Too much for an 8.8 center section?
 

Hope I put this in the right place...

Is $1200 too much to spend on a new 8.8 center section? Comes with new aluminum housing, trac lock, gears, and heavy duty cover. Can't seem to find a used one. Checked junkyards, forums, ebay. There are a couple on ebay but seem a little on the high side.

i paid 750.00 back in 2003 from mike forte that was from the ford motorsport catalog, i guess they went up because of demand.

Depends on the parts used of course, some diffs cost $1200 by themeselves.

Must have...never thought it would be so difficult to find one. Seemed like I saw them everywhere until I needed one.

This one comes with new aluminum housing, trac lock, gears, and HD cover.

Sounds about right, seeing that it is assembled.

Thanks, for your help.

Hold up now! $1200? That is pretty steep! I have a couple of the cast Iron verions and they ran me $50 and $75 complete (28 spline trac-loc)
Thier is one on ebay right now at $600
Ford 8.8 Aluminum IRS '03-'04 Cobra Mark VIII Rear End | eBay


jason

$600 is just the starting bid, with 36000 miles from ebay I would be worried.

FR65,
And why would you be worried? You certainly were not worried when you told him $1200 was cool. It sounds like he is, that’s why he is asking. I have owned and re-built a few (5) 8.8 fords over the years in both stick axel and independent versions. I wouldn’t have any concern with a used one at the right price. And honestly even $600 sounds high for just a CC. I would look a little longer. Maybe do a little recon on Corral.net classified. (There is a complete 99 Cobra IRS in TN right now for $650)
A lot of the drag race guys swap out the IRS for a solid.
I’ve also had great luck on Ebay. That is where I got my last 8.8 center section. Cleaned it, had a set of 4.10s put in, its been in my SPF ever since. My only issue would be the possible shipping cost. That might make me find one locally.

Jason

I have a mustang salvage yard with old pumkins laying around from 03-04 cobras, most of them are so beat to hell i have to rebuild the center before we sell them, thats why. Plus an 8.8 wont fit in spf cars after a certain number they switched to a gto unit by dana spicer. Remember new vs used is about a 50 percent difference in price so if its 600 for used 1200 seems right for new. With a warranty, are you getting that off ebay, nope. (I sell mine used for 5 to 600 bucks depending on condition, that is used as is, not rebuilt)

Forget the AL and just get a cast iron center section. They are CHEAP. You can clean it off and spray it with Rustoleum Hammertone and it will look great. Once it's in place noone will know the difference except your wallet. Plus if this is going into a Cobra replica the extra weight at the rear is not a penalty, up front is what you need to be concerned about. Finally, the cast iron CCs are easily rebuildable on your work bench and are virtually bulletproof in a roadster. AL requires a case spreader and a magical incantation.

Keep in mind that 03 and 04 Mustang Cobra differentials are 31 spline. 31 spline inner CV joints would have to be used and are more expensive and much more rare than the 28 spline units.
Larry

Too much for an 8.8 center section?
 

I have all the 'guts', 3:08 gears- excellent cond $75.00

like frank said, get a cast iron, lot stronger and the weight difference is not too great in that position. i have a cast iron with gears you can have for free but i see you live in an undisclosed location and shipping would be a killer.

Whatever way you go is certainly Okay used new or otherwise.If you were into setting up your own you could save big dollars if not then trust your own instincts.Experience will always be the best teacher whatever you do.I built a 9" for my big block car with aluminum center and 3:70 cogged Tracloc.A bulletproof rear for these little hot rods as would an 8.8 built right.

FR65,

First of all, The OP asked for info on the Alum 8.8 not a Dana, so lets try to stay focused here. I laughed out loud when you said “warranty” If the OP blows up a 31 spline 8.8 behind a big HP’d what-ever, the seller will also chuckle and say “Yea… that kind of sounds like abuse…have a good day sir” That being said. I have little fear most people could hurt an 8.8 in a Cobra. You might break a half shaft, but the CC is certainly not the weak link.
If the whole salvage yard thing is true, than why not do the right thing and help the Cobra brother out! Sell him a good one at a fair price. “I own a salvage yard and have a bunch of those lying around, call me, Id be happy to help”
And how exactly are “most of them beat to hell”? Worn clutch packs? Excessive backlash? That sounds like a wrecking yard excuse to do some inexpensive R&R and raise the margin. Hmmmm…whatever…
Frank,
I was trying not to steer the OP away from his choice, but I agree with the cast iron comments, inexpensive and near indestructible in a Cobra. It would be interesting to weigh the two and see what the actual difference is. I looked in my old Ebay file, the last one I bought was $50 (complete with a 28 spline Trac-loc and 3.55 gear) plus another $50 to ship from Rochester IN. to Los Angeles. I still have the gears, I guess I should sell them and re-coup some of my cost. LOL
Vector,
I’ll take that iron 8.8 if the OP isn’t interested. Heck! Ill even throw you a $20 for the effort! Box it up good and let me know, Ill give you a ups account number.


Jason

First off he asked if $1200 was too much for a new 8.8 aluminium with the guts, thats the going price depending on what is used. Then you said you bought one for your spf, not all spf cars use an 8.8 mine uses a dana, i didnt know what car he was buying it for and wanted to make sure he didnt get the wrong end for an spf, and about my fake salvage yard anytime you need used parts ill give you the a hole discount, for dcell only. loser. And I would sell him one but dont have that in stock and I dont sell new, all my parts used on ebay come with a warranty. PM if you would like ebay address

FR65,

Hold on now buddy!!, no reason to call names ( FYI you can get banned for that…) I am just saying…
To quote you:
“I have a mustang salvage yard with old pumkins laying around from 03-04 cobras , It sounds like you just said “ I have at least one” Maybe I just read it wrong..
“Plus an 8.8 wont fit in spf cars after a certain number they switched to a gto unit by dana spicer”
I thought the OP asked specifically about an 8.8. Ok, I probably read that wrong too..Maybe the OP wasn’t clear in what he wrote and I missed it up front. Lets read it together just to be sure:
“Is $1200 too much to spend on a new 8.8 center section? Comes with new aluminum housing, trac lock, gears, and heavy duty cover. Can't seem to find a used one. Checked junkyards, forums, ebay. There are a couple on ebay but seem a little on the high side.”8.8 not Dana: (Ok I got it) Looking for a used one, but can’t seem to find it at Junkyards, Forums or Ebay: (Yea Got that too) Nope, no misunderstanding on my part, thanks for clarifying it.

You say in your forth post: “(I sell mine used for 5 to 600 bucks depending on condition, that is used as is, not rebuilt)”That sounds very near the cost of the one I saw on Ebay that you said: ”Id be worried”
So that begs me to ask the question, why would you be worried? You sell the same part for the same price all the time.

Do you call everyone that questions why you would interject confusing information and make contradictory statements loser?
And now I have to ask: How much is the “a hole” discount?

Best regards
Jason

I would be worried because the part I sell for 5 to 600 is as is which means it could be good or bad, I will warranty it by an exchage if not satisfied, a couple hundred more bucks ill rebuid it with a warranty. Your discount is no tax and ill put extra bubble wrap on parts for you.:p