Gbody 8.8 swap | rear axle UPGRADE!!! |  

I actually have an '85 El Camino I'm going to be the same with.

I have a 87 el Camino that will also do the same

I've moved it around so much I don't even remember. Mine is set up for max burnout too so it's probably not great for go-fast.

You are 100% correct. I don't much care for the idea of drilling the bolt pattern in.

I used the stock shock mounts. I know there are several options for coilover mounting on the market. It's basically a bar that you weld in between the frame rails and some adapters that bolt to the axle.

Axles came from moser. I ordered 8.8 inners with S10 blazer stud pattern. The brakes came from an S10 and I have another video about that.

@@BurnoutsAndRotorblades ok I’ll look for the brake video. Thanks for the reply!

no, thats why the spherical bearing=s are needed.

I figured as much but someone has to ask the dumb questions. Thanks!!

I'm going to 100% honest with you. I don't know much about the SN95 axle except it is wider than the Gbody axle. Wide enough I would have needed to get different wheels and I didn't want to do that. I wanted to have 4 interchangeable wheels without using adapters. Sorry I couldn't be more help. There is a wealth of information on gbodyforums.com about the SN95 swap though.

Thanks for watching the videos. The tires are 245/75-R17. the wheels are 17x8" Cragar Soft 8's. If you don't mind, can you make sure to hit the like and subscribe button. Thanks again!

No, but if you cut the aftermarket brackets you welded instead of the stock brackets they should be completely useable.

Brian Baker I’ve been searching for a video like this for awhile now. With a blazer setup and 8.8 swap. I found nothing. Good video by the way. I enjoyed the work

I have whole video about that. here is the link. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_Jqql4zOLlE.html

Use mid 80s Z28 or Trans Am wheels, fronts on the front rears on the rear. GM did the same thing in the F bodys, the rear track was 2" wider than the front.

A '97 mustang is an SN95. SN95 axles are a whole different animal. you're looking for a foxbody axle. I know the SN95 axle can be used but it requires a different offset as you've figured out. I would use the search function on GBodyforums.com as it is covered at length by several people. I am sorry I can't help more but I don't know more.

@@BurnoutsAndRotorblades I mean for the most part, it's pretty intuitive. I'm glad you mentioned that about the welding of the brackets. My plan was to place a bolt on the bottom piece and to run the upper bolt as well (the one you used for alignment while welding). I've never installed the spherical bushing so I'm guessing at that and my biggest thing was, I opted for the double adjustable for everything but there's nothing that says to increase pinion angle, adjust here or to shift the axle one way or the other, adjust here. Heck, the forward upper brackets have 5 holes to choose from, how did you choose? For the times that I did talk to him, he was super helpful I was just disappointed at the lack of "specific" information about the kit. I don't think a how to for any product, especially one with so many adjustment options is a bit much to ask.

I know the instructions are lacking. I had to call Alex and get some clarification about a few things. In fact, the video was a collaborative work where he had a lot of input on the content based on common questions he gets. Also, I naively thought making the video would lead to some kind of a sponsorship. It didn't happen, but It's still a good product. I think Alex is under the impression the kit is very intuitive, and while it mostly is, it's nice to have instructions to back up your thinking. I put the jam nuts up top because there is less chance something will knock them loose. It makes no difference in reality. It was just peace of mind for me. Also, I recommend solidly welding and bolting in the upper brackets to the car. I broke the welds the first time I put slicks on it and the bolts saved my bacon.

I solid welded them and added bolts

@@mathewshackelford8037 perfect. Now burnout video?

Still not running. Engine isn’t install but soon. I’ll see if I have a photo of the rear end in the car on IG and tag you

I used the 8.8 flange, but the conversion U-joint number was in the video.

Thank you much. I just bought a elco and plan on doing a swap and wanted to figure out what kind of drag wheels too buy!

The fox body 8.8 is about .75" wider per side, or 1.5" wider overall. The side of my car that has the body damage now rubs. I'll fix that with a baseball bat in a future episode. the stock side has plenty of room even with the wide rims and tires.

My set up is: Crager Soft 8 17 in. x 8 in with 4.50 in. Backspace. Standard body backspacing is 5 x 4.75 in. the tires are General 245/45-17. I would recommend rolling the fenders because mine scrape every now and again.

That is exactly what I did. I just had to find an U-joint that was a conversion style between those two.

I used a higher hole. I don't remember at the moment or have my car nearby. I wanted to have good anti-squat charachteristics.

