sweden

Does anyone have experience in the 8.8 rear end or similar that Hawks thirdgen recently started to offer?
http://www.hawksthirdgenparts.com/ha...ustom-lengths/

This is the first company I have seen that says they offer a 8.8 that is a true bolt on.
Are there more companies out there? I have not yet asked Hawks how much it would cost, but maybe someone knows?
I would choose the 31 spline axles option, True Trac Differential and also go with my 93-97LT1 brakes I have already got.
It appears it is designed to use the original torque arm. I'm planning on using a spohn torque arm with t56 transmission mount. I'm hoping the 8.8 torque arm mount clears the transmission tunnel better than the Moser 9" one appear to do? Anyone knows?

I am looking for a stronger replacement rearend for my -89 Camaro.
I recently bought a T56 transmission that will go into the car. I will need to change the gear ratio from the stock 2.73 to something around 3.73 anyway, so I think this is a good oppertunity to buy something that will handle my future engine.
I am planning to get a new 406SHP and use the AFR195 heads I already have together with First Injection. Dont know how much power it will make, but I want the rearend to be capable of handle mostly street driving but occasionally some drag racing with the possibility to use slicks.
What I like with the 8.8 rearend is that it is supposed to be quiet and also have a little bit better effeciency than the Moser 9 inch and also less weight. The question is really if it is strong enough to handle my need?

Gsoleski

I called to ask for a price a few weeks ago and it was around $2700 or $2800 plus shipping

83Z28/L69

You can get a Strange S60 rear for 2350.00 plus shipping.

http://www.strangeengineering.net/ma...dy-mounts.html

Podium

iTrader: (2)

I know hawks is expensive but dang! The major point of an 8.8 is the budget factor IMO. Not very budget (hawks price) if you pay more than a moser 9, 12 or a Dana 60.

badgta

iTrader: (4)

If your going to do a 8.8 you might as well buy a Moser Ford 9" housing/axle kit and buy a third member off Ebay for it and get it done for right at the same price as a less hp capable 8.8 or 12 bolt etc.

A 9" kit from Moser with axles was like 995$ back when I got mine in 2006. I don't know how much they run nowadays but a third member can be got for 1200 or so I think.

If your going to pay that much I recommend a 9" all the way man and they make them to bolt right in to our cars and have the special spacers for the 9 bolt calipers or you can go with the LSX type brakes.

Good luck with the build man!

Adam

Zach/90\irocZ

iTrader: (6)

their are many threads of people building 8.8 for around 1500 ish

from hawks you pay more and its convenience you pay for IE hours and time put in
but all said and done your going to pay a pretty penny most then likly over 3k shipped

keep in mind modifying drive shaft also

benefits from 8.8 is that you have less drive-train loss and lighter weight compares to a 9"

and it will be more then strong enough to handle your needs IMO 9" is abit overkill unless you have huge power or strictly drag racing

sweden

Great, thanks for all the replies!
Pricewise it seems to be in the ballpark what I was guessing.
My budget is around 3 grand.
Unfortunately i dont have the time to build it myself, even If I have been tempted. One need to choose the battles
Like said before the weight is an important factor, I would like to be as close to the stock 185 Ibs as possible. A quiet rearend is also on the wish list as wall as little drive train losses as possible. The 8.8 seems to be a candidate, especially if one go with the 31 splined axles. Is this a correct assumtion?
I dont know what the weight of the complete rearend would be though.
I plan on using the new aluminum Inland Empire drive shaft I already got with 1310 to 1350 conversion U-Joints. In the future I know i might need to replace it with a steel drive shaft.

How well the 8.8 would hold up to a manual Transmission, especially with a stout engine is somewhat of a concern.
I confess that I have no own experience of working with rear ends, and all information I gathered is what I have found searching the forums.

I have read other people recommending to stay away from the 12 bolt due to the risk of getting gear noises, if launching hard with a manual transmission, due to the torque arm mount (distorsion of the housing).

The weight number I have seen for the complete S60 rear end is 225Ibs, which I believe is a little bit heavy for my planned usage of the car. It would probably hold up fine though.

The 9" is also a candidate, it can be ordered with a aluminum gear case to keep the weight down. I saw on currie enterprices site that they also have light weight track 9 housings, developed for circle track. Does anyone know if this track 9 housing would hold up well for some occasional dragracing abuse?
The transmission losses would be more than the 8.8 though.
One thing that I also saw on Curries site was that they don't offer GM LT1 brake option which I would prefer. Maybe other companies do?

big gear head

Have you looked at the Mark Williams 12 bolt? It has a better design than the Moser 12 bolt. Mark Williams makes very good stuff and you wouldn't have to worry about noise or strength. The Hawks 8.8 that you are looking at has a lot of welding done on a stock used rear end housing. It's not a special casting made for the 3rd gen, it's a modified stock, used Ford housing. The Mark Williams housing would be much stronger.

