Changing rear ends....Hard or Easy??

bigdaddy999 · 08-05-2005, 09:52 PM

within the next couple of days, i am swapping out a 4cyl. rear and putting in the 8cyl. rear. i was wondering if anyone has done this how hard and involved it really is. i am going to do it no matter what, i am just wondering what to expect.thanks for any help.

82 GT · 08-06-2005, 12:27 AM

It's not that bad. It's a two person job for sure though.
The toughest part will be getting the bolts broke lose from the upper and lower control arms and the emergency brake cable off the backing plates. I suggest you spray the bolts really good with some PB blaster the night before.
It's not that hard but like I said, you will need another person to help wrestle the rear into place and get it lined up.
ALso, make sure you jack the car up as high as you can get it.

DZEE'S LX · 08-06-2005, 12:15 PM

When I swapped in my Turbo Coupe 8.8 (by myself) my best friend was my tranny jack. It has swivel casters that allowed precise positioning.
You can do the same thing with a floor jack to lower the disconnected old diff and then raise the new one.
Also leave the tires on. Then you can just roll the whole thing around on your garage floor.
I swapped a 8.8 for an 8.8.

Search this site or ask more questions cuase I'm not sure if there are differences with a 7.5. Like control arms, brake hookups, u-joints, etc..... Just so you can be prepared.

ols0051 · 08-06-2005, 12:22 PM

I can feel your pain. If you don't have a big hammer get one. A small porpane torch from walfart can help heat bolts. I had to use my sawzall on a few, along with a air hammer. But I some people don't have any problems at all. Hopefully that will be you. Be careful about shaking the car around when you have it sky high on jackstands.

82 GT · 08-06-2005, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DZEE'S LX

Search this site or ask more questions cuase I'm not sure if there are differences with a 7.5. Like control arms, brake hookups, u-joints, etc..... Just so you can be prepared.

It's pretty much a direct swap. The control arms, u-joints are the same. The brake lines on the 8.8 that I bought were on the opposite side of where they were on the 7.5. I just ran an extra length of line over to where I needed it....no biggie
The entire job can be done in a day if you have a helper.
When I say "helper", I don't mean the guy that stands around with a beer all afternoon watching you work....LOL

83GTMUSTANG · 08-07-2005, 12:22 AM

Hey I Have Blew 2 Rear Ends And Swaped Both Out By My Self No Problems With Sum Spare Rims And A Jack, My Bolts Came A Loose Easy With No Problems (breaker Bar)..............

08-05-2005, 09:52 PM	#1
bigdaddy999 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 34	Changing rear ends....Hard or Easy?? within the next couple of days, i am swapping out a 4cyl. rear and putting in the 8cyl. rear. i was wondering if anyone has done this how hard and involved it really is. i am going to do it no matter what, i am just wondering what to expect.thanks for any help.

08-06-2005, 12:27 AM	#2
82 GT Import Slayer Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 2,241	Re: Changing rear ends....Hard or Easy?? It's not that bad. It's a two person job for sure though. The toughest part will be getting the bolts broke lose from the upper and lower control arms and the emergency brake cable off the backing plates. I suggest you spray the bolts really good with some PB blaster the night before. It's not that hard but like I said, you will need another person to help wrestle the rear into place and get it lined up. ALso, make sure you jack the car up as high as you can get it. __________________ '82 GT 351W (.060)Comp Cams 274* Extreme Energy cam, ported & polished heads w/ 1.94/1.60 valves 10.3:1 flat top pistons,stealth intake, Mallory dizzy,Holley 750dp carb, BBK shorties,Flowmaster exhaust,C-4 with 3700 stall converter, B&M pro shifter,8.8 rear, 4:10's, subframes, electric fan, powermaster alternator, 4 core radiator.

08-06-2005, 12:15 PM	#3
DZEE'S LX Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Salt Lake City Posts: 117	Re: Changing rear ends....Hard or Easy?? When I swapped in my Turbo Coupe 8.8 (by myself) my best friend was my tranny jack. It has swivel casters that allowed precise positioning. You can do the same thing with a floor jack to lower the disconnected old diff and then raise the new one. Also leave the tires on. Then you can just roll the whole thing around on your garage floor. I swapped a 8.8 for an 8.8. Search this site or ask more questions cuase I'm not sure if there are differences with a 7.5. Like control arms, brake hookups, u-joints, etc..... Just so you can be prepared. __________________ Spec Service (UHP), BFG G-Force KDW's, Turbo Coupe 3.55 rear w/disks, 73mm calipers, Stg 1 Twisted Wedges, TFS Street Intake, 70mm TB, E cam, Crane 1.7's, Aeromotive FPR, BBK 1 5/8 shorties, elec fan, FMS Al Radiator, Moroso Wires, Kenne Bell Ramair, March pulleys, Race Magnums, 190 lph Walbro, FMS Al Dshaft, D/S loop, MM 4point rollbar, FMS C spngs, strut tower brace, Tokico Illuminas, Prothane bushings, MM Lwr Conrol Arms, KB welded subs, Cervini Mach 1 hood/valence/side skirts/wing/airdam.

08-06-2005, 12:22 PM	#4
ols0051 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: cent.wis Posts: 203	Re: Changing rear ends....Hard or Easy?? I can feel your pain. If you don't have a big hammer get one. A small porpane torch from walfart can help heat bolts. I had to use my sawzall on a few, along with a air hammer. But I some people don't have any problems at all. Hopefully that will be you. Be careful about shaking the car around when you have it sky high on jackstands.

08-07-2005, 12:22 AM	#6
83GTMUSTANG N-V-ME Join Date: May 2005 Location: SOUTHFIELD,MICHIGAN Posts: 155	Re: Changing rear ends....Hard or Easy?? Hey I Have Blew 2 Rear Ends And Swaped Both Out By My Self No Problems With Sum Spare Rims And A Jack, My Bolts Came A Loose Easy With No Problems (breaker Bar).............. __________________ 88' LX MUSTANG: LINCOLN ROTORS , AIR SUSPENSION FRONT AND REAR, SUBFRAMES, ROLL CAGE, 92' BLOCK, MSD 6AL, ACCEL 8.8 WIRES, ACCEL COIL, EDELBROCK F4B INTAKE (PORTED),2 IN. 4 HOLE SPACERS, HOLLEY 600 CARB.,HOLLEY BLUE FUEL PUMP AN REGULATOR, E 303 (.498 IN. 220 DUR.) CAM, (.535 IN. OF LIFT W/ 1.72 SCORPIN ROLLER ROCKERS), PORTED E7'S, FLOWTECH 1 5/8 LONG TUBE HEADERS, 2 1/2 IN. H PIPE, 2 CHAMBER FLOWMASTERS WITH 3 IN.DUMPS, T-5, 3.73 GEARS, 5 LUG AEROSTAR AXELS, 245-45-17 96' COBRA WHEELS

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