I have a 8.8 rearend from a 91 ranger with 3.55 gears 28 spline. I want to make it limited slip and I wanted to know if there is any cars in the salvage yard I could remove the carrier from and add it to my rearend?
'79 up Mustang, Lincoln Mk VII, Crown Vics, Merc Grand Marquis.....all use the 8.8 axle.........check the tag on the tin cover for an "L" where the ratio is given........for instance, open diff "3 08" ....with limited slip "3 L 08" Ray
Ranger suprcab 4X4 were usually a Tracion LOk. If you get one, be sure to put in a bottle or special friction modifier for Traction Lock clutches.
The Mustang and it's Mercury counterpart, the Capri, did not have an 8.8 axle until 1986. The Lincoln MKVII did not receive an 8.8 axle until '86 or '87. I have a very close relationship with these axles because in addition to vintage hot rods I have also been heavilly invovled in the 5-liter Mustang hobby since 1996. I can speak from much experience and say that if you want the limited-slip to actually do it's job a used unit should be rebuilt before being used. Rebuild kits are available at Summit Racing from Ford Racing Performance Parts. The last time I purchased a kit it was about $50 and the process is actually pretty easy. If you want it to really do it's job there are technical articles available that outline how to change the order of the clutch packs to make them tighter and therefor more consistent.
Shop around, I bought a used 8.8 rear end for a Mustang project and it had a bad spider gear. I bought a complete, new Trac-Lok carrier from Ford Motorsport for a little over $200 with free shipping. Much cheaper than a rebuild kit and new spider gears. There are lots of Mustang and Ford performance sites on the Web.
I am using an 8.8 out of an explorer, they have 31 spline axles where the mustangs only have 28 spline. Not a big dif unless you have some power to put down.
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