zachsola

Alright, so I originally had plans to do exhaust but I'm not sure if this is an offer too good to pass up. I was planning to do gears in the future so this might work out. Note: I have a 2004 v6 mustang 5 spd

Searching the ole' craigslists and saw two ads.

Ad #1: 97 GT stock 8.8 rear end w/ 2.73 gears $150

Ad #2: recently 2002 GT Rebuilt Ford mustang 8.8 rear rebuilt with Carbon Clutch packs and have a set of 373 gears $125 obo posi $100 obo gears

EDIT!!!

I can now buy a 96 GT 8.8 rear end with 410s for $400 asking price on Cragislist. I think I should get this, it sounds like a good deal. Thoughts????
Questions to answer:

1. The gears from the 2002 GT *would not* fit the 97 rear end correct?

2. The posi (limited slip differential right?) *would* fit the 97 GT 8.8 though, unlike the gears correct?

3. Do I even need to install a posi, does the 97 GT have one?

4. What kind of install would be required/what might a shop charge to install the posi and lets say 4.10 gears if I bought them? Thats $150 rear end + 125 posi + 140 gears + ??? for labor. (I'll try to install the rear end myself, just need the gears and posi put in)

Thanks in advance! (It'd help if each question was answered in the space between each question! )

BabyGT

94-98 rears are not as wide as 99-04 rears. Your rear wheels will sink in. Not to mention the 2.73 is worse than what you have stock and will make your car slower. And everything from either rear will fit in each other since they are both 8.8 rear ends. But in order to maintain proper wheel fitment on your car you need to stay within your year model, which is 99-04.

zachsola

I have 2.73 gears stock, and I was considering the sink in rear end because then I could get bigger tires at somepoint. Does that change anything? Should I get?

BabyGT

Stick with your year model. If your gonna get bigger tires you will need different rims anyhow, you can get the offset you need then. Plus the older the rear the more wear it's going to have. The limited slip in my 94 is shot, only one wheel spins.

Also on a 2004 your gears should be 3.27 factory.

You seem set on what you want to get but this is going to cost you more in the long run trying to be cheap now.

zachsola

There's a guy near me selling a 96 8.8 with 410s and carbon clutches. Does that mean he redid the limited slip? Also, would a pair of wheel hub spacers fix all this or is that bad for the whole rearend?

BabyGT

Depending on what he wants for the rear that's pretty good. And yes. A good set of bolt on spacers would solve the issue.

zachsola

$400 is asking price. Good or no?

BabyGT

If your in a hurry yes. By the time I'm done with mine I'll have spent that much to get my rear, have it geared and rebuilt and installed in the car myself for the right year model. But it's taking me like 6 months so there's that.

Another thing to look at is do you have traction control? And does the rear end have the sensor cogs for the abs sensors. If not you will lose abs for sure and if you do have traction control that won't work if abs is disabled.