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Topic: Rear end ratio question (Read 3205 times) previous topic - next topic

Rear end ratio question

Reply #15
Quote from: jpc647;272050
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?


Yes, RockAuto.com
KYB part number KG4521    $34.99ea

I've been running these for awhile with no problems.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]http://www.fquick.com/slicksport88
88 Sport - 5.0HO, Mass Air, A9L, 73mm C&L meter, BBK CAI, 255 lph pump, 1.7 roller rockers,Professional Products damper, Chuck W motor mounts, BBK shorties & H-pipe, Flowmaster 40 series, 8.8 rear w/3.27's, 93 Cobra M/C, BAER 13in. drilled/slotted rotors front and back, cobra calipers, Russell braided brake lines front & back, C/C plates, 03cobra rims, 255/40/17 Nitto 555's all around

Rear end ratio question

Reply #16
Quote from: Thunder Chicken;250833
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.


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).
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

Rear end ratio question

Reply #17
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.
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

Rear end ratio question

Reply #18
Quote from: Thunder Chicken;272063
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.


I was going by the axel code on my white parts car, lol. I checked it vs the chart on cool cats.

Rear end ratio question

Reply #19
Quote from: thunderjet302;272100
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).


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.

Rear end ratio question

Reply #20
Quote from: thunderjet302;272100
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).
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:
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Rear end ratio question

Reply #21
My turd doesn't have TracLoc.  I can't tell you how displeased this made me on first discovery.

Rear end ratio question

Reply #22
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 =]

Rear end ratio question

Reply #23
Quote from: Thunder Chicken;272142
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:


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:
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

Rear end ratio question

Reply #24
That's a distinct possibility. A/C was optional up here as well.
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Rear end ratio question

Reply #25
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.

Rear end ratio question

Reply #26
Quote from: Sancho;272484
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.

Rear end ratio question

Reply #27
My 88 Bird has a 3.08 Non-Locking 7.5 differential from the factory. It was originally a V6 car.
1988 Thunderbird
306 HO w/ A9P processor
AOD w/ Transgo Reprogrammer
Full Digital Dash w/ twin Cyberdyne A-pillar gauges 
245/50/16 Tires on Snowflakes
Engine swap - CA smog compliant

Rear end ratio question

Reply #28
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.
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