... That covers more than just the narrow versions guys want for '50s and older vehicles? I've searched and come up empty. Cars got wider starting in about '59 so a rear axle swap needs a wider version. Now some will say 'Yeah, but those axles are better/stronger than the earlier stuff, why change?'. Well, there's a simple answer.... costs. Later swaps have usually been to a Ford 9", but if you haven't been paying attention, those aren't so easy to find anymore. Parts for the pre-'65 GM and Mopar rears aren't so common these days either. The days of picking one up for $50-75 are gone. And the early OEM 9" versions weren't all that tough, I can't tell you how many I personally broke in various cars. Sure, they can be upgraded with N housings, 31 spline axles, etc, etc but you'll have $2K plus into it very quick. So enter the 8.8". Just about as ubiquitous these days as the 9" used to be, able to withstand pretty high power levels (just ask the 5.0 racers), can be found with OD-friendly ratios, posi and 31 spline axles without a lot of effort. And they're relatively cheap... Ford installed these starting in '83 and used them across all rear-drive vehicles; cars and 1/2T trucks/vans. Somebody must have a chart ....
you might be able to narrow it down by how many RWD platforms there are, then look for the width of those few rears. Fox, SN95, Panther, Ranger/Exploreer, F150/Expedition, are about it, aren't they?
Ive got a '00 ranger 8.8 - as the chart above says, its 58.5 WMS to WMS - its also a 3.55 posi and has10x2.5 drum brakes, a 5x4.5 bolt pattern and 28 spline axles - not sure if I'm going to put it in my '65 mustang or not These are basically clones of a chevy car 12 bolt - ring gear size, pinion diameter and c-clip axles are all the same or very close.....
Couldn't remember the Crown Vic designation, that helped. Here's one that seems to cover all the bases... Thanks Jim! @PHuscher , your list missed a few this one had, but had a few this one missed so below is the combined lists. Outside Width Year Model 56.50 1969-1977 Maverick/Comet 8" 56.50 1990-1992 Ford Ranger 8.8 56.75 1995-2003 Ford Explorer 8.8 narrowed w/2 short side axles 57.25 1957-1959 Ford, Ranchero, Station Wagon 57.25 1965-1966 Mustang 58.00 1966-1977 Bronco 58.00 1964-1965 Falcon 58.00 1977-1981 Granada/Versailles 58.50 1977-1981 Versailles w/discs 58.50 1993-2009 Ford Ranger 8.8 58.75 1986-1993 Fox Body Mustang 8.8 58.75 1990-1997 Ranger 59.25 1967-1970 Mustang 59.81 1995-2003 Ford Explorer 8.8 w/disc & 31 spline 60.00 1958-1960 Edsel 60.25 1994-1998 Ford Mustang 8.8 61.00 1964-1971 Ford Full Size 61.00 1949-1951 Mercury 61.0625 1999-2004 Ford Mustang 8.8 61.25 1957-1972 Ford F-100 Pickup 61.25 1960-1964 Ford Full Size 61.25 1971-1973 Mustang 61.25 1967-1973 Torino, Ranchero, Fairlane 62.50 1989 Lincoln LSC w/ disc 63.00 1970-1979 Ranchero & Torino 63.00 1972-1979 Ford Full Size & Intermediate 63.50 1967 Fairlane w/coil springs 65.25 1973-1986 Ford F-150 Pickup 65.25 1978-1986 Bronco 65.25 1973-1986 Ford Van 3/4 Ton 68.00 1972 Ford Van 3/4 Ton 69.25 1977-1986 Ford E-150 Van Both lists missed the Panther (Crown Vic) and late truck/van 8.8 rears, but I suspect those are too wide for our purposes. And there appears to be a lot of confusion on the '86 through '04 Mustang 8.8 rears as I found three different widths listed for each series with up to a couple of inches differences depending on who you ask... One thing the different sources did agree on is they all have a centered pinion. And I couldn't even find the width of the later Mustang 8.8s... Any corrections or omissions welcome....
The problem with all those charts is they don't spec pinion offset. Explorers are 2 7/8". Rangers have some offset and the 96 mustang I used was around an 1 1/8" as I remember. I don't know if any are pinon neutral.
Again, more confusion... One of these sources claims no pinon offset on the Mustang 8.8 and only 2" for the Explorers/Rangers.
The real problem with those charts is they cover very few 8.8" Ford axles! Most the axles listed are well before the 8.8" axle was even around! The Ranger Station has the best and most complete 8.8" Ford info.
@Crazy Steve .....help us help you. What width do you need. And what specs are necessary. I I.e. 31 spline, etc. I recently put together a sort hybrid 8.8 axle for my ‘37 Chevy. Used a ‘86/‘93 Mustang housing, Left side 5 lug Ranger axles on both sides, Ranger 10” brakes and LSD 3.73 gears, 59” width. Ranger housings are heavier constructed than Mustang models and Explorer are heavier still. However, the Mustang has nearly centered pinion and for relatively light car should be sufficient. Ray
I have a 1991 Ranger 8.8 in my Falcon. Since I have a custom tunnel, the offset is not an issue. It runs smoothly.
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