Factory Gears poll

[Nathan in MI]

Ya gotta have a shop press to get the old bearing off and the new one on...as much as I prefer the idea of doing things myself, with this job you're probably better off letting someone else do it.

And I feel your pain with the 2.26 gears. My dad had a '79 Diplomat with a 2.26 rear end...man was that thing ever a dog.

[1987cp]

Ya gotta have a shop press to get the old bearing off and the new one on...as much as I prefer the idea of doing things myself, with this job you're probably better off letting someone else do it..

So the bearing is pressed onto the axle like I was reading about on a 9", and the seal is pressed into the housing? Do I just pull the axle and take it by a machine shop to have the job done?

I also forgot to ask on here whether the bearings and seals and stuff are the same for the 8.5" as for the 8.8.

Thanks!

[Nathan in MI]

More than likely the original axles are gonna be grooved anyway, so you'll have to replace them. That was what we found on my dad's '96 when we had the rear wheel bearings replaced. You can remove 'em and have a look, but you may as well keep an eye out for a new set of axles.

[88MercWagon]

Which digit on the VIN tells the gear ratio?

[88Vic]

Marauder came with 3.55s with traction loc, went to 4.10s with the stock traction loc, fried the stock traction loc, now she has 4.30s with a Detroit TrueTrac: one badass combo

Damn mang, we'll have to meet up one day so I can ride in that beast. I bet it really boogies.

[Nathan in MI]

Which digit on the VIN tells the gear ratio?

It's not in the VIN. It's on the door sticker where it says "AX". There should be either a letter or a number there that pertains to what the ratio is and whether or not it's a limited slip diff.

[Tiggie]

Well 2.26's wouldn't be that bad since the original 351W had a torque peak at 1400 rpm and had the most torque of any factory Box engine ever. Okay, so that was only the CA version, but still it's worth mentioning!

Smog Equipment and Tractor Cams = teh win!

[1987cp]

Well 2.26's wouldn't be that bad since the original 351W had a torque peak at 1400 rpm and had the most torque of any factory Box engine ever. Okay, so that was only the CA version, but still it's worth mentioning!

Smog Equipment and Tractor Cams = teh win!

Huh, hadn't noticed in the specs where the torque peak was. I should post pictures of that teensy cam I took out of it, though - somehow I think it worked pretty good with the 2V carb, cruddy heads, and 2" single exhaust.

[p71towny]

More than likely the original axles are gonna be grooved anyway, so you'll have to replace them. That was what we found on my dad's '96 when we had the rear wheel bearings replaced. You can remove 'em and have a look, but you may as well keep an eye out for a new set of axles.

Not so, they make repair sleeves that will press onto the axles. Worth a shot

[Nathan in MI]

Not so, they make repair sleeves that will press onto the axles. Worth a shot

True, though wouldn't you have to have the axle machined down a little bit to accept the sleeve?

[1987cp]

True, though wouldn't you have to have the axle machined down a little bit to accept the sleeve?

Actually, NAPA told me they have a special "repair bearing" that doesn't require fancy installation ... of course, I'm still clinging to the hope that I won't have to mess with bad axles.... now if only the weather will cooperate this Saturday so I can pull around the side of the building and get this little mess taken care of!