i have a 88 mustang lx. i am planning on upgrading the rearend to a rear from an 88 thunderbird turbo coupe. is this a true bolt in upgrade? i know there are both 8.8 inch rearends, are they the same width? i am mainly wanting to upgrade to the rear disk. i am sure i will have to change the rear proportioning valve to a aftermarket one maybe? thanks for any help..
Update:i have a 88 mustang lx. i am planning on upgrading the rearend to a rear from an 88 thunderbird turbo coupe. is this a true bolt in upgrade? i know there are both 8.8 inch rearends, are they the same width? i am mainly wanting to upgrade to the rear disk. i am sure i will have to change the rear proportioning valve to a aftermarket one maybe? thanks for any help..
i not upgrading to a 9 inch, because number 1, too expensive, number 2 fab work involved, number 3, 8.8's are lighter, cheaper and can be made just as strong as a 9 inch.. there are ALOT of things you can do to 8.8's that make them strong. plenty of 8.8's running in the 9's.
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Stinger Performance 2.3 Tech Mainpage
... larger 5.0 disc brakes on the front of a 2.3 Mustang. ... 8.8" Rear End w/Disc Swap. How to install a Turbo Coupe 8.8" rear w/disc brakes in a Fox Body Mustang. ...
http://www.stinger-performance.com/TechMain.html - Cached
8.8" Rear End w/Disc Brake Swap
... away with using the disc brakes with the stock master cylinder ... 8.8" disc brake/93 Cobra rears are 1.5" wider overall than the Fox Body Mustang rears. ...
http://www.stinger-performance.com/rearswap.html - Cached
79-93 4 Lug Ford Fox Body Mustang Brake Upgrades
8.8" rear axle with 87-88 Tbird Turbo Coupe 10" disc brakes. 38mm rear pistons. ... It is a 8.8" rear end, and the stock gear ratio is 3.55 for the manuals, 3.73 ...
http://mjbobbitt.home.comcast.net/~mjbobbitt/musta...
Your master cylinder as well as the proportioning valve will have to be changed.
Note: The 8.8" is not "just as strong as a 9" - it's strong, just not comparable to a 9".
The Mustang is a solid rear end, meaning you can't see the actual axles. The T-bird is an independent suspension, meaning you can see the actual axles. It could probably be done but I don't think it would be worth the trouble. I think the T-bird is wider. You would also have to alter the rear suspension.
I don't recall the 88 thunderbird having independent suspension. Should not be a problem.
forget the 8.8, get the 9 it's indestructible.