WTB cobra/ thunderbird/ explorer 8.8 IRS pumpkin - possibly axles

[Sunny Z]

I'd like to find an aluminum center section, and possibly axles from above mentioned vehicles. Looking at doing a conversion this winter, and I'd like to have one to play with.

I'll also need the cover off an explorer diff, as it has the mounting capability that I need. I'll probably start looking at salvage yards, but I'd rather buy it from someone who can tell me something about it.

Thanks!

[stangvortech]

I have a 03 cobra irs for 800 with 21k on it. 31 spline. not sure what you are looking to spend.

[Sunny Z]

Not that much lol. Probably going to pick up an Explorer diff if i can.

[Phish]

I think Joe has a complete rear end out of a Mark VIII that he is trying to sell. I am not sure if its the same or not . . . .

[Sunny Z]

Its possible. I'd prefer an aluminum case though, but if its cheap, it could be an option.

[85XR7Project]

Mark VIII and Thunderbird are likely cast and not aluminum and are only 28 spline but I've seen them used on Monster Miatas with LS1's so they must be fairly decent.

[Phish]

Mine is out of a super coupe... i know its 28 and cast.

[sparkles]

Joe's is cast. I think he kinda wants a lot for it too last I asked. I can ask him tomorrow when I call him to set up doing my swing out kit.

[AutoMods]

are the aluminum ones strong enough? my solid rear came from a thunderbird turbo coupe , 1988 maybe. had 3.55 gears which is what i wanted. spend the extra money and get a clean one.. mine was sitting for like 7 years and it was nasty inside, the gears were borderline with some mild pitting but i decided to use them anyway.

how much power can that irs setups hold reliably ?

[8204Cobra]

I have an aluminum one from mark 8 i parted,its 28 spline, and I have a 31 spline 8.8 center section laying around.... make an offer

BEN

[Sunny Z]

Sent you a PM

Still on the search for one of these. Also, I need to either find one from an explorer, or I might just buy the cover...... I think there's one in iowa city / CR for around $300. anyone coming this direction soon and want to make a trip to the scrap yard? :)

[85XR7Project]

im pretty sure the rear diff on Exploders were always a SRA not an IRS. aim for an MN12 diff out of a Tbird, Cougar or Mark VIII.

[Sunny Z]

im pretty sure the rear diff on Exploders were always a SRA not an IRS. aim for an MN12 diff out of a Tbird, Cougar or Mark VIII.

Respectfully, you're wrong.

The 02+ to at least 07 had IRS - at least as an option. I know because I bought a cover off an 07 for mock up today, and also, its the cover that all the RX7 guys use to mount it, along with S2000, miata, etc

[Sleeping]

I have a 03 cobra irs for 800 with 21k on it. 31 spline. not sure what you are looking to spend.

Take it the whole setup? If so thats not a bad deal. I think I paid $600 For just the diff and $275 for the inner cv joints.

[86svo9L]

I am going to concur on the Explorer rear end. My 02 had an IRS.

[stangvortech]

Take it the whole setup? If so thats not a bad deal. I think I paid $600 For just the diff and $275 for the inner cv joints.

yea, that is everything it is a great deal after you part it out you wont have that much in it. john

[85XR7Project]

I am going to concur on the Explorer rear end. My 02 had an IRS.

well shit, i learned something today.

[slow ride]

Ford switched to IRS in the exploder after the big firestone tire/rollover fiasco back in the day.

[AutoMods]

well shit, i learned something today.

you just lost some major ford credibility points . its going to take many good posts for you to make up for this mistake. i'm very dissapointed

[Sunny Z]

Well anyone from the Iowa City area going to be headed to Des moines anytime soon? I think i found the diff I want to buy.

Does anyone know much about the LSD's that were put in the explorers? I'm looking at a 3.70 LSD fwiw..

[Sunny Z]

yea, that is everything it is a great deal after you part it out you wont have that much in it. john

Oh, Ok.

