[Rory McNeil]

I ran a 8.8 in my 85 Mustang, both in Stock (M/S stick), with both 4.88 and 5.14 ratios, my car had to weigh 3085 min. in M, and 3185 in N, and usually dumped the clutch at 6000-6400 RPM. As you mentioned, there are no "Pro" gears available for the 8.8, so I ran "Street" gears. With the 4.88s, I never had any issues with gear breakage, but with 5.14s, I broke 2 ring and pinions, due I imagine, to a lower tooth count on the pinion. I found housing bending, to be more of an issue than gear life, I had the housing cast center, welded to the axle tubes, and added braces from the housing end area, to the cast center. For a while, I ran a 331 cube SB Ford bracket engine in the car, with the 4 speed Jerico, and it ran 10.2-3s, and mid 1.3 60 foot times, and I still never hurt the 4.88s.