In 87 and 88 were the rear end ratios in the 3.8l and the 5.0l engines the same? If so what were they?
I was under the impression they are the same, but was just reading a post by another member who says they aren't.
Some had 3.08 gears, some had 2.73. The V6, I believe, had 3.08 as standard equipment, since it needed shorter gears to have decent acceleration. 2.73 was the standard gear in 5.0 models, with 3.08 being optional (mine had 2.73's until I swapped the 3.55 TC rear in). 3.27's were available on the V6 cars as well, but I don't know if they were available in 87-88.
If you've got the original rear you can see what gears you have by looking at the door tag and comparing the rear axle code to the chart on Eric's Coolcats (http://"http://www.coolcats.net/tech/general/axleinfo.html")
The 1988 XR7 had 3.08 gears (locking) as standard with the 8.8" rear end.
The 1987-88 Turbo Coupes had 3.73 (automatic) and 3.55 (manual) gears with their 8.8" rear end.
I'm pretty sure all other base V6 and V8 models had the standard 2.73 open rear end. If one opted for the heavy duty suspension, then you'd get a 3.08 7.5" rear axle...that should have been locking, but may not have been. At some point in the mid-1980's Ford eliminated the towing package (1985-86ish IIRC) and just offered the heavy duty suspension, which was essentially the V8 Sport suspension without the larger battery upgrade, larger alternator, etc.
I'll check my books when I get home.
Thanks Eric. What constitutes a heavy duty supension? I know my parts car has quadra shocks, it was an elderly womens car and then an adult male, so its not like someone added them for handling etc..
the 88 v6 rear i have is a 3.27 trak lok, my 84 and 86 v6 have been 2.73 open as well as my 86 5.0 is a 2.73 open.
My '88 5.0 had the heavy duty suspension (rear sway bar, 10" drums, but no quad shocks) but was a 2.73 open rear. The dearly departed '87 Sport had a 3.08 locking diff, and had quad shocks, but, of course, it was a Sport. When redoing the rear end bearings I installed a set of 3.27 gears into it out of an 85-86 V6 T-Bird, and I think back then somebody told me (Shawn, perhaps?) that 3.27 was the standard rear gear in four-eye V6 'Birds and Cougars.
I don't have the 1983 facts book pages for the rear end gear ratios, but I do have 1984-86 for the U.S. (sorry, no Canadian figures):
1984
3.8 V6 - C5 trans - 2.73* in 49 states + California
5.0 V8 - AOD trans - 3.08* in 49 states, high altitude and California
2.3 I4 - C3 trans - 3.45 Traction-Lok in 49 states, high altitude and California
2.3 I4 - T5 trans - 3.45 Traction-Lok in 49 states, high altitude and California
*Traction-Lok available as an option (order code 45A, not available with TRX wheels and tires).
Suspension, Heavy Duty (order code 662)
Includes heavy duty shock absorbers, rear springs, stabilizer bar. Not available on XR7. Not available with P205/70HR14 BSW tires or 220/55R390 TR-type BSW tires.
Trailer Towing Package, Medium Duty (order code 668)
Designed for 3,500-pound maximum trailer weight and 500-pound maximum tongue weight. Includes heavy duty batter (54-amp/hr), 60-amp alternator, upgraded cooling system, heavy duty suspension, 5.5"x14" heavy duty wheels, automatic transmission auxiliary oil cooler, wiring harness for trailer towing†, power steering auxiliary oil cooler, luxury wheel covers, heavy duty flasher and relays, conventional spare tire. Requires an aftermarket Class II load equalizer hitch, 5.0L engine and automatic overdrive transmission and P205/70R14 WSW or BSW tires.
†This feature is not believed to have made it to production, as I have cancellation papers for it.
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1985
3.8 V6 - C5 trans - 2.73** in 49 states + California
5.0 V8 - AOD trans - 2.73** in 49 states, high altitude and California; 3.08 available in CA with towing package
2.3 I4 - C3 trans - 3.45 Traction-Lok in 49 states, high altitude and California
2.3 I4 - T5 trans - 3.45 Traction-Lok in 49 states, high altitude and California
**Traction-Lok available as an option (order code 45A, late availability with 5.0 engine).
Suspension, Heavy Duty (order code 662)
Includes heavy duty shock absorbers, rear springs, stabilizer bar. Included with medium-duty trailer towing package. Not available on XR7. Requires P215/70R14 WSW tires. Late availability with 5.0 engine.
