Does the 88 Thunderbird LX V8 with digital dash (not the Sport ) come with a 7.5 or 8.8 rear end?
7.5
That's not good news, will a complete 87 MKVII rear end bolt in?
a few '88 5.0 Birds had 8.8s just like the Cougars, you'll have to get under it and check....
Thanks, I've already decided not to pursue the purchase.
My '88 Sport only has a 7.5 in it, however it is a traction lock unit. Go figure.
If you have the vin you should be able to check the axle code.
There is not one s of info in a vehicles VIN number that pertains to axle type...
That info is on the data sticker on the door jam ONLY... Even then you'll only get ratio and whether it's Traction Lock or std... You wanna know the size, gotta crawl under it...
I agree with Tom....get the info from the tag on the rearend. That's the best way to do it.
What they said.Check the door or crawl under and check the tag and cover shape.None of my Traction Lok or whatever they call it diffs have had a tag to identify them a such.
But they do all have a tag identifying the ratio.
You can also check by rotating one side (A friend of mine told me this so I'm not 100%) if the other side rotates the same direction its a trac-lok if not its an open diff.
All the Traction Lock rears I've seen, have on the tag 3L25 for a 3.25(or what ever the ratio)... If its a peg leg, the letter will not be there...
You are correct!I did a little research and found out that an L in the code means locker.I believe non lockers have an S in the code.
I am so used to seeing an additional tag requiring some sort of additive that I missed the letter in the tag.My bad:hick:
If you are familiar with the cover of the 7.5 and an 8.8 peek under and look at the cover of the rear end and you will know.
whats my car got in it? Its positive traction, 88 Sport model. Should be 8.8 correct? I havent got under it to look. (just had back surgery 2 months ago, still cant get under a car)
Most if not all 88 Sports had a 7.5 TRACTION-LOK ("posi" is a GM/Chevy term ;)) rear. Very few, if any, Sports had an 8.8. If they did they were likely late production run cars that used left over 88 XR7 8.8 rears.
There have actually been several confirmed 8.8" drum brake 88 Sports, many of which belong to members of this forum. It's not known how many or for what reason (likely to use up the leftover T-Bird/Cougar-width 8.8" drum rears slated for XR7's, which had the 8.8). Unfortunately the only way to know which type you've got is to get under the car and look...
maybe in a month or so i will be able to get under my car. but for now i can only work on the top, today i got new valve covers and gaskets, got rid of the smog pump, and cleaned the intake up and painted it.