Ford 8.8 Swap

Not to beat a dead horse here, just to offer so other views on the 8.8 debate.

I'm new to this site, but not to building cars, and certainly not to drag racing. For several years I have been building S-10 pickups to run 1/4 mile duty. They are cheap, full framed toys that are a dime a dozen, are a drop in candidate for a small or big bock Chevy powerplant, and are fairly light. We make them fly! (Think 7 second 1/4 mile times)

I use a lot of 8.8 rears in my builds for others. I did 4 (four) builds in one day last year before the S-10 nationals at Bowling Green. They take a LOT of abuse, and after you change the long side axle out at the boneyard, you are out the door with a limited slip 3:73 or 4:10 gear 31 spline axled rear with discs for under $150.

We have several of them going to be competing at the nationals again next weekend (May 18 ) in Bowling Green again this year. Fast trucks pulling the front wheels high and carrying them way past the 60' timers on 8.8 rears. The 8.8 is much easier to find in the junkyard, and as easy to mod as anything else, long as you can weld.

I just found a Dart with a 9" under it, I'll be changing it to an 8.8 as well. My 8 3/4 I have is an open unit, and has the dreaded 741 chunk in it. Time I buy a new chunk, gears, and all the other stuff to set it up with discs, I'll be wayyy past the cost of an 8.8 in my Dart. I'm sure it will handle the 440 I'm putting in front of it.


Is it a purists rear end? Nope. Neither is a 9" under a Chevy, or any of 10001 other hot rod types with it under the back. The 8.8 even has the same pinion bearing as Chevy's famed 12 bolt rear. They are strong. And cheap. So why not? Show me stacks of locker rear, good gear set equipped 8 3/4 rear ends laying around, for the same price, and I'll go scarf one up. Till then......Don't over look other options.

Anyone that wants, PM me and I can walk you through the centering process.