Are all 8.8 rears the same?

[82 GT]

I just bought an 8.8 rearend but when the guy dropped it off for me, I noticed it didn't have mounts for quad shocks.
It can't be from a 5.0.
Will other 8.8 units work? I'm hoping I don't have a rear I can't use.
It does have the 8.8 bolt pattern just like my '88GT but no quadshock mounts.

[88fivepointoh]

Your out a rear end buddy, 86 and older has no Quads in the 5.0L's. They started that in 87.. Acually 86 and older didn't have 8.8's right? or was that just in 85 and older? Either way you need a 5.0L mustang Rear End.

[gt4speed]

my 86 8.8 doesnt have the quad shock mount

[82 GT]

What size is the rear swaybar? Is it a puny little thing or is it pretty thick?

[88fivepointoh]

yea the quad setup came out in 87...

[red82gt]

The quad shock setup came out midway through 1984. All 85 and up 5.0's have them.
As to why yours doesn't have them, I'm lost. Do you maybe have a lincoln Mark VII 8.8? I'm trying to remember of the 87-88 5.0L T-birds had an 8.8 rear? Measure it's width and compare it to your 88.

[82 GT]

I'm baffled too. I was told it came out of a mustang but it can't be....
I measured it from backing plate to backing plate and it's 54"
It's the same width as the rearend that's under it now.
I thought T-bird rears had disc brakes? This has drums.
It has a small rear sway bar that looks like the size I swapped out of the '82 in favor of the larger '87-93 bar.

[88fivepointoh]

here is what the articlr from mustanggt.org says:

One big mechanical revision for 1984 involved the GT’s suspension which was introduced as a running change early in 1984. The rear control arm pivot points were lowered 1/2-inch on the upper end and 1/4-inch on the lower end for improved suspension geometry. In addition, quad shocks replaced the old-style traction bars and the rear anti-roll bar diameter increased to 0.79 inches from 0.67 inches in ‘83.


So they were available in 84'

[82 GT]

I disagree....quad shocks were not introduced until 1987 on the re-designed mustang.
I'm saying that this rear that I bought doesn't have a place for quads and has the smaller swar bar diameter....but...it's an 8.8
The question is....what car is this from?

[200k5oh]

i own an 86 and it has an 8.8 with quad shocks...??

[88fivepointoh]

www.mustanggt.org

This is all the info for all the years and all the upgrades and modifications.

As for what rear end you have, could be a truck, could be a lincoln, to many options.

[82 GT]

Originally posted by 200k5oh
i own an 86 and it has an 8.8 with quad shocks...??

someone changed that rear at one point.

[88fivepointoh]

82 GT, its right on the website, they were introduced in 1984 on the offical Mustang GT website. www.mustanggt.org and look at the year 1984... it will explain it right there.

[88fivepointoh]

1984 Mustang GT Page
Total Mustangs produced: 141,480
Total GT’s produced: 32,914
GT Hatchbacks: 26,658
GT Convertibles: 6,256
Turbo GT's: 3,798
GT 350's: 5,261

(For more production number details, go to our Production Numbers Summary page.)

4V - V8 GT (5-speed)
175 HP @ 4200 RPM
245 ft/lb @ 2400 RPM

CFI - V8 GT (automatic)
165 HP @ 3800 RPM
245 ft/lb @ 2000 RPM

Turbo GT 4 cylinder
145 HP @ 4600 RPM
180 ft/lb @ 3600 RPM

The 5.0L ‘84 Mustang GT was carried over from ‘83 without significant change. The 4V 600 CFM carb, dual snorkel 460 air cleaner, 2V marine cammed 302 motor reappeared in 1984 with only a revised choke design (eliminating the use of exhaust manifold heat tubes) to set it apart from the prior year’s HO. The exhaust setup also remained the same with cast iron exhaust manifolds and single muffler with dual outlets (“Y” pipe with inline catalyst).

A turbocharged-inline 4 cylinder “Turbo GT” was also available again in 1984 in both the hatchback and convertible. This engine was essentially a carry-over of the ‘83 Turbo GT in-line 4 cylinder with its “blow-through” turbocharger, forged aluminum pistons, oil cooler and port type fuel-injection system. As in ‘83, the Turbo GT carried the same blackout trim, wheels, tires, interior and transmission as the 5.0L GT. Although the 5.0L '84 GT's changed to a hood without a scoop at the beginning of the model year, the '84 Turbo GT's retained the '83 style hood scoop presumably due to hood clearance issues with the turbo motor. The 1984 Turbo GT was only available with the 5-speed transmission and a 3.45:1 axle ratio.

One big mechanical revision for 1984 involved the GT’s suspension which was introduced as a running change early in 1984. The rear control arm pivot points were lowered 1/2-inch on the upper end and 1/4-inch on the lower end for improved suspension geometry. In addition, quad shocks replaced the old-style traction bars and the rear anti-roll bar diameter increased to 0.79 inches from 0.67 inches in ‘83.

