gears on a budget?

[gearhead291]

im sure its been asked 1000 times but when i search i just find endless threads and no real answer to my question. i have a 98 mark base. and im tired of the looooong 3.07 gearing. i have decided on 3.73 gearing, i want more get up and go without destroying my gas mileage. soo. 3.73's it is.

my question is: im on a limited budget. i have mechanical knowledge. i have rebuilt engines, suspensions, before. BUT NOT rear ends. ive mostly had FWD cars. what would be my cheapest way to get 3.73's in my car? is there a junkyard car that would have it, maybe i could swap the whole diff? OR just cheaper to get the gears by themselves, and install them into my diff ( if that could be done) i would also like some sort of posi or locking rear end, but it depends on how much ill be spending on the gears.

thanks

 

[slowmkviii]

Any ford with an 8.8 you can take its gears
Explorer rears with 3.73 and track loc can be had for about $250 but be aware that some are 31 spline
A 99 cobra would be a direct swap
Ranger
Mustang
F-150
T-bird
cougar

 

[mikeskustomfab]

i got my 3.73s with a trac loc from a 93 ranger rear end i picked up for 100 buccks at a salvage yard

 

[SATURN5]

Don't forget that you may also need to change the drive shaft to a one piece from a 93. (budget). I don't recall, but you may need to recal the speedo (but I believe gen 2's take the speedo signal from the abs, so it may be okay).

 

[gearhead291]

Ok sweet. Now is there some vin code or something I need to know on the door or something, or do they all have 3.73's?

 

[slowmkviii]

Diff tag

 

[chris2523]

yeah. diff tag.

you'll be looking for 3 L 7 3. 3.73s with a limited slip diff.

 

[beerdog]

you will need a new tune, tuner, or chip since you are stepping up more than 2 gear ratios. (3:08 to 3.73's). Gen 2' do not use a speedo gear. Everything is done with the speed sensors on the diff. you either have to get a dyno tune, or buy a tuner with mail order tune, or get a chip. I would recommend the SCT Xcal3 with a tune from BOC. If you went with 3:55 you would not need a tune adjustment.

 

[chris2523]

want, not need a tune. it will still work, just with an awkward shift schedule.

 

[marked8]

want, not need a tune. it will still work, just with an awkward shift schedule.

And a very limited top end.

 

[mossbergman]

And a very limited top end.

What he said

 

[gearhead291]

Sweet. So how much does the sct tune cost usually?

 

[the1andonlyGR81]

new is not that really expensive i picked up new ford racing 4.10 for 125.00, and trac loc for 199.00, buying a used diff you should get the rebuild kit for just so you dont waste your time and gears hard to tell what your getting unless theyre real bad you can see the wear. remember used can be a real good find if its good.juggle the #'s.

 

[stu]

look here

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Axles.html

 

[gearhead291]

So do I need a 28 spline, or a 31 spline? Which do i have now?

 

[SATURN5]

All Mark axles are 28 spline.

 

[thaywood]

...budget...

There's that word again...

 

[KStromberg]

Gen 2' do not use a speedo gear

Yes they certainly do. I think some people here are confusing the function of the VSS and the function of the abs/wheel speed sensors in Gen2s getting speedometer readings based on info relayed back to the PCM from the abs/wheel speed sensors. Your speedometer WILL be accurate no matter what gearset BUT your shift schedule which is controlled by info relayed back to the PCM from the Vehicle Speed Sensor WILL NOT if you do not change to the appropriate speedo gear.

Otherwise, you can retain the stock speedo gear in a Gen2, BUT it needs to be addressed in the tune by making the car "recognize" it differently so you don't have problems with your shift schedule.

 

[gearhead291]

There's that word again...

LOL yea it comes up more than i like unfortunately.

 

[gearhead291]

so. i plan on doing this saturday. now, since the rear end out of a ranger or explorer with 3L73 on the diff tag will work, can i just swap the diff itself, and the axles? or is my only option to disassemble the diff or get a whole rear end out of a 99 cobra? i mean if it needs to be modded just a little thats ok.

i appreciate the help i just suck with instructions

 

[Right on the Mark]

so. i plan on doing this saturday. now, since the rear end out of a ranger or explorer with 3L73 on the diff tag will work, can i just swap the diff itself, and the axles? or is my only option to disassemble the diff or get a whole rear end out of a 99 cobra? i mean if it needs to be modded just a little thats ok.

i appreciate the help i just suck with instructions

You can only use the "guts" from the ranger rear. You can't use ranger axles because there solid not CV shafts like mk8's.

 

[NetKeym]

Just use the gear set. Buy an install kit so you can set the clearances correctly. Not for the faint of heart if you've never done it.