Rear end Troubles

I have just bought an '81 5.0 and i was wondering if it would be worth it to try to put a nine inch rear end or leave it with the 8.8 rear end? I was also wondering if anyone wouldn't mind helping me out with some combos for it, it has a 302 in it. Should i supercharge it? Ram Air?...?

id leave the rear alone till you need to upgrade it, if its an 81' id rebuild engine before supercharging it or doing anything to put more stress on the engine

The engine is actually new, Its got about 30-32K miles on it. I don't want to supercharge it really, just want a really built motor. And was just wanting some opinions on some combos, please help.

81 Stangs did not come with 8.8" rear-ends. So unless you or someone else changed it you don't have an 8.8".

If you do have a 8.8" there is no need to spend the money on a 9" cause a built 8.8" is commonly seen on big HP cars. The only big advantage of the 9" is that the whole 3rd member can be pulled out making gear/diff swaps much easier.

81 Stangs did not come with 8.8" rear-ends. So unless you or someone else changed it you don't have an 8.8".

If you do have a 8.8" there is no need to spend the money on a 9" cause a built 8.8" is commonly seen on big HP cars. The only big advantage of the 9" is that the whole 3rd member can be pulled out making gear/diff swaps much easier.


That about sums it up.......

I know, unfortunately it was in a wreck and the axle was replaced.

I know, unfortunately it was in a wreck and the axle was replaced.
Axles or whole rearend?

The whole rear end. I just bought the car and am still learning things about it. I hardly know anything about the 'fox' mustangs, so i'm sorry if i sound like i don't know what i'm talkin about cuz on most of this stuff i don't. The guy i bought it from told me that he ran into a ditch hit something and had to replace the entire rear end, and said he replaced it with an 8.8". It sounded kinda odd, but i only know how to tell if its a 9" rear end or not. What did the '81's come with stock?

Does anybody know anything about '81s? I've been tryin to research them and all i can find is how shitty they are. One particular thing is that in '81 they had 255's and not 302's, but i know mine has a 302 in it. This car seems to be a frankenstein car. So if anybody knows anything about '81s please let me know....Pro's/Con's? anything!

Does anybody know anything about '81s? I've been tryin to research them and all i can find is how shitty they are. One Pro's/Con's? anything!

Ive got an 82. Does that help at all? We both have 7.5" rear ends stock and since urs is an 8.8" u should keep it that way and upgrade. A pro is that they arent very common. A con is that the engines sucked, the cars have no parts 4 them and every replacement part is expensive!

Does anybody know anything about '81s? I've been tryin to research them and all i can find is how shitty they are. One particular thing is that in '81 they had 255's and not 302's, but i know mine has a 302 in it. This car seems to be a frankenstein car. So if anybody knows anything about '81s please let me know....Pro's/Con's? anything!
Tell me what you want to know, I'll post whatever you want.

The 8.8" is great, leave it. What year engine? What cam - roller or flat? Any mods at all to it? What trans? What is your goal? What rear gear ratio? And finally, what's the budget?

The 8.8" is great, leave it. What year engine? What cam - roller or flat? Any mods at all to it? What trans? What is your goal? What rear gear ratio? And finally, what's the budget?
Holy questions Batman!!!! :eek:

I came to found out that my rear end is a 7.5". I went to the guy to answer some of the questions i was having and I asked him about the rear end. I asked him 'So you put an 8.8" rear end in it'. Then he told me 'Yea, the stock rear end'. I later found out that he thought the stock rear end was an 8.8" and thats why he told me thats what it had. So should i go through the trouble of getting rid of the 7.5"?

The motor came out of an '85. The cam and lifters are bad so I have to replace them. No mods to it, but i want to put a 'Weiand Stealth' intake w/ a 650-700 edelbrock carb. I also want to put 3.73 gears in it; it has 3.50 right now. But all this is what i want to do, if any thing better ya'll can think of please let me know.

Sorry guys, it was an '82 motor not '85. **hit the wrong button**

I came to found out that my rear end is a 7.5". I went to the guy to answer some of the questions i was having and I asked him about the rear end. I asked him 'So you put an 8.8" rear end in it'. Then he told me 'Yea, the stock rear end'. I later found out that he thought the stock rear end was an 8.8" and thats why he told me thats what it had. So should i go through the trouble of getting rid of the 7.5"?

Hell ya, I would. I am actually. More strength, less flex, u can buy stronger axles 4 it and u can race that bitch.

So since I'm gonna replace the rear axle should i go with the 8.8" or the 9"? How much should i expect to pay for those?
I plan on setting this car up for street course racing.

8.8" will be fine. If you plan to run slicks you should consider getting 5-lug axles and rims. Possibly 31 splines also. What trans. will you run? What's the budget and goal?

I'm not running slicks. I plan on putting 4-lug 17"x10" Cobra R wheels. What rubber would you guys suggest. I also want to convert the auto to a Tremec 5spd. Any suggestions?
Please keep in mind that this car will be a road course car.