8.8 opinions

[ChaseTruck754]

Good to know. Seeing this makes me think this is what Partybarge scored at the LeDuc meet this year. Makes a lot of sense now. I had never paid attention to much 14b stuff before a few months ago so I have a lot of learning to do!

[Deleted Account]

sterlings are great... but super long if you have an e4od. i would really like to try a super 14.. still long but at least i can tab it for link mounts..

Super 14 would be awesome.... but way farther up there in $$$ and the VSS still needs to be relocated with your kit or done a different way. I figure the Sterling or D60 would be a good "mild" budget rear end that would be very reliable and low on upkeep. Price should be about the same as a 9" with only about 20lb more weight. You wouldn't have to buy a gearset or bearings every year like I do with the 9". How long does a 9" ring and pinion last you Mark?

Brian runs a Sterling with an E4OD, I wonder what travel # he is limited at? If it's really an issue you could drop the rear of the trans an inch or two.

i get 100s of miles out of a 9inch in the race truck.. street and prerunning they are fine. but 1000 bucks for 200 miles sucks. and yes the setup is good. sweptco oil, drag race compound and the last one came from rde..... and they are one of the best. ill give you a mileage update when it dies.

[hobbyturnedobsession]

You guys think an 8.8 / 9spindle hybrid would be good with a bottom truss?

[philofab]

You guys think an 8.8 / 9spindle hybrid would be good with a bottom truss?

It will be great for most people... Some are rougher than others on trucks so what works for one will not work for another. I don't think you will have a problem if you go this route.

[hobbyturnedobsession]

Its 375 for the retube and axles would run me 500. I already have a locker.

[Polarcub]

Randy I have to agree with Philo on this even though I am going a different route...the hybrid offers a stronger unit and addresses the glaring issues for us with the 8.8. If I were to go this route it would be cheaper than the sterling I am going to do but I have my heart set on going FF (probably dont need it)...my current 8.8 has served me well and after the smile was taken away and an upper truss added I think that it will last me many more miles.....I think that it was already mentioned but with a well set up suspension and IMO a set of hydro bumps that for the majority the 8.8 works fine.

[Andy Jones]

Andy, any decisions made yet?

The Van Nuys 4wheel parts has a new Dana 60 centered 9" custom built for a guys 86 Bronco that is loaded with 4.56 and a detroit for $1500(Retail was 2300+) Built by Currie Drum to Drum complete!

No, not yet!.. can't make up my mind.. I'ts gonna be a 9" with a relocate VSS kit from southwest hopefully.

[mesquito_creek]

Just an update on the 8.8/9 Hybrid that I have posted about on a couple of these threads.... Its in its 3rd year now and has about 4 thousand baja miles on it and about 2 thousand highway miles. It has had it first failure, a leaking pinion seal. I have replaced it and will be out on it for the baja 1000 in a few weeks. So far so good on the housing/bracing etc... Also has been beat on pretty hard with some San Felipe Whoop sections.. the shocks fade and I have to back off before anything else has broken in those conditions....

You will recall in some other posts somewhere that I have a newer 2nd 8.8/9 hybrid built the same on a 2wd f150.. It still is fine also but blew up the AOD transmission before we could get any real miles on the rear end, although before the transmission cooked it was running whoops down in San Felipe...

Remember these are pre-runners not race trucks so, but dedicated baja not daily drivers.. we run them hard for short distances but always keep the big picture in mind in terms of keeping it real enough to return home if possible...

[Polarcub]

Nice to hear an update on the hybrid...I think that these offer a nice upgrade for folks.

[cs_drums]

IM not trying to ruffle any feathers but what is the reasoning in hybrid. Why not just got to a 9"? I dont see how it is a more affordable or practical route.

[tcm glx]

IM not trying to ruffle any feathers but what is the reasoning in hybrid. Why not just got to a 9"? I dont see how it is a more affordable or practical route.

I think this is significantly cheaper route than building a new 9" from scratch. For $1k, your set with 9" ends, throw some discs and you eliminate the c clip issue.

A new housing (as you damn well know)..........$400 for housing, a ton of money on tabs, mounts, etc etc etc, VSS, lengthening/shortening the shaft, brakes, etc etc etc

[ChaseTruck754]

Yes cheaper than building one from scratch. But taking a junk yard 9 from a bronco or F-150 isn't as expensive. Add a truss (which you'd HAVE to be doing to keep an 8.8 semi alive) the disks (which you'd be doing on an 8.8 as well) and gears (may have these already in the 8.8 though) and you're left with the VSS issue.

