8.8 or 9 inch?

[855.0ranger]

i have an 85 ranger with a v8 swap. right noe it has a 7.5 rearend. But i drag race it alot and i know the 7.5 isnt gonna last me forever. I dont know wether i should put an 8.8 in or a 9 inch. I want a rear that will hold up 2 the abuse i throw at it 4 a long time. Any opinions?

 

[Mutant Pony]

You could snag the rear end from an Exploder. It is a 31 spline, 8.8. It is just slightly wider than the Ranger rear end. The Ranger 8.8 is 28 spline and no stronger than a 7.5 with a spool.
The 9" could be built up stronger but, the stock EB 9" is 28 spline and no stronger than the Ranger 8.8. 9" axles can be cut and resplined for far less than custom axles for a 8.8. The 35 spline axles for a 9" come with a LIFETIME warranty!
If it were me, It would be a 9" w/nodular third member, 35 spline and a spool. I would have a detroit locker for street use.

 

[metalmacguyver]

I would go with the 31 spline explorer 8.8. 95+ explorer axles came with disc brakes too. They are all over the place in junkyards and would be cheaper than a 9".

 

[koda6966]

I noticed that your from PA. Where do you usually do your racing?

 

[crbnunit]

9" has more options for parts and can be built stronger than the 8.8. Depends on how much HP you are talking. If not that much, probably a Sploder 8.8 with a Detroit should do you fine. Also depends on what bolt pattern you want. 8.8 is usually 5 on 4.5 while most 9" are 5 on 5.5.

 

[ZMan]

Just go with the 8.8, you'll have alot less work into it and it will still hold up unless you're running low 10s on slicks.

Heres a guy who won TOTM a while back... http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2610822
Hes running 10s on a 28 spline 8.8, hadn't broken it yet at the time, but had broken plenty of 7.5s.

 

[Mac]

9" what bolt pattern you want. 8.8 is usually 5 on 4.5 while most 9" are 5 on 5.5.

I think that you will find the 9" 5 x 5.5 bolt pattern only on the trucks. A Explorer rear ought to work fine. What power level are you looking at anyway, auto or manual? A lot of people forget to up-grade the u-joint while their at it.
Dave

 

[Evan]

Go with the 31-spline 8.8. Just about as strong as a 9", correct width, and same bolt pattern as your front.

A 31-spline 8.8 should be able to handle 600+ HP.

 

[86freebie]

dont know what spline my rear end was in my mustang. but it help up to 2nd, 3rd, and 4th power shifts all the time. that was about 3500# with sticky z-rated tires.
yes v-8 225 hp with mods so at the wheels probably about the 225 hp.
that was the same diff i believe you are talking about (8.8)

 

[ZMan]

dont know what spline my rear end was in my mustang. but it help up to 2nd, 3rd, and 4th power shifts all the time. that was about 3500# with sticky z-rated tires.
yes v-8 225 hp with mods so at the wheels probably about the 225 hp.
that was the same diff i believe you are talking about (8.8)

was most likely a 31 spline 8.8

 

[Evan]

dont know what spline my rear end was in my mustang. but it help up to 2nd, 3rd, and 4th power shifts all the time. that was about 3500# with sticky z-rated tires.
yes v-8 225 hp with mods so at the wheels probably about the 225 hp.
that was the same diff i believe you are talking about (8.8)

I believe Ford went to the 31-spline 8.8 starting in 2001 for Mustangs. That was, of course, an IRS setup and not solid axle.

My Cobra puts 272HP to the ground. The supercharged Cobras can put down almost 400HP, and they run the same 8.8. And this is with IRS. So I think a solid axle 8.8 can really handle a lot of power.

 

[855.0ranger]

thanks 4 all the input, its a T5 5speed trans aso i think and 8.8 with 31 spline axles is wat im gonna go with

 

[LittleBigFoot]

Be a bad ass and run a 9"

Cause it's bad ass.

And you want to be a bad ass don't ya?

Find a 35spline from a Bronco or F series that was behind a 400+ ci engine.

Do it. It'd be bad ass.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I believe Ford went to the 31-spline 8.8 starting in 2001 for Mustangs. That was, of course, an IRS setup and not solid axle.

My Cobra puts 272HP to the ground. The supercharged Cobras can put down almost 400HP, and they run the same 8.8. And this is with IRS. So I think a solid axle 8.8 can really handle a lot of power.

Only the Cobra's got the IRS though, I think a regular GT still has the solid 28 spline 8.8.