Slap a Mugen sticker on it and sell it for 3k.

 

awesome

 

Hmm, Pretty cool!

 

any updates?

 

Finally have some updates.. got tied up getting the new motor put together

I ended up finding by accident that the ford explorer version of the 8.8 irs rear end uses a different cover that makes it MUCH easier to mount in the car.. here are pics with a mostly finsihed main rear mounting bracket. I still have 2 holes to drill and some trimming to do, but it bolts in the car and the stock drive shaft bolts up. Axles will be here this week from DSS.

The axles are within about 1/4 inch of being exactly the same. I didnt get a pic of the front mount. It is just a simple L bracket that goes from the stock bushings to the big bushings on the front of the diff. Its not very substantial, but with the explorer rear cover the cover can carry 100% of the load, where as with the t-bird/cobra cover the front mounts of the diff carry the load.







This is a pic of just the explorer diff cover.

 

Nice find! Thanks for the update!

 

Really interesting. So what's the total damage on this custom diff? I bet the axles were a bit steep.

 

Since they were able to use the oem ford inner joints the axles were a bit less than regular 2.9's..

regular 2.9 axles run $1000bux

By the time its all said and done i'll have about $1000 in the rear end.

here's my break down

ford tbird rear diff w/axles from junk yard $55
richmond 4:3 ring and pinion used $80
used rebuilt OEM trac-loc LSD $110
shim/seal kit $40
Misc supplies (metal, bolts, etc) $60
Axles $700
Machine shop/welding labor $50

 

What's under the hood that required such reinforcement?

 

It's the flywheel, clutch, foot, tires, and pavement that make the reinforcement necessary.