I apologize in advance if this question has been asked before but I tried looking for any previous threads with no luck. I recently got a Ford 8.8 rear end for my V8 MGB and am curious to know how much it should be shortened. I understand that there is not a "one size fits all" but I imagine I can get close enough. I'm just trying to get some general numbers before I start cutting or welding anything. TIA!
Jack
Do a search on mgexperience site for shortening a 7.5 Ford Ranger rear axle if 28 splines. There is a thread on here for narrowing the Explorer 8.8 31 spline. Stock rear axle is about 52" wide flange to flange. Wirewheel axle is about 50.5".
http://forum.britishv8.org/read.php?3,23840
When I had my 8.8 narrowed by Moser, the plan was to duplicate the width of the std MG axle - here's the final paperwork for it.
Ford8.8axlespec2.jpg
Thought you were on the metric system Graham. :)
Your OEM measured 51" flange to flange without brake drums? I have always considered it to be a just a bit under 52". I have seen it listed as 51", 51.5", & 51.75". Someday, I will measure mine.
https://www.mgexp.com/forum/mg-engine-swaps-forum.40/flange-to-flange-length-of-mgb-axle.1603499/
Graham,
Your brake space is 3.3"? Thought Ford 8.8 was only 2.5".
Mike, maybe some confusion here,....the 51" dimension is over the axle shaft flanges - the 44.4" dim'n is across the housing. The E & F dim'ns show a 1/4" diff offset to the lhs.
Been a LONG Time since we did my Mustang 8.8 at Moser Eng, , but we took a MGB steel wheel dif. with hubs & w/o the drums; they measured it and suggested we center the dif. and have equal length axles that we could interchange. If doing over ,we would off set the dif. 1" to left to get the driveshaft near the center of tunnel.. Had to be creative to clear the drive shaft since it was nearer right side of tunnel. Since these were custom axles, there would be no cost saving or additional cost for off set. Using the Ford Focus 16" wheel required a 1" spacer on all 4 wheels. Long time since 2003. :-). Probably 51 3/4" + or -.