AlkyIROC

Weight of a 9" depends on how much money you want to invest. I can lift my center section in with one hand. A few pounds difference in weight won't be noticeable in a street car. Same with the slight difference in the amount of HP it takes to turn the diff.

Zach/90\irocZ

iTrader: (6)

i agree with you 100%.

More money you put into anything to gain a edge, the more you can extract what you want , but if you can achieve the same for cheaper then why not

comparison between 12 bolt and all other rear ends the drivetrain loss are marginally noticeable like you stated

so big deal breaker is weight and im pretty sure a light weight 9" would be over 3k budget limit

i haven't heard anything bad from people running 8.8 rear ends as some lsx 4th gens run that rear end also , 9" or 8.8 im sure you will be happy no matter which rear end you choose

IMO, I prefer most bang for buck as spending $$$$ is a good investment but for a car that sees street miles majority of the time doesn't seem worth it to me , now if its a full blown or spends most time on the track and trying to gain the edge over the competition then you going to need to invest $$$$ and it will be worth it
\

also to the OP are you planning to run Slicks or just street tires as you know slicks puts alot more stress on drivetrain than street tires

At the end of the day they both far exceed the strength and capabilities of a 10 bolt any day of the week

antman89iroc

Good to know a ball park price. I called and ask but they (Hawks) never got back with me. But in comparison to building my 9 bolt, or upgrading a 10 bolt I think it is in line.

As has been stated, the 9" is the strongest but with the weight and drag penalty. Also, it is a big honkin rear end.

I have been leaning toward the 12 bolts, although I haven't heard of noise issues. My 9 bolt with 3.70 gears makes a little noise but nothing bad. I think the 8.8 would be a great compromise between strength, weight and cost. As far as holding up? Well, let's just say that it's gotta be better than a 9 or 10 bolt behind my 414/5-speed street motor. And nitrous? I don't expect much except that I'll be replacing it at some point.

AlkyIROC

Each diff no matter what kind it is will have it's own advantages and disadvantages.

A few advantages of the 9" is aftermarket availability and cost. Since they are so widely used, parts are very inexpensive compared to other diffs. Buy a posi of your choice. For the 9", every gear ratio will fit on it. There are no "series" like in other diffs so when you decide on a gear ratio change, you won't need to buy a new posi.

As for strength? I'm using Moser 31 spline axles in my 9". That aluminum center section is a Moser bolt through with an aluminum Daytona pinion support and 4.86 gears on an aluminum spool. With the reduced starting line torque of a powerglide, I can still pull the front wheels sky high and have not twisted the axles or splines. I'm estimating between 800-1000 hp to the wheels. If I was running a 3 speed transmission then I would upgrade to 35 spline axles which means a new center section and spool since my center section still uses the small bearings.

There is no real "budget" diff swap for a third gen. If you need something strong enough to handle the increased power from the engine, you should expect to pay at least a minimum of $3000 to completely swap out the diff to anything that's stronger than stock. If you want something exotic and uncommon, the cost of the swap will increase. The more "bolt in" the diff package is, the easier the swap will be and for a third gen, direct swap options are very limited. Changing the rear suspension to remove the torque arm system allows more swap options but the the cost of a new rear suspension adds to the cost of the swap. To back half a car and install a 4-link is around $10,000 if done by a chassis shop.

Zach/90\irocZ

iTrader: (6)

well said !

yea i been looking to upgrade my rear , im probably going to get a 8.8 and do a junk yard rear end build since im going to have a legit garage to work out of now lol most been building them under $2000 and be more than enough for street tire auto car

love your sig by the way , it screams BEAST MODE lol

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

I run the 9" in mine and I like it

antman89iroc

That is a bad *** looking set up!

Night rider327

iTrader: (13)

I'm with this train of thought. That's what I did.

Moser housing package w/ 31 spline axles $1050 shipped
Ebay (Valley Springs Custom differential) Ford iron case third member with motive 3.89 gear set, used nascar take out detroit locker installed $735 shipped.

Just had to drop the third member in place in housing and bolt it up.

Spohn LCA brackets for 9" rear $98.16 shipped
$18.85 Duralast brake shoes, can of brake cleaner
$5.33, 2 3" U clamps for rear sway bar
$17.72, ES poly rear sway bar bushing
$74.58, ARP carrier studs, 4 qt redline 75W90 gear oil
$45.75, 2 Bendix wheel cyl.
$8.50, 2 dorman U joint u bolt kits
$34, 2 brute force U joints to make up the one rear joint I needed
$17.89, ES poly 2-7/8" sway bar end link set

I used drum brakes, backing plates from a 1978 firebird that I had already.

So $2219 for the ford 9" installed under may car. Not just the price for the unit but all the little nickel and dime things to install it with as you can see from above.