Have a 71 Mustang, pictured below, and I was wondering what the best(cheapest haha) donor car is for an 8.8 or 9 inch rear? I am looking at the Currie rear on Jegs right now, but I REALLY don't want to pay $1,300 before taxes/shipping/gears/brakes/etc.

Any ideas?

 

Are you trying to make more then 400 hp?? if you're not then i would just stick with the 8" its a bit lighter and can hold up quite well.

But if you want a 9" then
1967-1973 medium and big block Mustangs and Cougars
1966-1971 Fairlanes, Torinos, Montegos, Comets, and other Ford intermediates with big blocks.
1957-1959 V8 Fords and Mercurys
1977-1981 Lincoln Versailles & Trucks

this came from here http://dfwmotorsport.com/Fairlane/9inchrearends.htm

 

Don't know about the width of a 71 rear end but I did a 8.8oit of 2000 explorer on my 66. It works great and I only spent about $400 total
It has rear disc brakes, 3.73 gears and a track loc.

 

just look around on craigslist for rearends, even if the width is too big you can always have the housing cut and respline the axles. the extra brackets (if there are any) would also need to be cut off and spring perches welded on. it sounds like a lot of work but it will still be cheaper than the new curry or jegs ones

 

If I am not mistaken, a 67 - 73 mustang 9" will fit your car. there is a guy (Mike's Mustang shop) in Maryland that will sell you the 9" housing and axles for $450 and I think $750 if you include the third member. I picked one up from him in December and he had about 20 more in a pile in his junk yard.

Per Xarong, I've seen cars running 600 - 700 hp with a 8". If you don't plan on putting slicks and drag racing every weekend, keep the 8". You might want to get better axles and a better third member if you plan on making more than 400 hp.

 

Gonna be working a 408w with some sort of forced induction, possibly nitrous eventually. I'd like to get a 9 inch to "future proof" myself so I don't have to buy a rear twice, ya know? Thanks for the lead on the stang shop! Do you have a number/email/website for that shop?

 

The junk yard (Mustang resting yard) is called Mike's Mustangs. He used to have a web site, but I think he has taken it down. He is still open for business though. Call before you go. :Ask for Mike Hedges. 2800 Camp Hedges Pl, Bryans Road, MD. 301-283-0344

You might also want to check with CJ Pony Parts and see if the can recommend any places in PA that you could go to.

With your plan, going the 9" is the best way to go, but look at spending slightly over $2k for everything to handle that kind of horsepower.

 

Yeah I was anticipating that. Why do it if you don't do it right the first time ya know?

 

On the rear end sizes it went 64-66 67-70 and 71-73.You can get a used housing and axles for about 350 bucks http://www.perogie.com/Rears.htm or new http://www.quickperformance.com/Products/housings.htm but look around on quick performance website they are cheap and good.