Trailer Towing Package, Medium Duty (order code 668)
Designed for 3,500-pound maximum trailer weight and 500-pound maximum tongue weight. Includes heavy duty batter (54-amp/hr), upgraded cooling system, heavy duty suspension, 5.5"x14" heavy duty wheels, automatic transmission auxiliary oil cooler, power steering auxiliary oil cooler, conventional spare tire. Requires an aftermarket Class II load equalizer hitch, 5.0L engine and automatic overdrive transmission and P215/70R14 WSW tires. Not available on XR7.
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1986
3.8 V6 - C5 trans - 2.73 in 49 states + California
3.8 V6 - AOD trans - 3.27 in 49 states + California; 3.45 high altitude
5.0 V8 - AOD trans - 2.73*** in 49 states, high altitude and California
2.3 I4 - C3 trans - 3.45 Traction-Lok in 49 states, high altitude and California
2.3 I4 - T5 trans - 3.45 Traction-Lok in 49 states, high altitude and California
***Traction-Lok available as an option (order code 45A, 5.0 engine only).
No heavy-duty suspension or trailer package options were listed in my book for 1986.
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A Traction-Lok equipped XR7 would have had quad shocks. It's possible that Traction-Lok optioned 5.0 and 3.8 cars may have had quad shocks from 1983-86, but reports have been very scarce about them.
I haven't found the 1987-88 spec sheets--as in, I don't have them. They're tough to find.
Of course, these are the official Ford books, but that doesn't mean that they're 100% correct. YMMV.
My 87 had a tow pack on it, 273 no lock on it.
My door tag didn't lie either.
^ same for the 87 20th
What part of the door tag designates the rear end? And does locking mean "posi"?
"Posi" is short for Positraction which is the Chevy term/brand for what Ford calls Traction-Lok (or Trac Lock). Both are limited slip differentials.
The part that says "AX" along the bottom of the sticker. You cna see it in my door tag, posted below. The "AX" is actually worn off, but you can see the code "8" (meaning 2.73 open diff in my car) next to the code TKKDD at the bottom right side of the sticker.
Well it appears the past car had the optional heavy duty suspension, who knows why it was a elderly womens car.
Anyone know if the quad shocks are still availible anywhere?
Are you just going by the letters "HD" on the door tag as shown on mine? That's the interior trim code (HD must mean "Base porno red"), not the suspension code.
I'd imagine quad shocks are available but you'd have to buy 'em for a Mustang.
So then my 85 XR7 has 3.45 Trac-Lok? I was always under the impression that automatic XR7's with the turbo four had 3.73's
Yes, RockAuto.com
KYB part number KG4521 $34.99ea
I've been running these for awhile with no problems.
AFAIK all 87-88 5.0 cars had this. Mind did any every other 5.0 car I've seen had the same set up (except the Sport and XR7).
all my 86's had the 2.73's. My v-6 cars seemed to have higher gears. The motor seemed to have alittle bit higher speed on the freeway and around town. I never had one of the cars with a tach or checked the axel code though, so I guess it really dosen't matter.
I was going by the axel code on my white parts car, lol. I checked it vs the chart on cool cats.
Well i can see the quad shocks. And according to the axle code its has 2.73 gears with the locking rear. I'm excited, lol.
My 88 5.0 Cougar had the 9" drums and no sway bar. It was an oddly optioned thing anyway - power windows, power mirrors, cruise, A/C, but no power locks. The 87 Sport was the first Fox car I'd had with the big drums and sway bar. I remember thinking how odd the smooth drums lookedwhen I first got it. I didn't know they were larger diameter, I thought they were just cheap aftermarket replacements sans fins :mullet:
My turd doesn't have TracLoc. I can't tell you how displeased this made me on first discovery.
My 85 came with the 10" drums,sway bar and a 2.73 open 7.5. I swapped it for a 91 lx 8.8 w 2.73 locking and the bigger sway bar on the down side no more 10 inch brakes. As for the quad shocks the stang had them but i couldnt use them with my air shocks. They would have rubbed a whole in the bags. But thats ok since my summer tires are 295/50/15's =]
That's odd as every 87-88 5.0 base, LX, LS car I've seen has had the set up mine does. Maybe it was a Canada thing? :dunno:
That's a distinct possibility. A/C was optional up here as well.
Out of all the ones I've owned, Ive never had a locker outside of the 8.8 TC rears. V6's Ive seen both 3.08 with the heavy duty suspension package and 2.73 in the base configuration.
Have you had a v8 with the heavy duty suspension? The door tag, according to Eric's coolcats is a locking rear.... It'd be a pain to swap it all over to find out its not.
My 88 Bird has a 3.08 Non-Locking 7.5 differential from the factory. It was originally a V6 car.
My 86 had 10" brakes and a towing package. It basically just had 10" brakes. The sway bar was about the size of a pencil, and was broken when I got the car. I took a hard corner and it fell off one day. It also had an open 2.73 gear.