Other big news in 1984 was the introdution of an AOD / CFI equipped GT. In mid-year, an optional 165 horsepower 5.0L engine with central fuel injection and a 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission was offered with a 3.27:1 axle ratio. The 175 HP 4V version carried over from 1983 was available only with the T-5 equipped transmission. The 4V 5-speed was available with a 3.08:1 axle ratio.

Visually, the ‘84 GT was only slightly changed from 1983. While the matte black hood treatment remained, the non-functional hood scoop disappeared (except on Turbo GT's), a front air dam with integrated fog lights reappeared (as a running change starting in December ‘83) and the rear spoiler became more rounded. The GT was still treated to the special blackout trim reserved for GT’s and was available only in the following external paint colors: Black, Silver Metallic, Bright Canyon Red, Light Desert Tan, Oxford White, Dark Charcoal Metallic, Medium Canyon Red Glow and Bright Copper Glow.

The GT’s sporty, blacked-out interior featured a console housing an electronic digital clock with day/date/elapsed time/stopwatch functions, plus the graphic warning display module that indicated low level conditions in the fuel tank and washer system, and signaled when a headlamp low beam or taillamp/brake lamp needed replacing. Low-back vinyl bucket seats were also standard and only came in the following colors: Charcoal, Canyon Red and Desert Tan. New for ‘84 was a split/fold rear bench seat.

Options for the 1984 GT’s included multi-adjustable, articulated Sport Performance bucket seats, bigger TRX wheels and tires, sunroof, T-tops, air conditioner, power windows and locks, rear defrost, interval wipers, light group, tilt wheel, speed control and a whole variety of radios.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Mustang, Ford built 5,261 GT-350 models, with either the 302 HO (both versions) or the 2.3-liter turbo four. These cars started life as with the basic GT package then received a number of visual enhancements to set them apart from their standard GT siblings. Of the limited run of 20th anniversary Mustang "GT"s, most came with the 175HP/302 and 5-speed. However, some convertibles were made, and very few were equipped with the turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. These cars have proven to be very popular with late model Mustang collectors.

One interesting note for 1984 is that Ford had promised Mustang GT fans a new 205-horse 302 HO to replace the current 175-horse version. Late in 1984, the 1984 GT was scheduled to be upgraded to 205HP through the use of stainless steel exhaust headers and a variety of other improvements. Prototypes developed piston problems, however, and the 1984 GT remained at 175 HP until the end of the model year, much to the disappointment of eager buyers. This only fueled the fire of buyers wanting more horsepower for their GT’s - which they finally received at the start of the 1985 model year to the tune of 210 ponies!

Sources: Photo of GT350 - The Complete Book of Mustang. All other photos - Ford Mustang brochures

[red82gt]

It's more likely that an 86 that doesn't have quad shocks was not an original 5.0L car, not the other way around. I've been under many mid 80's GT's and all the 85's and 86's had quad shocks. I've run into a few 84's that had slapper bars and some that had quad shocks. I even have a 7.5" rear in my shed that has quad shock brackets on it.
Also, only the 87 and 88 turbo 4 cyl. t-birds had disc brakes. The rest had 9" drums so this may be a t-bird rear end. A truck rear end would have the leaf spring perches.

[~The Jester~]

I had an '84 GT before I got this shiny red one, and my 84 DID have quads shocks on it.

As far as the "mystery" rear end here, we need more info. Is it at least a limited slip rear? Most Lincoln rears had disc brakes, so I'm counting them out, trucks and exploders were a little longer (I THINK) from backing plate to backing plate, so they're out too. My best guess is that's out of a Fox body T-Bird, and you prolly got a 2.73 open gear in it.

[82 GT]

As soon as I can get the drums to come off I'll be able to tell if it's an open rear or not. The E-brake seem to be stuck on.
Any advise on how to get stuck drums to come off?

[82 GT]

I just got the drums off and it is an open differential.
What size brakes should this have? This one has 9" drums.
What size do the '87'93 mustangs have?
What should I do now....eat the $150 I spent on this or look for another 8.8 rear with trac-loc?

[82 GT]

Jester , I did find the ID tag on the rear. Here is what it says:

V462A
D8 75 4K16

I ruled out the caddy rear too because they would of had 5 lug axles. This is 4 lug

[~The Jester~]

Well, not what you want to hear, but here it is:

"D8" if you look close will probably be "308", sometimes when they drill the hole for the rivet they hit the first number. This means that the gears are 3.08

Here's the bad part bro. The "75" means it's a 7.5" rear, and not an 8.8" that we thought at first.

The 4K16 is a date code which translates to Oct. 16, 1984

Take all this into account with the 9" drum brakes, and my money is on a Ranger rear end.

I know this is sooooooo not what you wanted to hear, but that's what ya got buddy. If you can find a posi unit for the 7.5", it's only good to about 250 RWHP, it's just not beefy enough.