Several list members asked for information when I got around to doing the 8.8
axle swap on the "R", so here goes with a group response......
Stock Roadster axle, at least on my '66 was 48-1/4" drum to drum - wheel
mounting surfaces ( actually 48-3/8" but i figured 1/16" inboard per side was
moot)
Stock '93 Mustang GT 8.8 59-1/4" drum to drum.
Cut off all Mustang mounting brackets with torches then grinder - or just with
grinder if you've got the time and no torches....
Have axle shop shorten 8.8 housing 5-1/2" per side, and weld on new spring
perches - 34-7/8" central. With the pinion centerline horizontal ( face of
pinion flange vertical), the perches are angled 5 degrees from horizontal
towards the rear, away from the pinion flange.
If you want to re-use the sandwich plates and shock mount, the off-the-shelf
perches ( Moroso, etc.) need to be drilled to accept the boss on the sandwich
plates. U-bolt holes in sandwich plates and shock mount need to be enlarged &
elongated to accept 3" u-bolts using a mill or die-grinder .
I had the shop add a second pair of perches on the top, with a nut, cut with a
shoulder, welded into the underside of the hole to accept stud-mount urethane
bump stops from Energy Suspension. They have a number of different stud-mount
bump stops in different heights and diameters, including some that are stepped
and can be easily cut to desired height - cheap too, on the order of $8-10 per
pair. Figure it'll take some experimenting to find the ones with the right
feel, so having the perch/base be threaded allows for quick change-outs -
then Loctite and jam-nut the winners. I'm going to do the same welded nut
treatment to the front bump stop towers as well.
While the housing was torn down, replaced all the bearings and seals,
clutches, and installed 3.55 gears. For the "R", with the V6 and T-5's gear
ratios, the 3.55's will be quite snappy! Lots of ratio's available for the
8.8 - 3.27, 3.55, 3.73. 3.9, 4.1 & higher....anybody want to buy a gently used
set of 3.27's?
I had Moser Engineering - www.moserengineering.com cut down the axles,
respline, drill with the 4 x 4.5" Datsun pattern, and press in new 7/16-20 x
1.25" studs. $157.00
Total cost for me was about $750, including the used axle - could have saved
some re-using the bearings, and setting up the gears myself, but the guy who
did the housing is really a pro, so I let him do his thing. I'll recoup some
by selling the 3.27 gears on Ebay.
I'll be putting the sketch I did for the axle shop, as well as pics of the
axle, up on the site when time permits, but I've got to finish rebuilding the
T-5, assembling the engine, and doing the R&R on the front suspension &
steering, now that all the machining is done and the parts collected.
Mark Sedlack
OROC
Cuyahoga Falls OH
66 1600 http://home.neo.rr.com/mark2000/images/datsun1600/
77 280Z http://home.neo.rr.com/mark2000/images/datsun1600/Z.htm
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