Swapping a new edge rear end in a 1994

[Alex_the_trex]

Hey guys, I want to swap my rear end (1994 v6) for a 8.8. I can find a bunch of used on marketplace but they're mostly new edge ones. From what I gathered it is a direct swap except that the 99+ rear ends are 1.5" wider.
Would this cause any issues? Is it still possible to swap it in or would it cause problems down the line?

Thank you guys, I just want to make sure I get the right one !

 

[lwarrior1016]

You can swap it in there without issue. The only thing to keep in mind is your wheel choice. You will have to keep an eye on backspace and width.

 

[shovel]

You need the lower control arms from the donor New Edge (or aftermarket arms made for a New Edge). And you'll need to correct your speedo for the gear ratio, your 94 would probably have 2.73 or 3.08 gears and other than Mach 1's all new edge solid axles were 3.27 so that's a 20% ratio change from 2.73 or a 6% change from 3.08 . If your car is manual trans the new speedo gear is around 20 bucks and takes 10 minutes to install, I suspect the same is true for auto but I don't know it for certain.

If you want to you can also get a set of quad shock brackets & quad shocks since the new axle will have tabs for those. Optional not necessary.

Everything else just goes together like it was meant to be.

Here's how the wheel fitment looks on my recently sold 96 V6 with a 2003 new edge 8.8 and stock cobra 17's (car on the left)

 

[Alex_the_trex]

You can swap it in there without issue. The only thing to keep in mind is your wheel choice. You will have to keep an eye on backspace and width.

Alright perfect thanks, I'll prob go for the 1999 starfish wheels. I'll check how much clearance I have in the wheel wells.

 

[Alex_the_trex]

You need the lower control arms from the donor New Edge (or aftermarket arms made for a New Edge). And you'll need to correct your speedo for the gear ratio, your 94 would probably have 2.73 or 3.08 gears and other than Mach 1's all new edge solid axles were 3.27 so that's a 20% ratio change from 2.73 or a 6% change from 3.08 . If your car is manual trans the new speedo gear is around 20 bucks and takes 10 minutes to install, I suspect the same is true for auto but I don't know it for certain.

If you want to you can also get a set of quad shock brackets & quad shocks since the new axle will have tabs for those. Optional not necessary.

Everything else just goes together like it was meant to be.

Here's how the wheel fitment looks on my recently sold 96 V6 with a 2003 new edge 8.8 and stock cobra 17's (car on the left)
View attachment 38276

Thanks for all the info. I was actually watching your youtube vid on the magnaflow exhaust (found one for cheap on marketplace) as I'm typing this haha.

 

[lwarrior1016]

Alright perfect thanks, I'll prob go for the 1999 starfish wheels. I'll check how much clearance I have in the wheel wells.

With stock wheels, you’ll have no problems at all.

@shovel isn’t the lower control arm difference only on the body side? The new edge got 14mm front bolts and the sn has 12mm I think. The axle side should be the same. If you put new edge control arms on the sn, the bolt hole will be too big and will beat around on the smaller bolt.

 

[95opal]

The lower control arms used 14mm bolts in 99-04 instead of the 12mm bolts that were used from 79-98.

You have two options
Drill out the holes on axle for the bigger bolts if you use the stock controls arms, or aftermarket arms with poly bushings

If you have aftermarket arms with a solid bushing, you can get the correct inner sleeve for the axle side and use the 14mm body side, and 12mm on the axle

 

[Mustang5L5]

Brake lines are also different.

1994 would have the lines mounts on the axle, while 99+ have the lines mounted on the body with longer soft lines to the calipers.

So if you swap the axle you'll need to move your 1994 brake lines over, and possibly make some tweaks, or add some lines, to make up for the 0.75" of added width each side. I don't know if there are any extra bends that you can straighten to make up for the distance.

 

[shovel]

When I put a 03 GT axle in my 96 V6 I had bought aftermarket control arms that came with sleeves suited to both applications and the axle side ones were definitely larger. I don't remember about the frame side but I'm certain about the axle side.

I did not have to change anything about the brakes. This was on a V6 without ABS, I don't know if ABS changes anything.

 

[Mustang5L5]

The issue regarding the brake lines is specific to 1994-1995.

1996-later got different brake line configuration and it’s not an issue.