8.8 TC rear end swap into my 84 SVO

[Schlodes]

I have an 8.8 from an 87 TC, was an auto car so I got the 3.73s, got it for $200 CDN [$160 USD]. Was at a local auto recycler and the TC only had 110000 miles on it. It's nice and tight too.. I figure an automatic 150 HP 2.3 Turbo isn't gonna do any thing to an 8.8.. Anyways..

Going to clean the rear up this week, and order new axle seals for when I put my SVO axles in. I might get a nice aluminum cover with the supports for the caps for a bit extra strength too, as this rear will be getting launched off a 2 step and _?_ PSI boost.

Anyways, I pulled the wheels off my SVO this morning just to have a comparison look sorta thing, and I am under the impression that I basically just remove all the stuff off the SVO housing right down to the small plate/bracket held on by 4 bolts to the SVOs 7.5" axle tubes, and move it all onto the T/C 8.8? It looks like I am going to have grind off what looks to be some sort of brace thats welded to the axle tube, and and welded to the plate the rear caplipers and stuff bolt too in order to get it all removed from the 8.8 rear so I can add the SVO stuff.....

I am going to try and do this without undoing any brake lines.... & i'll hang up everything [all brake lines, calipers etc] using coat hanger wires if I have to till I get the 8.8 bolted into place...

I looks really straight forward, but I just wondered if anyone had any tips? or if there was a webpage with a writeup online somewhere w/ someone who's done it? [kinda searched a few sites last night but came up with nuttin]

Thanks a bunch!

[Eyelawdoc]

Does your 84 have quad shocks or slapper bars? The Tbird bracket on the axle for the quads is different from the Mustang bracket. If you are running slapper bars, you will need to adapt them over to the 8.8. That shouldn't be too hard.

Your gear ratios are going to be a bit off (especially with your 4:09 low first) in the 84. IMHO 3:73 8.8's mate up better to the trans used in the 85-86 cars that came stock with 3:73 7.5's.

Pat Pearson and myself are going to be doing the same swap, but with a 3:55 8.8 out of a Tbird into a slapper bar 84 very shortly. Pat and I own the car together. Pat did the same swap previously with another of his 84's and it went very smoothly!

[Pat_in_L.A.]

Those extra braces shouldn't get in the way. I'm guessing that you have a slapper bar car and don't have the later brackets on the old rear end. The T-Bird axle with the extra "quad shock" bracket will clear just fine and not hit anything. It takes only a slight bend on the left rear brake line to make all the SVO brake parts fit. The slapper bars will no longer have a place to bolt up, however.

[Schlodes]

It's a slapper bar car. I'll adapt em over to the 8.8.

As for gearing. The 3.45s and low 1st gear [as well as the rest of the gears] felt awesome with the stock height tires, even 4rth [1:1] was nice and strong.

When I put the weld Draglites on, and the Et Streets which are around a full inch and 3/4"s taller I noticed a pretty big difference in the upper gears, and 1st gear actually feels sorta long. They say an inch gain in tire hieght is equivalent to losing 13 points on ring and pinion ratio. So IF that is the case, with the taller tire, it would be similar to now having a 3.20 something gear with such tall tires [26.5"] vs. the stock SVO tires and 3.45. With the 3.73s and the ET streets, it should give me back that feeling of having the stock tire height and 3.45s again, but with TRACTION.

No matter b/c soon this car is going to get a 3.35 V8 T5. But just that I noticed when I went to the taller tire, despite the rim being TONS lighter, 3rd was a bit softer pull, and 4rth was real mushy and soft compare to w/ the 24.5" tall stock SVO tires.