When I bought my car as a project car the guy I bought it from was selling a narrowed ford 9 inch which in hind sight I should have snagged. Anyhow I want to build a lsd rearend for my GLC. I was thinking a ford 8.8 because I am familiar with them and wanted to go with a mustang 5 lug bolt pattern. I have never had a rear end narrowed so I am curious what is the best way to go about it. Should I buy a junk yard 8.8 gut it and take it to a machine shop to be cut to length and weld the brackets where I need them? Then order axles in the length I want? Better (read cheaper) way? Better rear end? Right now I have a celica differential in there with welded spider gears so basically a spool and want something more street friendly. Thoughts? Thanks

 

Most people either run the 9" or 8.8. I would get a 9" because you can then swap out third members for quick gear changes. You are going to have to decide the length you want and then send it out to get shortened and have the mounts welded on. It is a pretty big task to take on your own if you have never done it before. Also, alot of guys say the 8.8 is lighter but I talked to Currie enterprises and they told me that the 8.8 is actually close to the same or even heavier than the 9"