[67MercCat]

Are all the ford explorers posi or is it just the V8 explorers? I'm asking because I want the explorer 5 bolt axles and I have a posi from a 87 mustang that had 4 bolt axles both are 28 spline....any suggestions?

[Grease_Fever]

Can I tag along without stealing your thread? I am also curious about these rear ends. I've noticed that some of the Explorers have independent rear ends. Which years, engines, carry the IRS as opposed to the straight axle?

[67MercCat]

no worries man, since they're in such abundance I figured I would make some good use out of em...The later years from 96-99 are good years to check out as far as IRS, but I'm just curious about the compatibility with the mustang rear ends...

[matt167]

not all '95-'00 solid axle rears. ( actually includes '02 Sport as well ) had limited slip, but many did, and if you find a V8 they pretty much all do, it also has traction bars that you may be able to fabricate into what your building.. Juist check the data tag for the "L". if you had a tag that read 3L 73, that's a 3.73 rear with trak lok.. If it says 3 73, than it's open.. 3.73 and 4.10 were most common with the limited slip.

you can't mix 28 spline 8.8" carriers ( Ranger/ Mustang ) with 31 spline axles ( Explorer ). if you want a 5 bolt mustang, than you need 2 passanger side Ranger axles

[zbhover]

Here is what the tag will look like if its a limited slip, notice the "L" between 4 and 10.




I believe 95-00 explorer rear ends were all solid axles with disc brakes, but like someone else said, the explorer rear ends are different than the mustangs......


Around here I see the explorer rears go cheap all the time on craigslist with people parting out explorers....

I swapped a explorer 8.8 for the s-10 rear in on my v8 beetle project I'm working on.

Here are a couple links to some of my swap pics:
http://www.v8beetleresource.com/chassis12.html

http://www.v8beetleresource.com/chassis13.html

http://www.v8beetleresource.com/chassis14.html

[67MercCat]

@ matt167 thanks man that's exactly the info I was looking for. So two passenger side axles from a Ranger will work in the mustang housing and my 28 spline posi unit. Any particular years of Ranger?

As far as the ring and pinion from an Explorer, can you use the gears (3.73) on a mustang carrier? I know that doesn't have anything to do with the spline count.

[67MercCat]

@zbhover nice build man, I love the pics, I think that it might be more a a benefit to just go with an explorer rear end since it has the higher spline count better gears & disc brakes. I heard that some of the explorers and aerostars came with aluminum driveshafts too. I'm gonna be running about 400hp at the wheels so I'm sketchy about how it will hold up.

I've read that the mustang rears are not strong enough for that type of power. which is why I'm considering the Explorer now and ditching the Mustang rear...

[zbhover]

Thanks 67merccat

I've herd lots of good things about explorer rear ends from v8 s10 people, ranger people, and jeep people, it should be plunty for what I'll be doing. Right now I just have a stock 350, but will probably build something around 350hp eventually....... That is if I don't start another project before that......... LOL


I'd just check to make sure the explorer rear end isn't too wide for your mustang though......... Maybe swapping out the long axle tube and axle on the drivers side for the shorter pass. side from another rear end would be enough to make the width correct for you??????


Good luck with your project!

[matt167]

Originally Posted by 67MercCat

@ matt167 thanks man that's exactly the info I was looking for. So two passenger side axles from a Ranger will work in the mustang housing and my 28 spline posi unit. Any particular years of Ranger?

As far as the ring and pinion from an Explorer, can you use the gears (3.73) on a mustang carrier? I know that doesn't have anything to do with the spline count.

ring and pinion will swap.. I just looked it back up. '83-'92' Ranger or Bronco II driver side axle ( had it backwards ) or a '86-'97 Aerostar and use the passanger side axles. There the same axle shaft

[67MercCat]

ahh okay I wrote all this info down in my research book. I wouldn't mind making a couple ready to bolt it rear ends for classic mustangs and cougars since they're so readily available and selling the bolt in kit. They work great with the T5/AOD and the driveshafts are in abundance too (unless the pick a part forklifts destroy them) from what I understand, the 95+ ford explorer driveshaft requires no shortening when installing the T5/AOD swap with an 8.8

[TroyBoy]

You can also get these parts from the 97 and up Mercury Mountaineers.I'm driving one,lol.

[67MercCat]

ah yes the almighty Mountaineers! I totally forgot about them and they always come with GT40P heads and a GT40 upper and lower intakes too.

[TroyBoy]

Originally Posted by 67MercCat

ah yes the almighty Mountaineers! I totally forgot about them and they always come with GT40P heads and a GT40 upper and lower intakes too.

Yep,lol.