HOW CHEAP/EASY Junkyard Ford 8.8 into Classic Mustang??: 1966 Mustang 4.6L MOD MOTOR SWAP. Episode 5

In this episode, I pulled a ford 8.8 rear axle out of a 1997 Ford Explorer.
I cut off all of the existing spring perches and assemblies and welded on new spring perches.
I then installed the rear axle with brand new leaf springs up under the rear end of the car.
Music provided by:
www.bensound.com
Disclaimer:
I take no responsibility for any damage done after watching this video.
All methods in this video are for educational purposes and should be performed by individuals who are capable with doing this.

[@itswillstuff]

Right behind you mate - swapping out the 7.25 for an exploder 8.8 rear end. Can't wait.

[@4WDTrek]

It is a pretty straight forward swap. Just make sure and measure measure measure. And I got it dialed in perfectly. Make sure you get the 8.8 with limited slip!

[@itswillstuff]

@@4WDTrek Yup - 95 explorer rear end with discs and limited slip.

[@ysamp8774]

One step at a time bro lol its a fun project but it could add up . But how could u not love a 60s Mustang lol

[@roberthirshfield3571]

Does anyone know if one would fit under a 71 mustang

[@javier9082]

Good job. I did the same rear axle swap but it was a drum brake set up same wheels too. Good luck

[@4WDTrek]

Thanks bud. I'm very happy with it so far

[@danieltorres9534]

Probably the most useful video I’ve see.

[@4WDTrek]

Thanks bud! Hit that subscribe for me!

[@mrelectron6220]

Very cool series making all of this fit including the engine too.

[@4WDTrek]

Thanks bud! Unfortunately up here in the PNW, we have just rain and snow the past couple months. Haven't had a chance to really drive it yet!

[@GoatOffroad]

Sweet score from the Pick-n-Pull 🙌

[@4WDTrek]

Thanks! I couldn't believe how "perfect" it looked inside!

[@thumpstar12502]

good score . now need to find same deal for the jeep too . upgrades!!

[@SkyBlueOffRoad]

@@4WDTrek Many in the XJ and TJ crews are putting the 8.8 in to replace the sketchy dana35. There is tons of aftermarket support too. plus it looks like you scored too with the 31 spline shafts.

[@4WDTrek]

@@SkyBlueOffRoad I made sure to get one with 31 splines. Eventually should be pushing about 400whp. I don't want to have to worry about that rear end.

[@codyvezina8069]

Thank you for this series I just acquired a 64 mustang it is just a shell but the shock towers have been cut out already and it already has the mustang two cross member and the disc brake front end conversion

[@4WDTrek]

That was probably the most time intensive section of the entire build. That is awesome to hear that you already have that done for you! What engine are you putting in it?

[@josephacker3328]

That 16th of an inch could probably be settled by loosening your spring mount ubolts. Then re-center and retighten. There is easily a 32nd of play in the way that hardware bolts up.

[@4WDTrek]

I'm sure it could be. But I'm not worried what so ever about that 16th of an inch. Thats closer tolerances than it was from factory in 1966. And it drove perfectly fine.

[@williamdecamp7343]

Safety glasses with flip flops 😂

[@4WDTrek]

Haha yeah yeah. At least my eyes won't get chopped off from a broken grinding disc!

[@Medic-zq2ws]

Got my 66 About 2 years ago I’ve been running the stock 7 with a 200 inline but now have my grandfather 332 (bored out 302) I just can’t find a rear end at a reasonable price but seeing you use the explorer 8.8 makes me wonder if I could do it 😅

[@4WDTrek]

It is pretty straight forward if you have some welding skills. I would bet you would destroy that 7 inch rear the first time you hammer down with that v8!

[@lespaul9078]

I have a 6.75 with a 2spd and a 144 in a 61' Falcon, going with this setup. With a c6 and 289

[@4WDTrek]

Very nice! This setup should work out very nicely for you

[@roberthirshfield3571]

A lot of u tubers are using super clean

[@4WDTrek]

Yup. It works

[@GarageBuiltCoupe]

Doing the same on my 68 soon as I get done with the rewire. I got the same LS 3.73.

[@4WDTrek]

Very nice! With the 65-66, have to worry slightly with the offset diff and the drive shaft if you drop the car. But the 67-68, you don't have anything to worry about. No clearance issues.

[@stephendrake-hq8tt]

I realize this video is a couple years old, but did you not need to cut the drivers side tube down to match the passenger, or does the 95 axle match?

[@4WDTrek]

I did not need to cut mine down. I have heard that if you lower the car a lot, you will have clearance issues with the transmission tunnel. Stock height, there is no issue at all. If I do end up lowering it a bit, I will likely just modify the transmission tunnel a bit (big mallet) and create more clearances.

