5.0 Mustang vs. Explorer Axles

[XLT_66]

I have a friend who has the trailer package on his explorer like me. It is a 3.73 LS Diff. That is all i know. I have another friend who has a rearend out of a 92-93 Mustang 5.0 Hatch taht has 4.10s in it. Both are 8.8s.

Can you just swap out axles from the Mustang to the Explorer and vise versa? Is the Explorer a 31-spline axle? What is the mustang? Any help on this swap would be appreciated. The mustang guy is willing to do it for free if it works because he wants 3.73s and the Explorer guy wants 4.10s like me. It is also a lot cheaper....free compared to about $400.

Lemme know anything that might help...thanks

 

[Robb]

The Stang is 28 spline

 

[james t]

gears are interchangeable, axles are not. as robb pointed out, the stang axles will be 28 spline. if they just want to swap gears then it will work fine.

 

[Rick]

The mounts aren't the same either. The Mustang is setup for a coil spring and link rear suspension where the Explorer uses a leaf spring setup.

 

[XLT_66]

well, i am sure glad i asked you guys before telling them to go ahead and try to swap it. I knew the gears were interchangeable, but i wasn't sure on the whole rearend. Looks like they will just have to work something else out....

Also, there is something that i am interested in. The mustang has an X-303 cam in it. Can this cam be used on an explorer? I wasn't sure, it sure sounds mean at idle. I could get the x-cam, lifters, valve springs, ect...all which are brand new and only have like 200 miles on them for around $100. Can any of it be used on the Explorer? He also has an Edebrock Performer intake that is ported and polished and all kinds of crap, can that be swapped to an explorer?

 

[james t]

go for it. although, you will have to have a chip to take advantage of that cam. from what i remember, the X303 makes peak hp at 6200 rpms. your X shifts at 5000. basically everything will work, you will just have to get a chip burned.

 

[expo5.0]

you will need some other fuel mods as well, probably a new chip, stronger fuel pump (which one you'll have to figure out later, there are a few options) and i'd do new injectors, but it will work for sure. that is a popular cam for ranger 5.0 swaps, but i don't know if it makes quite as much torque as you will want. either way, for that price i'd just go for it and never worry. (thats about what i did with mine-- and if james would stop telling me i have the wrong cam i would have just forgotten about it)

 

[expo5.0]

scratch the probably before "new chip" in that last post

that and add another useless post for me

 

[expo5.0]

hey, one more post.

James- when are you gonna get one of my billets?

and how is your front bumper coming along?

 

[james t]

havent started on the front yet, but it should all begin here in a week or two. right now im doing alot of measureing and R&D on the front coilovers im about to get.

 

[XLT_66]

James,
Your putting coilovers on the explorer? taht would be cool...hey, i have the apten chip and i get free reburns for life. Are you saying taht with that cam my Explorer would be able to rev to 6200 rpms?

Where would i get a tach that could read 6200 rpms and that would fit the Explorer

 

[james t]

yea, the X303 is a big cam in a 302, the peak torque is at 3200 rpms and peak hp is at 6200. you could use any tack you like.

 

[Nitrous SSC]

an X cam has a ton of lift....you'd have to check your Piston to Valve clarences....

I that would be one crapy cam to have in a Daily driver explorer that needs low end.......the only cam i'd ever run in an Explorer other than stock is an E303 that I did in my stang....i've drivin an X cam'd stang...0-low end...you'd have to get a 3000+rpm stall TQ converter to get moving...