Ford 9" rear in a fox body

[roush08]

I have friends who are circle track racers and I hear often about how strong and easy to work with the Ford 9" rear end is. I've looked into it and there are companies that make 9" rears with the correct brackets to fit under a fox body ( Moser and Strange both come to mind but I'm pretty sure there were a couple others ). My question is - if it's such a good rear end, why don't I see it done much with foxes ? Is it the expense that is more of a deterrent or is it that the 9" rear is not that much stronger than a nicely built 8.8 rear ?

[StreetLethal]

We have put over 1,000 horse thru an 8.8. When properly built they can take some serious power.

[biminiLX]

8.8 is lighter and more efficient and has been in the 7s when built for about the same price as a 9".
The 9" with an Aluminum centersection is the same weight, advantages are easier gear swaps, more parts available, can be built stronger for extreme use.
You answered your own question basically, most Mustangs already have an 8.8 and it can be built up for about the same price.
-J

[Martin0660]

I was at a point that if I broke one more 8.8 I was going to a 9". I got the right combo of parts now that it seems to hold up well enough. As was said, doing the conversion is what really kept me from doing it. I build a 8.8 with everythig that could be done to one for about what the 9" housing costs (Fab 9) or for what a good 9" chunk goes for (Aluminum carrier, differential, gears, etc).

[PaceFever79]

A chassis builder told me because the 9" has a larger diameter center section than the
8.8, the upper control arms have to be slightly relocated and that can negatively effect
the suspension geometry or articulation. It's probably not an issue with a drag race car
but could be an issue with a dual purpose street / strip car.

[biminiLX]

A chassis builder told me because the 9" has a larger diameter center section than the
8.8, the upper control arms have to be slightly relocated and that can negatively effect
the suspension geometry or articulation. It's probably not an issue with a drag race car
but could be an issue with a dual purpose street / strip car.
This is true, but some designs like the Team Z Strange 9" housing have mounting points modified to keep the Fox suspension geometry.
-J