Ford rear end

alffie · #1 (**permalink**) 01-15-2008, 04:15 AM

Does anyone know if you can put the Ford Mustang 8.8 center into the Au Falcon rear end?

Philm · #2 (**permalink**) 01-15-2008, 04:38 AM

HI Alffie,
I have been looking at that myself, I am picking up my diff center tomorrow and when I do there should be a commodore ute there that they have installed one into, they then built custom shafts and the axles into the diff are 31 spline.

I am hoping to do some measurements to see if it will fit.

If the center fits without too much trouble, this would be the way to go.

Phil

alffie · #3 (**permalink**) 01-16-2008, 01:48 AM

Hi Phil
Did you get around to measure up the 8.8?

Philm · #4 (**permalink**) 01-16-2008, 02:32 AM

HI Alffie,
No my center was not ready will do tomorrow.

Phil

Philm · #5 (**permalink**) 01-16-2008, 11:36 PM

HI Alffie,
These centers are perfect, they are phyically the same size however you will need to modify the rear cover and the front mount would be similar to Mikes modifications.

The diffs are strong, the car it was in has a parachute on the back

I will go this way with the rear, will take what mike has done and do something similar to correct bump steer.

Phil

alffie · #6 (**permalink**) 01-17-2008, 03:05 AM

will you need new drive shafts?

Philm · #7 (**permalink**) 01-17-2008, 03:12 AM

You will need new shafts,

BA XR6 Turbo CVs will fit.

Phil

alffie · #8 (**permalink**) 01-17-2008, 03:51 AM

When do you start?

Philm · #9 (**permalink**) 01-17-2008, 04:48 AM

2.00pm today.

Phil

Aussie Mike · #10 (**permalink**) 01-17-2008, 06:53 AM

Hi Phil,

I've been looking at these diffs and the mounts on the web. I reckon it'll be pretty straight forward to fit one into the CR chassis.

The front mount is easy, you could do something similar to my front mount and looking at the length of the pinion you may not even need to cut into the cross member above the input yoke. I'd probably run tabs off the lower cross member rather than the upper as they will be closer to the mounting ears and easier to weld in with the body on.

The back mount is a bit more complicated but not as difficult as I thought. I'd machine that central mount off the back cover completely and cut out a steel plate (either with the plasma cutter or get it professionally laser cut) the plate would bolt over the back cover and be held in place with the back cover bolts. Have a look at some of the aftermarket Mustang cobra rear mount supports to get an idea of what I mean. From the steel plate you fabricate bosses to let you bolt straight through the back cross member. I'd weld some crush tubes through the rear cross member for extra support.

Axles would be easy as long as you can get the 31 spline CVs that plug into the diff. Custom axles could be machined from Hi-Tuff or similar material for what ever rear end width you chose.

If you lived near me I'd be keen to give it a go.

If this Commodore diff breaks on me I might have to look at one myself.

Cheers

Philm · #11 (**permalink**) 01-17-2008, 07:14 AM

Hey Mike,
I am actually going to re do the whole rear, I am waiting anxiously to see how your rear end will turn out as I will do the same.

This doesn't look like a complicated install, achieveable with the body on.

If only I did do this when the body was off getting painted.

Mike, if your look at the ford racing catalouge they have may options for the differentals, like Auburn, traction lock..... do you know what the differences are?

Also with these can you use the same flange type on the pinion as we have now.

Phil

alffie · #12 (**permalink**) 01-19-2008, 02:40 AM

Phil
are you going to get the T-2R center?

alffie · #13 (**permalink**) 01-19-2008, 02:53 AM

Have got your housing yet? how much do you have to change to get it to fit?

Philm · #14 (**permalink**) 01-19-2008, 05:11 AM

HI Alffie,
I will buy the hosing out of the US, Jegs have them.

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...62991_-1_10141

To mount I will make a new front support system that I will work out, nothing real complicated, may even look at a bolt on mount.

The rear I am going to mill out the rear cover and make and weld in a new one so that the rear will bolt thru the existing mounts.

Phil

Gav · #15 (**permalink**) 01-19-2008, 08:03 PM

Could you give both rear housings to someone with a CNC milling machine and get them to make a hybrid with the 8.8 mount holes and shape but with the two AU mountings?
It would be worth a few calls it would definitly be stronger.

alffie · #16 (**permalink**) 01-24-2008, 01:15 AM

Phil
hows the 8.8 install going?

Philm · #17 (**permalink**) 01-24-2008, 05:54 AM

HI Alffie,
I have reinstalled the rebuilt Au for the moment, as we have the shelby fest and some curcuit racing to do over the next month or so.

The car was back together on the weekend and we went to the drags last night to run it it, karen did the driving and took it easy.

Diff and lsd feels good.

I will continue on with the 8.8, I am also going to rework the arms similar to mike, I will do this and have it all ready and then do the change over a week.

I have ordered the diff center from Jegs so should get it in a week or so.

Phil

alffie · #18 (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 02:53 AM

Phil
Has your 8.8 housing arrived yet?

Philm · #19 (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 02:54 PM

HI Alffie,
Not yet, but should be soon though.

I would not expect to do anything with it for a few months though, as I do not want to pull the car apart for a while.

Don't wait for me I would suggest you fit one as well, expecially at the point you are in your build.

Phil

alffie · #20 (**permalink**) 02-20-2008, 05:14 AM

Hey Phil
How old was the center you destroyed? had it done much work?