I really only need the diff, as the input stubs will be supplied by the driveshaft shop, and then mated to the axles that I already had built. Other than that, I plan to fab up the mounts, and keep the rest of my IRS the same... for now. I suppose its only a matter of time until even the billet parts start to break, as they truthfully just arent as big as they should be.... but they're as big as they CAN be without changing to an entirely different strut tube assembly.

[85XR7Project]

you just lost some major ford credibility points . its going to take many good posts for you to make up for this mistake. i'm very dissapointed

Lol, I had a feeling someone would bust my balls about that.

[90blkbrd]

I believe Mark VIII are all aluminum cases.

If your going IRS you will need a pumpkin out of a IRS car as it is different than a solid axle cars. It has a ring groove for the c-clips on the half shafts.

In the Super Coupe world Aluminum pumpkins can take as much punishment as their cast counterpart. They both fail when they are subjected to wheel hop.

All SC/Cougar/Mark VIII 8.8's are 28 spline. Only a couple of years of the Cobra IRS are 28 spline. I believe they went 31 in 2003.

[90blkbrd]

8.8's
All SC and Cougar's 5-speeds came with Trac-loc and 2.73's.
All SC auto's from 89-93 came with Trac-loc and 3.27's.
All SC auto's from 94-95 came with an open differential and 3.31's.
Some Cougar XR7's (supercharged ones) came with Track-lock and 3.08 and 3.27's.

[Sunny Z]

If your going IRS you will need a pumpkin out of a IRS car as it is different than a solid axle cars.

I'm glad we got that on the table.






8.8's
All SC and Cougar's 5-speeds came with Trac-loc and 2.73's.
All SC auto's from 89-93 came with Trac-loc and 3.27's.
All SC auto's from 94-95 came with an open differential and 3.31's.
Some Cougar XR7's (supercharged ones) came with Track-lock and 3.08 and 3.27's.

Some of the above mentioned came with 3.07's, and 3.55's and 3.73's as well.... from my research. Kinda random. They were all however 28 spline.

[90blkbrd]

I'm glad we got that on the table.







Some of the above mentioned came with 3.07's, and 3.55's and 3.73's as well.... from my research. Kinda random. They were all however 28 spline.


Sorry, I posted before reading page 2 and 3 of the thread.

No Thunderbird SC came with 3.07(3.08), 3.55, or 3.73. I guess the Canadian or Mexican version might have...but I doubt your looking in junk yards that would have one of these anyhow.
Some V8 thunderbirds came with the 3.08 gears such as my old 1992 Thunderbird Sport.

I do know of a Mark VIII aluminum pumpkin that the owner might part with for the right price. It is in the DSM metro. I sold it to him.

[Sunny Z]

Sorry, I posted before reading page 2 and 3 of the thread.

No Thunderbird SC came with 3.07(3.08), 3.55, or 3.73. I guess the Canadian or Mexican version might have...but I doubt your looking in junk yards that would have one of these anyhow.
Some V8 thunderbirds came with the 3.08 gears such as my old 1992 Thunderbird Sport.

I do know of a Mark VIII aluminum pumpkin that the owner might part with for the right price. It is in the DSM metro. I sold it to him.


He must not want to get rid of it very bad, because I asked him for a ratio, and if it was LSD or open, and he hasnt gotten that to me (if we're talking about the same person).. OH well, I guess I'll buy from a scrap yard. I really need the 3.55 or 3.73 anyway, and I want 31 spline stuff.

[90blkbrd]

I'm taking about an empty aluminum pumpkin that my buddy has that isn't on this board. If I remember correctly they are 16 lbs lighter than cast iron.

If you are wanting to find something that specific. you'll probably need to visit www.tccoa.com or www.sccoa.com. Had I know you were looking I might have been able to have picked it up this weekend. I was in Kentucky at the national SC/XR7 shootout.

[stangvortech]

my 03 cobra irs is 3.55 with 31 spline and is alumium with 21k on it for all the guys pm'n me.

[Sunny Z]

BUMP!

Still looking for something. Must be 31 spline, and preferably 3.55...