8.8 ford rear disk brake swap

I have an 8.8 rear from a 91 lincoln I with disk brakes I bought to put in my 53 gmc, but it is about 2" too wide. The pull a part has some drum brake rears our of similar cars that are the correct width. Can I unbolt the disk setup and just swap it on the drum axles? I would like to run disk in the rear, but don't have to. Just wondering if I should keep the disk setup before I trade this axle in for a drum unit.

Thanks guys

 

anyone?

 

My memory is fuzzy on the Mark VII rears, but if I remember right, flipping the brackets works. I'll just give you a link to a site explaining it a bit. The idea is, even though the housings are similar, the Mark VII width overall is 3" wider than the fox mustang due to the brackets, and being 5 lug, the Ranger axle shaft is needed. (2 driver sides) http://home.pacbell.net/black306/tech/reardisc.html and a seller named North-Racecars sold the modified brackets. If that doesn't help, I might find my info later.

PS: I'm building an OT car and was gonna do this, until I decided on using SN95 brake set-up.

 

Plumb has the way I'd do it but that's with an explorer rear. Sounds like you got a mark which wouldn't be as strong as the explorer. What width do you need? Something my wife keeps nagging at me about is checking that BEFORE I buy the part.. I don't think i've learned my lesson yet either..

 

not to hijack, but, since we're talking about them...


Explorer differentials: same performance parts as Mustangs? E.g. Can you get biger axles, aftermarket gears, etc?

 

Explorer rears have a thicker housing, 31 spline axles and bigger diameter, drums or discs, and are already set up for leafs. So in a sense, they're already upgraded from the mustang rears.

What plumbid did is what I'm doing for my Fairlane.

What I mentioned in my previous post was a way that the rear could be used as an option, instead of going out and buying another. The shafts are equal length...same housing as the fox mustang, but the shafts themselves are longer due to the bracket offset.

 

My only question is: Can i swap the disk setup from an 8.8 to a drum 8.8 rear end?

 

listen, dont let anyone tell you that the lincoln 8.8" isnt strong, or that you have to make sure to get an exploder or stang housing... just aint true

i got a lincoln 8.8 behind a 455 buick torque monster. its been there for over 3 years now and not one problem. if something was gonna kill it, my heavy right foot and that buick mill would do it

 

Yes, but this isn't going to narrow your rear end. Get an axle ***embly out of a Ranger or Explorer based on the brake system you want (disc or drum). A Town Car rear end is wider than an Explorer. Take your tape measure.

 

lincoln and fox mustang is the same housing. 54.096" flange to flange. overall width is 62.5" for the lincoln, and 59.5" for the fox mustang. (61" for sn95) due to the brake set-up, which requires different axle shaft lengths.

You didn't specify in the post if it's a Mark VII or Cont., but FWIW, 7.5" ranger drums work though they are 9" drums, but will be 5x4.5" and will be 3"(maybe it's 2.5") narrower than your lincoln discs. The idea here is that you can go to the JY and pull the brake drum set-ups instead of a whole new rear end. You'll need two trucks to pull from so that you have the right length shafts...driver sides.....29.16" width.

 

Also, if you decide to ditch the lincoln disc set up, I may be interested in taking them off your hands.