New Ford 8.8 Billet IRS Covers

eschaider · #1 (**permalink**) 10-11-2018, 04:46 PM

Some number of us use the Ford 8.8 IRS for our cars. Most of the Ford covers for these rear ends tend to be more than a little wimpy. A number of years ago there was a billet cover made for these rear ends by Fore Precision. I managed to get one of the originals for my car at the time. This is what it looks like;

Back View

Inside Cover View

The firm that made these billet covers (Fore Precision) has long since stopped producing them. I have acquired the original Solidworks 3D model for the cover from Fore.

If there is an interest in this type of piece for the 8.8" IRS user community I think we might be able to bring this part back to life. I am currently sourcing bids from CNC shops for the part in anticipation of a potential yes to the question is anyone interested. The cover has ports for oil temp sensors, oil coolers, draining, filling etc. So rather than guessing I am asking, is there any interest.

Say some words ...

Ed

joyridin' · #2 (**permalink**) 10-12-2018, 05:22 AM

I would think you would have much better luck at the FFCars or factory 5 forums if they will let you post without buying ad space on their respective sites.

NRP/MN · #3 (**permalink**) 10-12-2018, 07:17 AM

Nice piece-considering you already have a market of a couple thousand Superformance cars I think your post is in the right spot. Out of curiosity what did they sell for back then? This is the first time I was made aware of them. I might be a player.

Tom Wells · #4 (**permalink**) 10-12-2018, 08:46 AM

Ed,

You are probably aware of this one: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/FMS-M-4033-G3/

I have one behind a 557 with an oil cooler and temperature sender. It works fine on the street and during track days at Daytona.

Tom

NRP/MN · #5 (**permalink**) 10-12-2018, 09:48 AM

Everything I found was cast aluminum and machined, not exactly like a billet piece.

cycleguy55 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-12-2018, 10:03 AM

Critical to proper lubrication of the internal components is the shape of the inside of the cover. This article gets into the topic, and the video shows clearly how the fluid flow is shaped at different speeds by the cover.

https://jalopnik.com/watching-gear-o...tia-1829278489

eschaider · #7 (**permalink**) 10-12-2018, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joyridin'

I would think you would have much better luck at the FFCars or factory 5 forums if they will let you post without buying ad space on their respective sites.

Actually your point is well made Joyridin. I just thought I would start in the Club Cobra space because they are manufacturer agnostic. The 8.8 Ford IRS has become a popular way to implement an IRS on many of the replicas. This will cut across most of the brands fairly evenhandedly.

Ed

eschaider · #8 (**permalink**) 10-12-2018, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NRP/MN

Nice piece-considering you already have a market of a couple thousand Superformance cars I think your post is in the right spot. Out of curiosity what did they sell for back then? This is the first time I was made aware of them. I might be a player.

Similar to some of my thinking also NRP/MN.

Ed

eschaider · #9 (**permalink**) 10-12-2018, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Wells

Ed,

You are probably aware of this one: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/FMS-M-4033-G3/

I have one behind a 557 with an oil cooler and temperature sender. It works fine on the street and during track days at Daytona.

Tom

That was Ford's answer to the broken rear covers problem, Tom. It is a substantial step up from the cast OEM cover and not a bad alternative. It needs but lacks provisions for an oil cooler or temperature sensor and of course it is down a notch or so strength-wise from the billet piece.

How did you implement your oil cooler? Did you take advantage of the undrilled boss for the additional port?

Ed

eschaider · #10 (**permalink**) 10-12-2018, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cycleguy55

Critical to proper lubrication of the internal components is the shape of the inside of the cover. This article gets into the topic, and the video shows clearly how the fluid flow is shaped at different speeds by the cover.

https://jalopnik.com/watching-gear-o...tia-1829278489

Over the years Gale Banks has made some impressive contributions to the performance industry. This is yet another, Brian.

As luck would have it Solidworks has a number of additional capabilities built into it that play well for components we might design for the aftermarket performance consumer. Two of the more obvious are an FEA capability for localizing and identifying design induced component stress levels and another is a fluid dynamics modeling capability the is quite helpful in modeling fluid flows like this.

If you look at the inside of the cover you will notice the roof and floor have been provided generous radii designed to guide the fluid flow up to and along the roof on its way across the top of the differential housing to the pinion. The inside bottom of the cover also has a generous radius to help smoothly draw the lube off the floor of the diff housing.

Gale's work is frequently in areas that the typical enthusiast overlooks. This most recent effort of his was an excellent example of that kind of attention to detail that he brings to the aftermarket performance table.

Ed

Tom Wells · #11 (**permalink**) 10-12-2018, 03:49 PM

Ed,

The tapped holes are already in the Ford Racing cover for an oil cooler. There's one at the very bottom that goes to the pump inlet, and another near the top on the passenger side for the return.

There's a boss at the lower passenger side that I drilled and tapped (1/8" pipe IIRC) for a temp sensor. They must have been having an Hispanic humorous moment, because it's labeled "SENOR," apparently intending to label it "SENSOR."

In addition there are bearing cap preload bolts for the differential bearing caps.

There's a PDF of the Ford installation instructions here: https://performanceparts.ford.com/do...tM-4033-G3.pdf

It mentions the oil cooler port locations and the torque specs.

Here's the Ford link: https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-4033-G3

Just another option; not saying it is the only game in town.

Tom

eschaider · #12 (**permalink**) 10-12-2018, 05:50 PM

I am in complete agreement, Tom. If the Fore cover had not been available I would have purchased the FRPP piece. They are simply very nice.

Ed

p.s. Actually the FRPP cover was not yet available at that time, Tom. If you wanted a stronger cover there were no generally available alternatives for the IRS cars. Fore built the cover to fill that gap.

eschaider · #13 (**permalink**) 10-12-2018, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NRP/MN

Nice piece-considering you already have a market of a couple thousand Superformance cars I think your post is in the right spot. Out of curiosity what did they sell for back then? This is the first time I was made aware of them. I might be a player.

Apologies Mike, Didn't mean to ignore your question. I either paid $600 or $650 for the cover back in the day. I think the ~$650 number was including the tax and freight or something like that. It's been a while

Ed