[@ndenise3460]

How did you shorten the axle tube. The explorer is offset about 2 3/4" on one side

[@4WDTrek]

I did not shorten it. I left it full length. Haven't had any issues with the set up yet. No clearance issues at stock height.

[@SkyBlueOffRoad]

I built an 8.8 for my Tj. Exact same set up. Was it an 01 exploder?...well i did 4:10 gear but with the lsd. Does great syncing up the tires (until ya go 35s or bigger hahaha). Only complaint is the e-brake. Even with new shoes it just does not hold as solid as i wish. Anyways, looks like it is going well on this build.

[@4WDTrek]

Mine was a 97 explorer I got it out of. I debated for the 4.10 but decided that I wanted to keep a tad bit of freeway speed and not have higher cruising rpms. Should be sitting at around 2100rpms at 70 on the freeway with this set up.

[@cameronbates9185]

Welp im convinced. How does it fare wiht the brake lines? Did you need to get new hardware lime lines, hoses, master cylinder, etc?

[@4WDTrek]

I did have to get a new soft line to go from the body to the axle. The stock brake lines were fine though. I did replace the master cylinder to be a disc/disc dual bowl for safety though. I did use the stock master single bowl cylinder for a while though.

[@goatram1]

I bought your 1978 Ford Fairmont I6 200ci engine.. found your channel today. Do you have the carb spacer still? I have the same axle for my 63 Ranchero. I will be using it in her with a gear change.

[@4WDTrek]

I do not have the carb spacer anymore. Sorry bud. Thats a throw back! Like 3 years ago!

[@andrewdipietro4538]

Did you regret not setting up your pinion angle? I noticed you set your angle at 0.

[@4WDTrek]

I didn't actually set it at zero. If I remember right, I actually set it at 3 degrees. I haven't had any issues with it at all since the install. I'm happy with it. I may throw a gopro underneath and see how it looks while under acceleration, just to make sure it doesn't over rotate.

[@larryodom644]

Did you use the shock mounts from the explorer? I have put an 8.8 in my '66 and trying to use explorer mounts but looks like I will need to modify them somehow to get the angle right. Just curious what you did.

[@4WDTrek]

I did use the shock mounts. They were ever so slightly off angle. So I cut the shock mount on one ear and put it in there at a slight angle. Then just welded over the top of the ear I cut as another support. Kind of as if I elongated the hole, if that makes sense.

[@larryodom644]

@@4WDTrek completely. Thanks

[@workingj7]

New Subscriber . Question, have a 73 fastback. Would it be the same process for my vehicle?

[@4WDTrek]

I would assume it's the same process for yours. I do not know widths of anything so double check on how wide of an axle you can put under there. My brother did the identical swap into his 67 coupe and his 70 challenger with no issues

[@tb7246]

Not sure if anyone asked but did you run into any trouble with the explorers pumpkin not being centered? I believe one shaft is 2.48 inches longer than the other.

[@4WDTrek]

I haven't had any issues with it at all. It is ever so slightly shifted off to one side, but it doesn't hit anywhere underneath and doesn't cause any driveline vibrations.

[@tb7246]

Last question I swear 🤞🏼. What drive shaft did you end up using. Thanks

[@4WDTrek]

@tb7246 I went to a local shop here. I measured it all out and they custom made one for me. Drivelines Northwest

[@veholic1]

I'm doing this now, I've had the 8.8 in the garage for over 3 years now...debating about leaving the pumpkin off set or swapping left and right axles and rewelding the ends on, a lot more work. Overall width is about right for my 68

[@tb7246]

@@veholic1 it’s been great. I do have some contact on big bumps but I lowered the car 2 inches in the back. If it’s standard height you will have no problems.

[@nathankitchell1371]

Thinking of doing this to my 66, did you have to cut and shorten the tubes to center up the pinion? Or did everything line up correctly?

[@4WDTrek]

I did not shorten the tubes. Everything did line up ever so slightly off center as the explorer one is off center. However, I was still able to build an exhaust between the tunnel wall and the drive shaft. My car is still stock height however. I have heard if you massively lower it, things will start hitting. I have zero issues as is and would think a couple inches lower won't affect it.

[@nathankitchell1371]

@@4WDTrek alright cool, thanks. I've just seen a couple other blogs that talk about shortening the long tube and using 2 passenger side axles to compensate. But if everything lines up and no binding of the pinion then all should be well.

[@goldysgarage189]

You only need to shorten 1 side (cut the tube) and grab an extra axle to match the newly shortened tube. There are plenty of vids of how to do this. I'm still struggling with my lame ass non traction lock original 8 inch diff.

