replacing rear end..suggestions ?
 

i want to replace my 7.5 with and 8.8 rear this spring and would like to know which year donor rear end i should start looking for. i have a single shock set-up, with 4 lug axles on the 7.5 and dont know if there is a difference with the 8.8 or not ,and would like to keep the 4 lug axle set up so that i dont have to replace just 2 rims right now,as i would like to go up to 15"tires in the future(i am running 14" s right now). Also , what might be a good gear to use ? the car is a daily driver,so i would like an all around use type ratio ( 3.55's ?).

thanks

Pretty much any 86-93 8.8 out of a Mustang will bolt up. Not real sure about 94 and up though. Just unbolt your existing brake plates and lines without disconnecting them and tie them up while you swap the rears. Then all you have to do is bolt your brakes to the new rear and don't even need to bleed the brakes. Also you can use the 4 lug axles from your 7.5 with the 8.8 rear end, as both rears use the same axles. That way you can still use your 4 lug rims. It's an easy swap. Did mine in an evening with only a floor jack for extra hands. As for gear ratio, I recommend 3.73's. I put 3.45's in my 7.5 and it was a big improvement, but when I put the 8.8 in, I went with 3.73's. Much better performance, and is still no problem on the highway with the T-5 5 speed. With the auto trans, I go either 3.73 or 4.10, depending on what kind of driving you do.

I have a 82gt with a 7.5" rear end and i managed to find a 8.8" rear end out of a 86. Assuming yours has the same type of setup as mine you are going to have to do some brake line work sicne on the earlier mustangs the brake fitting is on the passenger side of the car where as the newer 8.8" has it on the center section of the rear end. as far as gears go i had 3.08's in my 7.5 and loved them so i got a new rear end with 3.08's again. As long as youve got some nice power you will be able to launch well and ocne your hooked up you will fly. Plus this ratio will help you launch a bit cleaner.