Yes. The 95 and newer stang axles fit the fox body housing for the 5 lugs swap. Probably still 28 splines, though....not really a big deal, just not quite as strong. it'll be OK.

Most of the numbers on that chart are for the control arm locations.

Actually, your housing should measure 54.096" (outside of axle flanges), and the 1995 stang shafts should widen the tread width to 61". This is what happens when you swap to disc brakes, and is what stang guys like for the better stability.

 

On another forum (the HAMB I think), someone posted that the rear disc setup on an 8.8 will bolt onto a large bearing 9 inch rear. True?

 

I have a '95 that has the disc brakes.

 

Does anyone here have the rear axel codes for the different axel ratios on the Explorer? If they do it should help Dave look for what he wants in the bone yards by just looking at the code on the door post label.

As for what ratio to use, I would suggest one of the lower ones unless the tranny he is using is an OD type. The 390 is a torque monster so there is no real need for going above 3.50 0n the ratio in something as light as the '54 F-100. I am assuming he is probably using a C6 but I don't know.

I am going with a '99 Explorer rolling chassis on one of my '53s but at present I have no idea what ratio it has. The door post sticker is long since gone and I have no idea why. It had a 4.0 V6 and that is about all I know other than the VIN which may or may not tell something about it but I have no idea how to tell if it does.

One point that has been made previously in other threads is that if you are going with the disc brake rear end, you need to use a proportioning valve. I have to get one because my donor has the ABS system with the electric pump integrated into it which alsi appears to have all the proportioning functions built into it. Hopefully somone here will know what vehicles I can harvest one of those from as the ABS system has been ruined by the PO when harvesting what he needed. Otherwise I will have to bite the bullet and buy one from Summit or some other high dollr place. Apparrently the PO could not grasp the concept of actually disconnecting something as opposed to using cable cutters and bolt cutters. In the immortal words of Buggs Bunny, "What a maroon..."

Later Folks...

 

I read that too. I have both axles (both drums though), and have thought about seeing if that'll work....when the snow melts.....in July.

 

Daves, my explorer axle had a 4.10 ratio w disc brakes. I swapped the 410 for a 3.55 when I rebuilt it. I gave $50 for a used gear set on ebay,they were from a mustang. I noticed that swithcing oe ford for oe ford the shim pack was almost the same, making the swap and set up easy.
Williard, I know some 9" have the same backing plate pattern as the explorer 8.8, so the disc swap would be easy. I've seen this advertised in Speedway's catalog, along with pics of 9" bolt patterns. Check their catalog, maybe yours is a bolt on. If so, swapping your 5/5.5 bolt pattern to a 5/4.75 axle shaft to match the front would be easy. IIRC, the speedway kit had a dual bolt pattern disc, but the oe explorer disc would be easy to oblong the hole, especially with your bridgeport.

 

Looks like the 3.55 out of a 95 or later w/disc is what I am looking for. I willstill look to get some numbers off the tranny. After typing an earlier post I realized I sounded like an idiot not knowing what I will be putting in my truck!!!

 

Rusty, I need to stay with the 5 on 5 1/2 inch BC on the rear since I have already purchased, final painted, mounted and balanced my rear wheels/tires. I did check the speedway catalogue, their kit is drilled for 5 on 4 1/2. It would be necessary to redrill rear rotors unless there are 5 on 5 1/2 rear rotors that would fit. Anyone know the answer to that question?
I started down the road with the larger 11" x 2 1/2" drum setup on my 9 inch. I really question for my truck if the explorer rear discs would do much for me on stopping. I understand the wow factor but that would not force me to change direction. With the Jag large front discs and the fact that the front do around 70 % of the braking I do question the value in my case. I do plan to tow up to 5000# with the truck as I do now with my 2003 Ranger (which has the explorer rear drums). The trailer is set up with 4 wheel electric brakes and they do work well.
As an aside, the Ranger gets the job done but is a bit weak (sohc 4.0 auto). More power with Willard will be nice on the longer grades.

 

I don't think you sounded like an idiot... It appeared to me that you were just exploring the possibilities, (no pun intended with exploring). Hey, you gotta start somewhere when your thinking this stuff out, As for the tranny, even if you gave me numbers off of it I wouldn't know what it was. I just know what a C6 looks like, which seems to me to be the most probable to be with a 390. I do know the C6 is not an OD tranny. I am not aware of an OD tranny being availabe with the 390 nor do I know if there is one that will bolt up to it. I'm sure there are people here that do know and they will probably chime in on this. It's for sure that an OD tranny would be nice because the higher ratio diffs would still give you some decent open road mileage and stiil have some really good low end pulling power. Of course on the low end has never been a real problem for the 390.

Keep us posted on what you work out.

Later Man...

 

Havi,

Do you have a dim for total distance for wheel mounting surface (side to side) ?

Chuck

 

Thanks Dave. I just want to try and get the right set up or close to it. I don't want to buy a rear end with 4.10 and then have to change to a 3.55 or the other way around. Maybe I will head over to the fe forum to try and get some info on my tranny.

 

I'm also using an 8.8 out of an Explorer. Going in my 60 F100. I also own a Ranger and found this useful info on another site.

First link has all the axle codes

Ford Ranger Axles - The Ranger Station

Second has some good measurements

The Ford Explorer 8.8-Inch Rear Axles

 

Cool Man... BTW, I answered your PM.

Later...

 

WMS-WMS:
Tbird/Cougar 7.5": '83-'85 61" (housing f-f 54.096")
Tbird/Cougar 7.5": '86-'88 61" (housing f-f 55.596", which means unique and not really 5 lug swappable per se)
Tbird Turbo Coupe Disc brake rear 8.8": '87-'88 61" (housing same as Mustang GT 8.8" @ 54.096", but disc brake brackets are offset outward 3/4" to make 61")
Mustang 7.5 and 8.8": '79-'93 59.5" (housing 54.096")
Mustang 7.5 and 8.8": '94-'98 61" (housing 54.096") This is the 5 lug disc brake axle
Mustang 7.5 and 8.8": '99-newer 62.438" (housing 55.534") 5 lug
Lincoln Mark VII 7.5": 3/4" wider than tbird each side, so it should be 62.5" wide.

These are all symmetrical axles, IE same shaft lengths. Hope that's what you were looking for.