7.5 Rear End Girdle

[toaster]

Anybody have an opinion about the TA Performance rear end girdles? Especially TA 1805. And will it fit a 1979 Ford Mustang Cobra rear end? I figure all 7.5 rear ends are probably the same but just to check.

[NX86GT]

Put an 8.8 in it. That is only a bandaid for a VERY weak rearend.

[richpet]

Put an 8.8 in it. That is only a bandaid for a VERY weak rearend.

I agree with ^. The cost of a used 8.8 is probably close to the same as the 7.5 girdle, but you gain so much more. I paid less than $200 for my 8.8. I had to drive to Portland to get it (100 miles is all) but it came from an '89 automatic (less wear normally because the auto is not as hard on the rear end, and 3.27 gears). Though because my block is very far from stock, I put a rear end girdle on it (the 8..
It's not a hard swap. I only needed an extra set of hands for installation, and that was for less than 1/2 an hour. Otherwise a solo in the garage on blocks deal.

[Red84GT]

i've read of some people going mid 11's with a 7.5 rear on slicks

[toaster]

I heard 7.5 can usually handle moderate builds. I am hoping to get an FRPP 302 after the New Year bolted up to a c4 rebuilt with the TCI kit and TCI Breakaway torque converter. I am worried that the rear end may not be enough to handle the new power. We do not use the car at the strip but may get on it occasionally. The original 7.5 has a 2.73:1 ratio and worried about high rpm and lower mpg with the 3 speed and a high rear end gear if we switch in a 8.8.

[Red84GT]

actually a guy on deadhorse has went mid 11's with his stock 7.5 rear on slicks, havent broke it yet, i wont even run slicks probly, but maybe some drag radials now and then

[FoxChassis]

I blew up my '83 GT's original 7.5"/3.08:1 rear behind a carbureted 306, with the factory heads, intake, carb, transmission, etc. Only the exhaust was upgraded. I figured on the horsepower to be close to 200. No slicks. No drag radials. No drag racing. And the rest of the car had only 69,000 miles on it.

What happens when it does blow up, and then the rear end locks up when you're going 70 MPH on the highway? Not saying that is going to happen that way, but what if it does? Is it honestly worth taking a chance because so-and-so runs 11s on slicks or drag radials?

There is a probably a good reason Ford themselves saw fit to put an 8.8" rear in a 200 HP and 285 ft-lb of torque Mustang back in '86.

[slow84lx]

I'm in agreement with Fox. The rearend on my '84 5..0 has 260,000 miles on it...but, it has never been abused because i know that it won't take it. There is an 8.8 waiting to go in it.

There should be no gas mileage difference between the 2 different rearends if the gears are the same.

[Mike Croke]

A girdle for a 7.5 is the epitome of lipstick on a pig.

[slow84lx]

A girdle for a 7.5 is the epitome of lipstick on a pig.

well put!

[richpet]

A 7.5 might live behind significant power, and one did. Why take the chance? Most will not survive that treatment for long.