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Topic: What gears came in a 88 sport 5.0L (Read 2119 times) previous topic - next topic

What gears came in a 88 sport 5.0L

I can't see the tag on the diff. With the aod cruising at 120 km per hour I see 2000 rpm in 4th or OD. My truck with 35" tires and 3:55 rear gears with a E4OD at 120 km per hour does 1800 rpm.
1988 Thunderbird Sport. Work in Progress
5.8L swap w/fitech efi, 4R70W swap w/quick 4 controller, 2003 GT rear diff, 5 Lug swap

Bought this car back as an old project car.

:burnout:


What gears came in a 88 sport 5.0L

Reply #2
Generally, from what I've seen, the Sports usually have a 7.5 rear with traction lock and 2.73's.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

What gears came in a 88 sport 5.0L

Reply #3
I would say you have either 2.73's or 3.08's. That is about the same RPM's as my car at 75mph, somewhere between 1800 or 2000rpm's. I have slightly taller tires then stock, and I am unsure which ratio I have, probably 2.73's, but the car does have the larger 10" drums and a towing package, so I will have to check on of these days.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

What gears came in a 88 sport 5.0L

Reply #4
Quote from: Haystack;327330
I would say you have either 2.73's or 3.08's.


Likely since those are the ONLY two ratios that were available...

 

What gears came in a 88 sport 5.0L

Reply #5
Hey, they could have been swapped at some time down the road. I doubt you 'could tell which gear you have without watching a tach at a certain MPH. I'll just vote 2.73's since I can't be right by saying both.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

What gears came in a 88 sport 5.0L

Reply #6
I did the mark on the driveshaft and mark on the tire. 2 3/4 turn of the driveshaft to one turn of the tire. 2:73. Thanks guys.
1988 Thunderbird Sport. Work in Progress
5.8L swap w/fitech efi, 4R70W swap w/quick 4 controller, 2003 GT rear diff, 5 Lug swap

Bought this car back as an old project car.

:burnout:

What gears came in a 88 sport 5.0L

Reply #7
you could of looked at the tag on the rear and see that it said something along the lines of 2L73

What gears came in a 88 sport 5.0L

Reply #8
No diff tag.
1988 Thunderbird Sport. Work in Progress
5.8L swap w/fitech efi, 4R70W swap w/quick 4 controller, 2003 GT rear diff, 5 Lug swap

Bought this car back as an old project car.

:burnout:


What gears came in a 88 sport 5.0L

Reply #10
Bettin' someone had to replace the Trac Loc and either forgot, or were too lazy to put the tag back on...:punchballs:
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

What gears came in a 88 sport 5.0L

Reply #11
I am thinking that because the limited slip works really well. I have a 88 TC rear with 3:73 gears and the disc brake in my garage and I am wondering if it will be too much for the 351w. I may see if I can find a 3.08 8.8" or a 3.27 8.8" diff and swap the disk brakes over.
1988 Thunderbird Sport. Work in Progress
5.8L swap w/fitech efi, 4R70W swap w/quick 4 controller, 2003 GT rear diff, 5 Lug swap

Bought this car back as an old project car.

:burnout:

What gears came in a 88 sport 5.0L

Reply #12
What size tires are you running or planning to run?

Depending on that, 3.73 may be fine, unless you drive a lot on the highway and have a c4 or c6. I think you'd be fine with an AOD or T5 though. Wish I had 3.73's in mine (have 3.55).
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

What gears came in a 88 sport 5.0L

Reply #13
AOD+3.73 gears=~2400 rpm at 70 mph, at least that's what mine used to do. Now with the new converter mine runs about 2800 rpm at 70 mph because the non-lockup converter slips about 400rpm in OD. I still get about 23-24 mpg at 70mph though.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

What gears came in a 88 sport 5.0L

Reply #14
Hell with a O/D tranny even 4:30s ain't too much... 4.30 x .68(O/D) = 2.92 final drive ratio, that ain't nuthin'... Till the AOD tranny arrived in '80, grandma's LTD or Grand Marquis was running 3.08 gears and most of those trannys didn't even have a lockup converter...