The 2.73 gear ratio is good for highway cruising, but not so much for drag racing. It's a great price if it's in good condition and the gear ratio is going to work for you.

Dude I appreciate your feedback. 👍🏻 thanks I think I’ll buy it .

@@mrlara57 no problem. hope it works out. is it a posi?

Yea it’s posi, it’s for my 87 el Camino I want a posi rear end with my ls swap. Later down the line if I am not satisfied I’ll just change my gears to 3.31. Is that a good ratio for highway cruiser too ?

@@mrlara57 It depends on transmission and tire size. My wagon has a 700r4 with 3.73 rear gear and a 28" tall tire and I can cruise at 85mph on the highway with the A/C going.

I don't remember exactly because i never saw the car. The guy told me it was from a fairmont. I just made sure to measure it and check all the measurements, numbers and gear ratios.

What @@BurnoutsAndRotorblades meant to say was that the aftermarket axles were ordered with the G body's 5x4.75" bolt pattern. The original Ford is 5x4.5" pattern.

I used some aftermarket Moser Engineering axles that were made to work with the S10 blazer disc brakes. The S10 blazer has the same 5X4.5" lug pattern as the GBody. That's how I got away with using the same wheels and tires.

I do know there are forum posts about swapping over to "LS Brakes" on stock rearends, but I have not personally done it. So, the honest answer is, I'm not sure. . .

It handles like a car with 30 year old clapped out suspension. Though the links are all new in the back, literally everything else is stock from 1983, including the no back sway bar. I would like to do some suspension upgrade, but it really hooks up well at the drag strip and coupled with the bench seats and quasi-functioning seatbelts, it does some terrifying donuts. So, like they say, if it ain't broke. . .

I picked up a BMR antiroll sway bar, mounts up really nice just a suggestion from a fellow gbody guy.. maybe a while I’ll keep you posted

Fox rearends are the correct width and don't need to be cut down to fit. So, depends on what you want. Slightly better upper mount location, or avoiding the need to modify the housing. I'd also bring up that you can use the stock fox axles. Even though I wouldn't recommend it.

@@BurnoutsAndRotorblades I do see the appeal but, the second you change ANYTHING, axels, brakes, etc.. you should start with the Panther diff. The UMI mounts don't fix the awful upper to lower arm spacing ratio and unless you are just going to run street tires the Panther is way better. I've lost count of how many guys just plowed ahead with the Fox rear only to yank it a year later because they can't control the wheel hop with sticky tires and some decent horsepower. I went 9". If I had known the Panther was a great option at the time, I would have done that and saved about $500. I went 9" and not Fox 8.8 specifically because of the wheel hop issues, even with the relocation brackets. Hell, if you are changing up your wheels anyway, the Panther diff is a good width for Corvette wheels. Just re-drill for 4.75" and run spacers up front (you only need one set).

I looked around but I can't find any data on them. I just remember calling Moser and telling them I wanted 8.8 axles from a foxbody with the ends from a 2000 blazer. they asked for a couple measurements which I gave and then they showed up at the house.

@@BurnoutsAndRotorblades link to the brackets? Debating adjustable shocks and lowering springs or going full coilover lol

@@BurnoutsAndRotorblades I think I'm gonna just do shocks and springs. Didn't realize coilovers are as expensive as they are. Any g body shock will work right? Think I'm gonna get some bilsteins if I cant find some adjustable shocks at a decent price

I know Trick Chassis has some options on their website. Look at the coil over full installation kit. Tons of different companies make versions of them, but I know there are some on the Trick Chassis website to at least give you an idea.

That is true. However, the availability of a Gbody 12 bolt is non-existent in most areas because those rear ends were only put in select performance models. Comparatively, the ford 8.8 was put into everything with wheels in the foxbody chassis. I found mine on craigslist, 6 miles from my house, with a 3.83 rear and posi for $175. That won't be the case with a 12 bolt.

I'm not talkin about a 12-bolt talkin about an 8 .5 10 bolt that came in a Grand national and some other G bodies, but you're right they are hard to find.

@@BurnoutsAndRotorblades thanks alot. I admire the knowledge you have on this project. If anything what would be the best way to get a positive trac..on my 80 cutlass..

BurnoutsAndRotorblades thanks I’ve been cutting & wielding the explorer ones up two to make one...

80’s foxbody. They came in a ton of cars outside of the mustang. They are 4 lug, drum, 4 link (not leaf spring) and about 54” wide. There are resources online that brake down makes models and axle numbers. For me it was easiest to just go through the junkyard and look up the mustang skirts and see what I liked.