interesting observations on furd 8.8 rear end

[Goats86]

Been pondering how to come up with disc brakes and limited slip on my C10. Read a bunch of threads from modding my 10 bolt($1500 or so), using a 9 bolt($1800 or so), a 94 to 01 explorer(lots of miles/wear). I did not like any of those bc of the cost. This is a toy not a show car or racer. I scored a 8.8 furd from a 08 crown vic police interceptor. It had all the brake hoses, emergency brake cables, sway bar, and limited slip. Now come the ideas. After some measuring I noticed the 8.8 axle flange bolt pattern is 3.375 x 2.0 and the 10 bolt is 3.375 x 2.625. The axle flange to axle surface where the disc would sit is 2.5" on both the 8.8 and the 10 bolt. Hmmmm the flange on the disc brake bracket looks to have ample meat on it. I might be able to redrill that bracket to make it catch at least 3 mounting holes on the 10 bolt. Also the emergency brakes cable look to be readily adaptable to my C10. With a little work I could get disc brake hardware for about $100(cost of the rear end). Add the other usual items such as prop valve, brake line adapters,score some readily available wheels with the 5 x 4.5 pattern and down the road I could go. The sway bar is the same width as my frame. Probably much less than the $600 + shipping kits I see for sale, plus I get a sway bar. Now that does not give me the limited slip I was wanting. But that's another story. Just an idea that might work.

[lolife99]

Post pics of the swap when you have it complete!

[Goats86]

Another point I forgot to make is that it is already set up with a "watts link". How cool is that if you were gonna do coils or coil over shocks. This thing has lots of potential.

[andrewmp6]

Only thing i don't like about the watts link is its on top of the diff i think they did it for room.And if you ever need rear disc make sure they are from a p71 the cop car package has vented disc in the rear vs the solid disc the normal crown vic used.Knowing its about the same size makes me think because the frame is the same on the crown vic from 79 to today.

[Dr. Drop]

I see that you found the 8.8 rear end worked out for you, but have you considered using the independet rear end out of the later model T-Birds. They come either with drum or disc, the overall width is 63 1/2 inches with the disc brakes. The install is about a 12 hr deal. The only problem that I came across was the lug pattern. It is a metric 5 lug and I needed a 5 on 4 1/2 so I had to have the hub re drilled to get the pattern I needed. I got mine on Craigslist for $140.00 and it was a posi unit complete with swaybar, e-brake and brake lines. I changed from the coil suspension and went with air. From all the way down to all up is about 12 inches. I put the same unit in a 1950 Sububran (slamburban here in the 1947 and up forum) and you can see how it looks in that model.

[andrewmp6]

I would use the 99-04 cobra irs over the thunderbird one its a lot stronger.Nate aka porterbuilt has a kit to mount a c4 irs in our trucks and hes working on a ford expedition irs right now.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

http://www.blackbirdscustomtrucks.com/index26.html

They have disc brake kits
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[Dr. Drop]

What do they charge for the Cobra rear end?

[andrewmp6]

If you know the right people free lol.Most who drag race the cobras are more then willing to trade the irs for a 8.8 maybe some cash too.Just look up some mustang forums you will find a post here and there wanting to trade the irs for a 8.8.Worse case you buy a used 8.8 from a 94-04 mustang from a junkyard to trade.