Caprice rear end in an Fbody?

[Featherburner]

Checking it out now. Didn't realize they were as strong they were. I was hoping to stay away from having to redrill for different bolt pattern but the 9c1 rear end is a 5x5 pattern for some reason???

GM big car all are 5x5

[MI6TA]

My question has been answered a long time ago, thread hijack all you want.

I've considered the 8.8 because they seem to be cheaper than the true 9" rears. I haven't done any research other than that though. I'm just very concerned with the stock 7.5" and am on a budget for upgrades, thanks obama.

[firebird_1995]

Well, we can try to keep this on track a little bit. The 8.5 was also used in some other vehicles from what im seeing. Anything can be made to work if you're willing to do a little work. For me personally, having a g body with a factory 4 link type suspension, I am limited to cases with mounts for upper control arms. As for rear end strengths, what I'm reading is the 8.8 in its stock form (mustang) has 28 spline axles and most say the strength begins to diminish around 500hp. (The explorer rears have larger axles but no upper control arm mounts so they are a no go for me). The 8.5 rears I've looked at seem to have 30 spline axles and are on par with the strength you would see in aftermarket axles. I believe you could make a mount that attaches to the upper control arm mounts on the center section and welds to the axle tube that would facilitate a torque arm mount. Or I've seem clamp style attachments for 8.8 conversions that clamp to the nose of the center section that give you an attachment point for the TA. All things considered, I believe I am going to snag a 9c1 rear and see what I can come up with for my application. If I used the 8.8 ford rear, it looks like I would have to upgrade axles right out of the starting gate. The 8.5's 31 spline axles and 11" disc brakes is a HUGE upgrade from the 7.5" 10 bolt. I will just have to have the rotors and axles drilled for the 5x4.75 bolt pattern which isn't a bad thing. It would give me an opportunity to upgrade to larger studs.

[94Blackbird]

Well, we can try to keep this on track a little bit. The 8.5 was also used in some other vehicles from what im seeing. Anything can be made to work if you're willing to do a little work. For me personally, having a g body with a factory 4 link type suspension, I am limited to cases with mounts for upper control arms. As for rear end strengths, what I'm reading is the 8.8 in its stock form (mustang) has 28 spline axles and most say the strength begins to diminish around 500hp. (The explorer rears have larger axles but no upper control arm mounts so they are a no go for me). The 8.5 rears I've looked at seem to have 30 spline axles and are on par with the strength you would see in aftermarket axles. I believe you could make a mount that attaches to the upper control arm mounts on the center section and welds to the axle tube that would facilitate a torque arm mount. Or I've seem clamp style attachments for 8.8 conversions that clamp to the nose of the center section that give you an attachment point for the TA. All things considered, I believe I am going to snag a 9c1 rear and see what I can come up with for my application. If I used the 8.8 ford rear, it looks like I would have to upgrade axles right out of the starting gate. The 8.5's 31 spline axles and 11" disc brakes is a HUGE upgrade from the 7.5" 10 bolt. I will just have to have the rotors and axles drilled for the 5x4.75 bolt pattern which isn't a bad thing. It would give me an opportunity to upgrade to larger studs.

The 31 spline carriers from the explorers will fit the mustang/crown vic 8.8 housings. It's a VERY common upgrade in the mustang world, as literally all you need is the carrier and a set of 31 spline axles. That's part of what allowed me to build my 8.8 the way I did, since mustang 8.8 and GM 7.5 rearends use the same outer wheel bearings.

[firebird_1995]

OK.... Cheap mustang housing, explorer carrier, and new axles. What do you have in your 8.8 swap if you don't mind me asking?

[94Blackbird]

OK.... Cheap mustang housing, explorer carrier, and new axles. What do you have in your 8.8 swap if you don't mind me asking?

Mines a little different since I used an explorer center section with axle tube sleeves and the stock 7.5 axle tubes. Parts wise I have about 450-500 (150 for junkyard 8.8 then 3xx for a set of moser axles. I don't remember how much new bearings and seals cost, but it was pretty cheap.) Over all I think I have about 13-1400, but only because I had to have someone else build a jig and weld everything up. From the looks up it you could probably get away for 6, maybe 700 bucks if you do all the fabwork yourself.

Something to keep in mind, the mustang axles are about 4 inches narrower than a 4th gen f body, and crown vic axles are 2 inches narrower than a 4th gen f body axles. I don't remember the exact measurements off the top of my head. Also stock exploder axle housings are offset pretty severly to one side. Don't remember which it was, but they are.