Quote:
Originally Posted by AL427SBF
Just how much of an ordeal is it to change out your rearend ratios on a Ford 8.8"? I'm starting with a 3.27, but may decide a 3.31 would be better, or even a 3.08?
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[EDIT] I didn't realize I was responding to a 3-year-old thread. Info still pertains, however.
I've done a couple of 8.8's (in Mustangs). It's not that hard to do. For your first one, I'd recommend you get someone with experience to help, or at least supervise. The main thing you want to make sure of is that the backlash and gear pattern are within spec. Otherwise, they'll be noisy. It's a little fiddly, and may require you to take it apart and put it back together a few times. But it isn't too difficult. Where people go wrong is getting impatient, and just getting things "close enough", to avoid another round of adjustment.
The best thing you can do to make it easier is to get FMS gears. I say this because they jig them to have a consistent pinion depth when they are lapped. Otherwise, you may have to disassemble a few times to get the pinion depth right. Do not, under any circumstances, buy Richmond gears, unless you like gear noise. I have no experience with other brands.
One last thing. A weak link on an 8.8 is the factory crush sleeve. They can creep, and allow the pinion seal to fail. Replace that with a solid spacer and shims.
Regards,
John.