Over the past few months I have been trying to plan out several aspects of my project (48 M-68).
Currently I am looking at the rear end. I have been looking at the tech article on this site about rear ends, and it says the 8.8 from a explorer will work. Is this just for the F1, or do they fit the F3 as well. Are they a direct bolt in similar to the 57-72 f100 9"? Does anyone know of a post where someone has done this?
If this is something that will work, I have found a rear end that is the correct ratio, is has posi and disc brakes which is a bonus.

Thanks for your help,

Corey

 

Worse case is all you have to do is cut off the stock leaf spring pads (I assume the Exploder rearend is parallel leafs), and then weld the new pads on in the correct spacing and pinion angle orientation. If the 8.8 is the right width and everything else works, it is easy to put new leaf spring pads on.

 

I believe the stock width is 61" and the one from the explorer is 59".

 

Not a bolt-in like the nine inch but a good rear end just the same. You will have to relocate the spring pads but it should work under your F-3 just fine.

Remember that it has a 5 on 4.5 pattern...

 

I am going to be converting the front to disc brakes, so I can match the front pattern to the back.

I assume since I would have to relocate the leaf pads anyway, that I could adjust them to make the correct pitch for my 351/AOD combo that I will be dropping in. Correct?

 

correct o might as well fix ur pinon angle while you have them cut off

 

That's what I did. I bolted mine in about where I thought it should be, then installed the engine and transmission. When the engine and transmission were in I loosened the U-bolts and rotated the rear end to the correct pinion angle and then welded the spring pads on....