rear end size?

[88t-top5.0]

How can I tell if I have a 7.5 or an 8.8 inch rear? I acted hastily when I bought my gears 2 years ago and got them for an 8.8 inch, but I'm not sure if that's what my car is. It's a 1988 GT BTW..
Thanks for any help you can provide...

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1988 GT 5-speed
K&N filter
2 chamber flowmasters

[lx mike]

you have the 8.8" rear end, i think they started using them in the 86 mustangs? (not sure)

i bet the topic will get a few people wondering!
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93-LX: 5 Speed, Flow's with H-Pipe, 3.73's Sub's and K&N.

[This message has been edited by lx mike (edited 07-25-2001).]

[Fox Body]

You got 8.8" with 3.08s since 5-speed.

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351W-powered 1979 Ford Mustang notchback
Stock 5.8L under 4" cowl, C4 w/ shift kit
Holley 750 cfm, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake
1 5/8" MAC shorty headers, Al driveshaft
2.5" Off road H-pipe, 2-chamber Flowmasters
Front: 225/60/15, Rear: 255/60/15 Eagle GT II
Weld wheels (15x6;15x8), 8.8" Rear w/ 3.55s
14 x 4” K&N air filter (getting the Xtreme setup someday)

"Red, thou art my companion. Hasten now your quickened metamorphosis to Green that I may conquer all who dare abide there beside me. May they be left thither behind burnt black." ---Fox Body

[6T9PONY]

I thought on all GTs, no matter what year, they used the 8.8". I don't think they would have used a 7.5" for a 5.0. Wouldn't last long would it?

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Previously "BennyBoy"
'69 Coupe with 351W
Edelbrock RPM intake, Edelbrock RPM cam, Edelbrock 750 cfm carb, Hedman headers, 2 1/2" pipe, glasspacks, C4, 9" Currie is here!!, 290hp-stock heads
The Surgeon General didn't say anything about smoking your azz!!

[faststang90]

the fast why to tell if it a 7.5 or 8.8 is a 7.5 does not have a mount for qaud shocks and if its a gt and no 1 has changed the rearend u have a 8.8 by the why if u have a 5 speed its a 273 gear and a auto its a 327 if it like a 91 and up u have a 308 or the cobra has a 308 too

[84LX89GT]

I have a 7.5" rear with traction-lok and 3.08 gears on my '84 5.0L and i think it was in '86 as lx mike said that they switched over to the 8.8". The 7.5" in my '84 has lasted 150,000 miles and i've done a few large burnouts, but i garauntee that if i went to a dragstrip and dumped the clutch at 4,000 or if i did anything with sticky tires like slicks that the rearend would blow up (axles shafts would strip, or bearing bolts break, or gears stipping, etc. etc.). In '87 Ford finally got the GT and 5.0L LX right by making them pretty heavy duty in most senses with the higher torque capacity World Class T5, 8.8" rear, bigger sway bars and brakes and previous year things like quad shocks (from '84) and sport valved struts and shocks as well as more aerodynamic styling.

fastang - quad shocks were first used on 7.5" rears on 5.0L models in mid-84, i've still got the stock ones on mine. the 2.3L 7.5" rears don't have provisions for the quad shocks (i think) and usually have higher gears like 3.45 or 3.73.

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previous name: 84stangLX
'84 Mustang 5.0 LX
my LX
'89 Mustang GT
my GT



[This message has been edited by 84LX89GT (edited 07-26-2001).]

[Kevin Price]

Moved to Windsor Power

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SVO siamesed 351 stroked to 417ci,Yates heads, solid roller,Trans King glide and a little blue bottle
of giggle gas. My Car

[This message has been edited by Kevin Price (edited 07-26-2001).]

[LX XLR8R]

i blew up my last 8.8 housing so ive been running a 90 2.3 rear for about 3 months now beeting the snot out of it and is holding up but making noises now!!

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1987 black notch(ex 4 banger)
DSS 306 w/ main support...Elderbrock 6028 heads..gt-40 intake..24# injectors...70 mm tb..77 pro-m...accel 300+..mac full legnth..tremec w/ pro5oh...full MAC exhaust,off road h-pipe,long tubes, catback...ron davis radiator..subframes, control arms...CFDF II..o yea holley FPR sucks..dont buy one..
AIM=onesillynotch

[dinomite]

you have an 8.8" rear, i believe that they made the 8.8" standard with the new model year (87), but they may have done it the previous year (86).

Originally posted by faststang90:
...by the why if u have a 5 speed its a 273 gear and a auto its a 327 if it like a 91 and up u have a 308 or the cobra has a 308 too

Originally posted by Fox Body:
You got 8.8" with 3.08s since 5-speed.

you are both wrong, the 87-93's came with three choices, 2.73, 3.08, and 3.27; this was an option, and you could get ANY gear with ANY of the cars (i have the absolute wors, an AOD with 2.73!). you find out what gears you have by the drivers side door tag, there is a spot called "Axel Code: ", i don't know what the other two are, but "M" == 2.73

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90LX AOD Convertable: Lakewood control arms, FMS springs.
Best 1/4: 15.277@92.25 (2.27 60')
AIM: dinomite1, roadracestang
dinomite@softhome.net

[HiFlow5 0]

Originally posted by faststang90:
if u have a 5 speed its a 273 gear and a auto its a 327 if it like a 91 and up u have a 308 or the cobra has a 308 too

auto's also came with 2.73's such as my 89, and my friends 88. 5 speeds came with 3.08's as well.



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89 GT AOD w/ shift kit, B&M rachet shifter, Trickflow intake, Crane (E-type) cam, 70Tb, 75MAF, 1.6 Rockers, Pulleys, MAC headers and H-pipe, Dynomax mufflers, K&N, 3 core radiator, white face gauges, custom interior, cobra R rims
MY89GT