I'm taking the plunge with a local drivetrain specialist to build rearends for 3rd/4th gen F-bodies. He's been in the business for the last 25 yrs and has made rear ends for 900+hp Mopars and GMs alike.

We're going to take a Mustang 8.8" rear and modify it to be a direct bolt-in 82+ F-bodies. Basically strong enough to handle front-tire lifting launches.

Now if a rearend like this was available, how much would you pay for it if he offered 33 spline axles, gear ratio of your choice, etc.?

 

i payed 1200 for mine. www.extremechassis.com has a similar set up similar to what your wanting for 1800.

 

Not too much, I got a 9" for like 1200

 

I think $1000 is about max. I'm in the process of doing the same thing myself. I have both housings, gears, etc. No need for axles since stock ones work. If I break one, then I'll buy better ones. In fact, I'd only pay $1000 if it had better axles and a differential, which would be a hard price point to meet. I know plenty of guys running low 9s on stock traction locks, so a differential isn't "needed" per se, and have the axles as an option.

 

I am in the process of building an 8.8 for my Iroc. I am using a mustang housing.(it is only 1" narrower than my stock rear) I paid 150 for the housing, with a set of 410 gears and an install kit. I just bought a 31 spline t lock out of a ford explorer, for 75 bucks. I will be ordering a set of mosier 31 spline custom axles for 225. I have the torque arm figured out. so for around 500 dollars with new bearings, I should have a rear end that will hold up fine to anything I can throw at it.
Kory

 

Kory - I might be interpreting your post wrong, but it sounds as if you are going to use the entire mustang housing. If so, how are you going to mount the springs? Our rears have the springs perch on the axle, not on the control arm like a mustang. It "should" be as simple as cutting off the axle tubs on both, and mating the 7.5 tubes to the 8.8 housing. Also, what are you doing for the torque arm?

 

Yes I am using the entire housing. I cut the spring mounts and trailing arm mounts off of a spare rear end I had laying around. (actually I ground through the welds with a grinder) Cutting off the axle tubes is indeed an option. My housing was so close to the same width that I felt it would be stronger if I didn't remove and reweld the tubes. As for the torque arm mount. I spent some time looking at what the ford guys do. There is a company that makes torque arm mount kits for mustangs. The torque arm is somewhat different than ours, but it can be copied and made to work. it is strictly a bolt on deal and requires drilling holes on the flanges of the housing on each side of the center section. the back part buts up against the back of the housing (on the opposite side of where the diff cover bolts on) then it bolts on to the bottom of the axle tubes like a sway bar. it is adjustible with washers placed between the bottom of the housing flanges and the torque arm. Pics of the mount are in old issues of popular hot rodding. They used one on a mustang project car in the last year and a half.
Kory

 

How much would I pay??? Probably $1380+shipping.

 

Sounds reasonable.

 

If I bought a 8.8 it would have to ether have a Torsen T2-R diff or no diff at all.

 

I'd probably be willing to even pay a little more, if I had to. When more people come to understand just how good these rears are (quiet, inexpensive, flexible with options, and strong as heck), these should start selling well.

It also depends on the quality. One of the biggest factors is going to make sure the torque arm mount is stout enough.

Offer a basic package with upgrades available, like Extreme Chassis, and it should be a winner. Oh yeah, please offer the T2R as an available option.

 

That doesn't make sense. You'd pay more than $1400, but you say they are inexpensive? If you are willing to pay $1500+, you might as well pay $2K and get a 12 bolt.

 

An 8.8" is lighter, quieter, stronger (or about the same), and more efficient than a 12 bolt. It also offers more flexibilty in gear and diff choices.

Do they even offer a T2R for the 12 bolt?

 

When will these rear ends become available? What gear ratios would be availble? What other options would be avaiable???

 

Nope, just 7.5 and 8.5 GM 10 bolts and Ford 8.8s.