Okay, so I obviously have an 8.8” SRA, and since my car is a Track-Pack, I also have the finned aluminum cover. So are you telling me I’m probably going to have trouble with this banging around and making a bunch of noise? Yours is the first report I’ve heard of this, but I don’t want that issue for sure. I can send the order back when it arrives if I need to, but I can’t believe that clearance issues are a common problem. Are they?
You might have clearance issues... Mostly will depend on the cover design used as all these PHB's are designed around the OEM Ford 8.8" stamped steel diff cover using the stock mounts. Most aftermarket diff girdles\covers are also designed to increase the amount of diff fluid volume used thus they will protrude further back somewhat.....this isn't made widely understood\known. But BMR does make a DS Axle PHB Relocation Bracket to extend that side approx 2" rearward to give the needed clearance & to better align the PHB parallel to the rear axle........so BMR definately knows that their PHB designs won't clear all aftermarket diff girdles\covers w\ PHB mounted in the stock mounting brackets....but most folks aren't aware of this so just assume that they'll fit regardless.
I was in this camp as well until I found out differently then did the research afterwards........
I got lucky when I got the BMR Adj PHB but the amount of clearance (1/8") between it & my Ford Racing 8.8" Girdle was too close for my comfort level. The Ford Racing Adj PHB is the only 1 I know of now that is designed w\ the intent to provide adequate clearance for Ford Racing diff girdle\cover usage mounted in the stock PHB brackets. I would assume that would also include Ford's finned diff covers as well since they were used on the FR500 & Boss 302R series race cars.
So when I became aware of the design characteristics\benefits of the Ford Racing Adj PHB around their diff girdles\covers (and it's a Ford built part.....) that was enough for me. All else was extra.
For your situation, the BMR PHB Relocation Bracket is the better value from a total cost standpoint since you've already bought the BMR Adj PHB.......if the costs are a major concern, if you do run into clearance issues.
Now using another brand's 8.8" diff girdle\finned cover w\ the FR unit? Will depend on the design intentions\parameters of the part but if they're patterned after the Ford Racing parts from a dimensions perspective then I would believe they should adequately clear.
Since I've gone this far, might as well put this out there as well......we should also pay attention to the aftermarket rear LCA hole center lengths vs the OEM units when it comes to the PHB to aftermarket diff cover clearance as using rear LCA's that have wider hole centers vs OEM units WILL move the rear axle further back thus close the PHB\diff cover clearance gap....not all aftermarket LCA's have the exact same hole center lengths as the OEM units.....found this out by accident--also w\ BMR LCA's (the BMR ones I had measured 1\4" wider hole centers vs the OEM FoMoCo 07-14 GT500 LCA hole centers I replaced the BMR's with). Now this isn't a lot but this can make\break PHB to aftermarket diff cover fitment as well as throw off DS pinion angle so be aware.
Little differences can add up & create unforeseen fitment issues w\ these S197's due to their compact design parameters.