explorer 8.8 in an a-body: experience needed

I read every classified posted here every day, Fishy I saw that one but I think you are talking about an Aspen rear. I might be able to find a good F body 8 1/4 that cheap but then you still have just as much work or more to get it to fit the A body as if using a 8.8. I KNOW there are a crap load of good explorer rears, right here, no shipping or spending $100 on gas to pick up. I have been looking and waiting for a ready to go 8 1/4 posi with 3.55 gears for a good 5 years now, never has one been posted (here or craigslist) close enough for me to get. I live an hour from Dr Diff so for the longest time I was just going to save and get one of his 8 3/4 setups, but now plan on doing the 8.8.

I had a buddy just call me with a ranger rear last week but he hasn't got back to me on exactly what it is. I think it's not an 8.8 but the smaller one they used, early to mid 90s. Even then the ranger 8.8 is not nearly as strong as the explorer 8.8. different spline count, different axle shaft thickness.

From what I see all the 8.8s weather in a ranger, mustang, or explorer use the same length short side axle and then use a different length long side to get the overall length. The mustang guys always pilfer the short side ranger axles to convert to 5 lug pattern.

I often wonder if those talking about weak 8.8s are talking about explorer 8.8s or if they have a mustang or ranger 8.8.