i discovered i had an 8inch

Then you have a good 8.8 to use. Good Luck

whatbumper wrote:Then you have a good 8.8 to use. Good Luck

thanks im going to need it! lol