Throwing $1k at a junkyard 9" will go a decent distance too.

[tcm glx]

Yes cheaper than building one from scratch. But taking a junk yard 9 from a bronco or F-150 isn't as expensive. Add a truss (which you'd HAVE to be doing to keep an 8.8 semi alive) the disks (which you'd be doing on an 8.8 as well) and gears (may have these already in the 8.8 though) and you're left with the VSS issue.

Throwing $1k at a junkyard 9" will go a decent distance too.

IF and this is the big IF, you have the ability to tab and set it up yourself..... the moment you have to start paying for any of that, its all downhill!

[tcm glx]

And by the way... this is a key reason why someone should buy the 9" housing up for sale on the boards........ Ridiculously cheap if your going 9"!!!

[ChaseTruck754]

not sure on the whole tab thing. Will play devil's advocate and say you would be paying someone to do the same on an 8.8 so it's a negligible cost.

I mean if you have the 8.8 in your truck already tabbed then that's one deal, but if someone is going into it at the beginning of the build many costs would be similar or the same = tabs, truss, disks, gears. That's whether they're paying someone to do it or doing it themselves.

My point is a 9" out of an earlier FSB will bolt right in. Only cost there is dealing with the VSS, which is cheaper than putting 9" ends on I'd think.

[crisis88]

All these pros and cons are good. Does anyone have real numbers on the cost of the hybrid. And the cost of a 9".

For me personally. I think it would cost me more to build a 9" than have my 8.8 done. But again I don't have any real numbers. Just speculating.

[ChaseTruck754]

Tony posted some #'s and good stuff above. Think he's actually done it but can't remember for sure.

[tcm glx]

Yeah, both really good points here........here is my story. I had an 8.8 and it was tweaked. BUT, it already had good brakes, a posi and was geared. The 8.8 hybriud setup from Currie is like 750-900 depending on the day of the quote, will include everything to basically put your 8.8 right back in with 9" ends. Stock brakes work on this setup. I believe they also weld the tubes, so the spinning tube issue is fixed.

a new 9" from Currie (heavy duty with the big tubes) is $400..... VSS is $300, driveshaft lengthening (mine needed itse have not) and of course you need gears and axles which can be a wash, you would need in both cases. Where I spent a lot extra was the following:

If the axle housing is being built brand new, lets add:
*Oil Fill: $40
*Oil Dran plug $20
*Gotta P Coat $150
*Might as well do brakes, $400 ($800 if you go wilwood)

The list can go on pretty extensively. That said, if building both, at same time from scratch, of course go 9". The 8.8 Hrybid allows you to do it in phases, and still for a slightly cheaper price in my opinion.

Now if you can fab, and weld, etc etc etc, things chage pretty significantly because then it is all elbow grease.

One other thing, junkyard 9"..... gotta check if it is straight, AFTER you do the work and pull it out, and then likely have to go through brakes, etc etc etc.... tons of variables there. Have I rambled enough?

[crisis88]

Tony if you don't mind posting specifics on your 9" and what it cost I'm sure we would all appreciate it. If you don't mind.

I know when I started estimating parts for a 9". I was well over 2000. With gears, rebuild, etc.

I guess my biggest savings doing the 8.8 hybrid. Will be my gears I already have and the VSS I don't have to buy.

[cs_drums]

not sure on the whole tab thing. Will play devil's advocate and say you would be paying someone to do the same on an 8.8 so it's a negligible cost.

I mean if you have the 8.8 in your truck already tabbed then that's one deal, but if someone is going into it at the beginning of the build many costs would be similar or the same = tabs, truss, disks, gears. That's whether they're paying someone to do it or doing it themselves.

My point is a 9" out of an earlier FSB will bolt right in. Only cost there is dealing with the VSS, which is cheaper than putting 9" ends on I'd think.

These were my thoughs exaclty. When you build a rearend its all the same stuff-

Gears
traction aid

maybe better-
brakes
axles
studs

To do the hybrid you spend and additional on putting new ends on and you have to buy new axles. With the 9" you only have to install VSS. I cant imagine the cost of ends and axles is less than a VSS kit.

I think the best advice is to not spend a dime on an 8.8 just get a stocker 9" and go from there.