Possible???...rear end swap help

[Mustangirlgt]

Hi all,

Looking for some help here. I have a 87 mustang convertible that was converted to 5 lug big brakes all around. Turns out the ride has seen better days and now choose to part it out.

I also have a 2003 gt convertible and recently discovered that the rear end could use a rebuild. The fox rear end was rebuilt but never got to put many km on it. What I am getting at is can I swap the rear from the fox into the 03?. Both are 8.8. I know the fox is like .75 shorter. Just want to know is this could possible work. I run a 10" rim on the rear of my 03.

Any advice would be appreciated as this is time sensitive.

Thanking everyone in advance :).

[Ponyryd]

Housings are close, but yes the fox is narrower, axle shafts are also different, but could be made up for with different wheels or spacers, but the problem is your 03 has abs, fox does not.

[RedSN]

Did this when I got my 94. I swapped the entire rear end from my 90 into the 94 and just used the 94 axles.

[Ponyryd]

Yes but I’m quite sure the ‘99+uses a wider housing, so even with the proper axles the bearing locations will be off.
Also what did you do with your abs Don?

[RedSN]

The rings remained on the axles, and the sensors remained on the brake mounting plates.

I thought all the SN95’s had the same rear axle setup?

[fast Ed]

99-04 are another 3/4" wider than 94-98. 94-98 used the same width housing as Fox, the later ones are wider. So the 03 has 1-1/2" more axle length per side than the Fox. On Fox type axles you'll have nowhere for the ABS rings to go.


cheers
Ed

[Slick_89_Hatch]

Looks like you're better off to swap all the guts from one to the other aside from the axles.

[ZR]

Exactly that.

[stangstevers]

+1 on swapping the guts, much easier job, less PITA.

[RedSN]

99-04 are another 3/4" wider than 94-98.
Good to know. LOL, the 94-98 wheel wells looked like they would have been better with the 99-04 axles.

[Mustangirlgt]

Thanks for all the great information guys. I think I will save the headache and just try to sell the fox rear end. Do you guys know any shops in the Guelph area to have my 03 rear rebuilt?.