Please help identify this Ford rear axle

I bought what I was told was an 8.8" rear axle from a mid '80's Ford Mustang for my modified.

I ordered up a Wilcap (7064) finned diff cover for it from the USA. Came to fit it today and it didn't. The diff cover is right for an 8.8 so I think that this axle isn't as described.

I set out some pictures below. You will see that whilst the housing is the same hight as the 8.8 cover it is about an inch wider.

I can't find any markings on the outside of the axle but stampled on the ring gear is;

FORD USA D7AW 42" AA 17422

The 7 could be a 3 as it is faint on the lower part.

The axle is a ten bolt and the holes are 10 1/2" apart (from centre to centre) across the axle and 10" top to bottom. The axle is 49" wide between the backlng plates.

Can you help identify this please - I'm wondering whether it is a 25 - 27 - 30 Dana??

 

The "D" in the date code means that it is a 70's part. The second digit completes the year. If it reads D7 = 1977; D3 = 1973 etc

 

So definitely not an 83 Mustang then.....

 

looks like a 7.5 diff. PM me if you want to sell the 8.8 cover. I can use it.

 

Is that a TT truck rear crossmember you're using? You may want to pull a few leaves out of that spring, looks a bit to stiff to me.

 

It is indeed - I was thinking of pulling a couple of leaves AND fitting PTFE tape between the remaining ones as well as polishing & chamfering them.

 

is it not an 8"? it looks like the one on the back of my '60 falcon, with the tapers on the ends of the tubes. i beleive they ran quite late on the compacts.

but then again, i know **** about this kinda thing

 

83 Mustangs didn't have 8.8's. and 7.5's did not arrive until 1979. The D7 as others stated means 1977 so my guess is it is a 7 1/4 axle from a Pinto or a 6 cyl Maverick of that vintage. This would be the same axle as non V8 60's Falcons and Mustangs. I'm not sure but the 7 1/4 may have the same pan bolt pattern as the 7.5 but I can't say for certain. Stu

 

Ford 8" and 9" don't have a cover, they are non-integral carrier axles (pumpkin style) Stu

 

thanks for the info, i know the axle looks the same as mine, and i had been (mis!) informed mine was an 8" in the past

 

BTTT - Anyone recognise this axle?? More accurate measurements (bolt centre to bolt centre) are;


10- 6/10" (or 268mm) ACROSS
9- 15/16" (or 254mm) TOP TO BOTTOM

It's definitely a Ford as this is stamped on the pinion. It's 10 bolt.

It was brought over from the USA by a UK hot rod parts dealer and he still thinks a came from an 80's Mustang of some sort.

 

Mustangs used 7.5's till around '85, then went to 8.8 because they were tired of the warranty problems ***ociated with torquey smallblocks and leadfeet....Probably the 7.5

 

what is the diameter of the crown (ring) gear in inches? that is what axle it is....pretty simple

D7AW would be a 1977 design.

(I'm guessing 6-3/4", as used in the pinto/mustang II type cars)

 

I have the same axle in my car... exact measurements you describe with the necked down axle tubes. Mine is a Ford 8.8 from a 91 Crown Victoria. I'm sure of this because I just installed a new ring & pinion and posi unit for the 8.8. The finned cover in your photo looks like a GM 10 bolt to me?

 

Thats good advice from Squirel !! For the 8.8 axle the ring gear will measure aprox. 8 3/4 eyeball using a tape measure. If the ring gear measures 8 3/4 (and I think it will) I'd be calling USA about the cover.