[@davidlowley7440]

Picked up a 96 cobra 8.8 trying to get it into my 66 do I need a conversion kit for drive shaft to mate up to the 8.8 I currently have 7.25

[@4WDTrek]

You will likely have to have either an adapter or a new drive shaft made depending on your current set up. I had a new drive shaft made completely as I stepped up the power and had a different transmission and rear end. Coming from a 7.25, you likely have a weaker drive shaft behind that i6 engine.

[@danieltorres9534]

Where did you buy your new spring perches?

[@4WDTrek]

I bought them on Ruffstuff Specialties website.

[@eddieochoa5181]

What did you use for your driveshaft?

[@4WDTrek]

I used a local shop to create me a drive shaft. I measured out the lengths and talked with them. They made one side splines that fit in the t45 transmission and the other side that bolted up to the 8.8. Used 3 inch steel drive shaft with 1310 U joints. Should be plenty strong.

[@justinwillis1069]

Man I gotta ask, what you did for U bolts, and the shock plate mount. Installing a 8.8 into my 68, planning to order a set of bolts and drill a new shock plate to. Was just curious what you did.

[@4WDTrek]

I just reused the plates that came with the axle from the explorer. I did order new U bolts but I got stock u bolts from the explorer. I swapped the left and right sides so the shock mounts were on the inside of the axle and not that outside of the axle. Bolted the shock right up

[@justinwillis1069]

My axle came with my car and I didn’t get that luxury! Appreciate the video man! Definitely helped me out for!

[@4WDTrek]

@@justinwillis1069 I'm glad I could help you out! There are universal spring mounting plates you can purchase that come with shock holding brackets that get welded on wherever you need to weld them. I have found kits like that for $60 ish

[@Santiago-vy8fy]

If you load the axle the long way on the wheel barrel it feels like theres nothing there

[@4WDTrek]

You know, all the time I took to edit the video, carry that thing and all that, I didn't even think about that!!!! I'll have to remember that when I do my jeep axles!

[@Santiago-vy8fy]

@@4WDTrek thanks for the reply. The only reason I know that is because I pulled one 3 days ago and I tried the way you did it and swapped it and the difference was amazing. I'm literally pulling out a rear end and was looking for some tips and tricks and ran across your video. The one I pulled at the junk yard just needed brake lines removed so it was simple. I'm working on the one in the truck I'm swapping it with and had a few issues getting it out but its finally on the ground 😂

[@4WDTrek]

@Santiago very nice man! I'm glad the video helped. And thank you for the tip! I'll definitely remember that for next time!

[@jamesnielsen7766]

How much wider is it than stock? Is the 68 rear the same width? How do the emergency brakes hook up?

[@4WDTrek]

Overall side to side, I believe it comes in at a total of 2.75" wider than stock. Slightly offset to the passenger side which can cause a slight issue with lowered 65-66. For a 68, you would have no issues. I haven't gotten to the emergency brake quite yet. But the mustang pull chord goes under as one cable then splits into two. The explorer does the exact same. So just hooking the two cables up and a small mount for the cable guides would work.

[@davidllamas3119]

What is the offset of the wheels you are running in the rear? I am also installing an 8.8 in my 65 mustang.

[@4WDTrek]

They are the stock mustang Bullitt wheels from 2001. They have 30mm offset

[@davidcontreras6156]

What year explorer will work ?

[@4WDTrek]

If you want disc brakes, I believe it's 96-2003. I think 2004 is when they went to independent rear suspension. Prior to 96, it was drum brakes.

[@davidcontreras6156]

Thanks man

[@ysamp8774]

Excuse me sir sorry for bothering u love your video. I just bought an 8.8 and i have a 66 mustang im working on and i was wondering if it all worked well . Im doing the work myself and im doing a ford granada v8 front spindle set up with the 8.8 in the rear , any suggestions ???

[@4WDTrek]

I've been using this rear end for a while in it now and have zero issues with it. I would suggest make sure you measure everything multiple times. I used a 35mm offset wheel with 245 wide tires and they fit exactly perfect with that axle, if full length.

[@ysamp8774]

@@4WDTrek thank u so much for replying and i appreciate your insite . Lol dont get mad if i contact u for other info , enjoy your evening and thanks again.

[@4WDTrek]

@@ysamp8774 feel free to reach out to me through either Facebook or Instagram. Same name as my KZbin on both. Easier to ask questions that way if you have them.

[@christopherhebert466]

What size offset did you have to get? What year explorer did you source the 8.8 from?

[@4WDTrek]

The explorer was a 1997. I ended up with the stock 2001 Bullitt wheels from a mustang GT. Offset was 30mm offset. Fit exactly perfect. I have zero rubbing anywhere. Sits just inside of the fender without it rolled and about half an inch from the stock leaf springs.