Why not find a 8 inch all the time people on here upgrade to a 9 inch you could buy there old rear end.I'm not a 8.8 fan after breaking one with a mild 302 in a ranger a 8 inch would be better to use.

 

if you could wait a while i would sell you my 8in, but unfortunatly i have to get my 9in narrowed before i can put it in

 

How long are we talking about? If a month or 2, that's fine. If so, let me know the details: price, gearing, open/limited slip, drums included, shipping... And if you're narrowing, will you be reusing the springs?

 

My understanding is the 8.8 is supposedly stronger than the 8. While the 9 might be bullet proof, I destroyed one behind a Cleveland years ago so anything has its limits. I'm only looking at 275-300 hp in this setup as a cruiser so brute strength is secondary. I already have one offer for an 8. An others? I'm all for negotiating at the moment. The goofy 50 post rule keeps me out of the classifieds. Hell, 10 posts should eliminate spammers...

 

From looking around, the Versailles swap is one if the most popular choices for the classic mustangs. With a 72, you need a wider axle tube, so it looks like you need to be searching for a 67-73 Tornino, Ranchero, or Fairlane

I found this on another forum. Hope it helps.

These measurements are from flange to flange. Subtract 5" for bare housing length.

65-66 Mustang 57.25 inches
67-70 Mustang 59.25 inches
71-73 Mustang 61.25 inches
77-81 Versailles 58.50 inches
74 Maverick 8" 56.50 inches
75 Mustang II 8" 57.00 inches
67-73 Mustang, Torino, Ranchero, Fairlane 9" 59.25 inches to 61.25 inches
57-59 Ranchero and station wagon rears, 57.25 inches
66-77 Bronco 9", 58 inches
77-81 Granada/Versailles, 58 inches
67-71 Comet, Cougar, Mustang, Fairlane, 59.25 inches
71-73 Mustang, 61.25 inches
64 Falcon 58 inches
67 Cougar 60 inches
67 Fairlane 63.50 inches (coil springs)
72 Ford Van 3/4 ton 68 inches
73-86 65.25 inches
57-59 Ranchero and station wagon 57.25 iches (narrowest 9" housing)
66-77 Bronco 58 inches but has 5-on-5 1/2 inch diameter bolt circle
67-73 Torinos, Rancheros, Fairlanes 59.25 inches or 61.25 inches
67-71 Comets, Cougars, Fairlanes 59.25 inches

Where to find the 9" rear axle

67-73 medium and big block Mustangs and Cougars
66-71 Fairlanes, Torinos, Montegos, Comets, and other Ford intermediates
with big blocks
57-59 V8 Fords and Mercurys
77-81 Lincoln Versailles & Trucks

Type of 9" axle housings

67-73 Mustang/Cougar - light duty, thinnest housing material, small axle
bearings, 28 and 31 splines
57-68 passenger car and 1/2 ton truck - medium duty, stronger than Mustang
type, 28 and 31 splines
Ranchero/Torino - heavy duty thick wall housing, 3.25 inch diameter axle
tubes with flat tops
69-77 Galaxies (coils), Lincolns (coils), and late pickups (leaf)- 3.25
inch diameter all the way to the backing plate, coil housings have upper
control arm mount

 

And then BAM! The Cowboy comes up with the goods and then some. Thanks, dude! These are the numbers I need!
BTW, you mention a 72. Just for clarification mine's a 65 but I'll settle for a wider 67-68 in a heartbeat.

 

No problemo. Sorry, I missed the title stating 65 and looked at your info under your name that states 72 Mustang Fastback. In that case, something in the 58" range like from a 77-81 Granada, Versailles, or Monarch should work. The Versailles and Monarchs will probably have disc brakes axle tubes...bonus!

 

you can also pick up a '95-up explorer or mountaineer 8.8 rear and shorten one side about 2.5" (to take out the pinion offset) and use a second passenger side axle. you end up with 31 spline axles, a posi, 3.73 gears, and 11.25" disc brakes with parking brake axle that's 56.75" wide for about $350. less if you do the shortening yourself.

 

I had a 97 in the shop yesterday and took some measurements. It looked promising except I missed the offset part. I'll also have to turn down the axle center snout diameter it appears. I never checked the gears or for limited slip. Is 3.73 L/S pretty standard or is this 4x4 only or ?..

Urban Cowboy: Good catch on the 72! I forgot about that in my stats. When I signed on I was Stangless and used an example of what I owned in my first childhood . I'll have to change that when I get the time.

 

i wish i even knew how long . we got ripped off at the garage with frame rail replacement and were still payin them off (ended up bein 5500 total !! ) so i really have no idea. hopefully before summer ends but we'll see, it really depends on money.

the 9in i have came out of a bronco so i need to narrow it to get it to the right width because its something like 6 or 7 in too wide.

to be honest, try to find another rear end. i would be more than willing to sell you mine if i could even throw a guess out about when that might be but i really cant..