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This is the Ford 8.8 axle from my MGB GT V8.

It always performed fine. I just want a whole different rear suspension and axle solution now.

This axle was originally installed in a 1992 Ford Mustang GT. As I recall, I purchased the axle in early 1994 from a local junkyard and immediately had its housing professionally narrowed by a local shop (both in Greensboro NC).

Axle shafts were shortened and drilled for half-inch lugs on a 4x4.5" (i.e. stock MGB) pattern by Moser Engineering. (Note: the Mustang's 4x2.25" pattern could alternatively be used, if you want to change lugs.)

Axle shaft length and spring perch placement are symmetrical. Assembled axle width is 52.25", wheel-to-wheel.

I believe the Traction-Lok differential is still in "barely broken in" condition. I never felt any need to rebuild it, or mess with clutches/shims, or try alternate fluid. It doesn't make any weird noises. I wasn't exactly stressing this axle.

This axle comes with Ford drum brakes. At some point (~2010) I swapped-in Ford Ranger wheel cylinders to get a little more rearward bias. I'd advise the new owner to plan on doing a brake rebuild because it's been 10+ years since the last one. Or you could convert to disk brakes. I'm sure kits are available.

As you can see in the final photo, I'm including many usable spare parts for installation of this axle in an MGB. Those might save you a lot of time and money.

Free delivery within Portland Oregon. Or just come and get it! It's a lovely time of year for a visit.

$500, firm.

Best way to contact me is via personal message on this forum.












Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/08/2025 02:04PM by Moderator.

A few more notes:
1) I put the hydraulic brake connection in the same place as stock MGB.
2) axle has a bracket welded to it for a Panhard rod. (Let me know if you want more info about that.)
3) last photo: those aluminum wedges are for adjusting pinion angle to parallel with engine. Whether or not you need/want them depends on how your engine is installed. Other angles are readily available.
4) you can tell from the shock brackets that I welded (grade 8) bolts on for use with telescoping shocks...

Curtis,

Great deal for a bolt-in axle!

Hope you're going to share your new project!

Scott

What does it weigh, Curtis? I will add your numbers to this thread:

[forum.britishv8.org]

Quote:

Hope you're going to share your new project!

Of course! But I'm not quite ready to show those cards yet. As a teaser, I've just posted something about a precursor project here

Quote:

What does it weigh, Curtis?

I prefer to focus on it's excellent (3.27:1) gear ratio and it's delightful Traction-Loc differential. I tried to weigh it, but my electronic freight scale broke. No kidding. But I don't think it broke from being overloaded. Something went wrong with the LCD display. I've ordered a brand new scale, so I'll get a weight when that arrives. And of course I'll weigh my new solution too when it's all together.

Lighter than I expected: 169.6#

That’s complete as pictured in the first two photos above, without u-bolts and other mounting hardware.

Has anybody here broke an 8"ford ?
Art.

I'm pretty sure either size axle is sufficiently robust.

However, Ford hasn't installed an 8-inch in about 39 years. They're not as readily available as they once were.

The 8.8 I'm selling is in excellent condition, it's ready to install in an MGB, and it's a great deal!

Yes, it is! If it were not 2600 miles away, I would be all over it.

Has anyone checked into shipping it? I would think LTL would be less than $500.Old Dominion, R&L, Schneider????

I had a Rover 3.9L engine on a pallet shipped from the D.C area to the loading dock of the company my sister worked for in Johnson City, TN for $100. Thought that was reasonable. Way pre-COVID, though.

The axle is still available and still incredibly bargain priced!

I’m willing to think about putting it on some sort of pallet and dropping it off at an LTL trucking terminal. “Saia” and “Old Dominion” are pretty convenient to me, though I haven’t used either. Buyer would have to work out all the shipping details.

The axle is still available.

If you buy it this weekend, I'll throw in the set of Lokar parking brake cables I used with it.

I can even throw in a driveshaft flange and perfectly good Spicer 1310/1330 conversion u-joint, which might save you even more money. This axle is a great deal! But it’s got to go now. It’s in my way.

That *is* a great deal and somebody really needs to jump on it. Just the posi would cost more than that new.

Also, the drum brakes are a great option. Wider than stock which already do quite well in a conversion and the self actuating characteristic of drum brakes means the handbrake will always be more effective than with a rear disc brake conversion. Folks don't realize it but in this case the older technology is actually better.

Jim

I've just re-measured the axle width (from wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface) with a tape measure and with the axle sitting on dollies as pictured above, and the measurement I'm seeing tonight appears to be 52 7/16". Buyer should probably round that up to 52 1/2" to be prudent. (With wheels actually bolted tightly on, the width might really be 52 1/4" as my notebook says.)

I sketched up a shipping pallet that I can make for $50. In addition to lumber and screws, it uses the two dollies shown in the photo and the axle would be secured down with u-bolts. The pallet's footprint would be 60" x 20", and the total height of axle and pallet would be about 13". My design leaves 2" gap for a pallet jack's fork to slide underneath in the middle. I think that's enough, but a buyer might want to confirm.

I received a question about how well the parking brake on the Ford axle works. When installed on my MGB, it worked fine as a parking brake but wasn't suitable for "emergency brake" stops. It certainly wasn't sufficient to lock-up the tires at speed. However, I'm not sure how much of this issue is attibutable to Ford's design. I DID lengthen my original MG lever arm somewhat to get more cable travel per pull, but I may not have gotten the length or geometry quite right.

I don't know how much longer I'm willing to trip over this thing. I don't have storage space. It's in my way, and one way or another it's got to go soon.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/02/2025 02:49AM by Moderator.