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  •  » FYI Ford, Classic Mustang Tech Discussion
  •  » As far as labor is it about the same putting a trac loc and gears in a

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    10/03/2022 3:36 PM  #1

    BILLY WALTON from GEORGIA
    Carrollton, GA Bash Host

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    From: CARROLLTON GEORGIA
    Registered: 4/14/2013
    Posts: 2,431

    As far as labor is it about the same putting a trac loc and gears in a

    Is it worth the extra few hundred dollars to make mine trac loc or just leave it single trac?

    Its a daily driver with a peppy 98 explorer engine,forged flat tops,bigger cam, dual plan and holley 570,and hipo manifolds with 2.50 pipes out the GT valence 40 series flowmasters.
    Has rebuilt 5 speed.

    Also labor wise I had just put new bearings and stuff when I added the disc brakes to rear. instead of putting 3:55 and trac lock do I still gotta take all the stuff apart to just change the gear set?

    Just wondering how much difference it is just changing the gear set out vs putting trac loc and gear set.

     

    Its really me....I fixed my caps lock .
     

    10/03/2022 7:15 PM  #2

    Nos681
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    From: Atlantic Mine, Michigan
    Registered: 7/14/2016
    Posts: 3,329

    Re: As far as labor is it about the same putting a trac loc and gears in a

    Do what makes ya happy.

    I had a 2.80 open diff for over 25 years and had fun.
    About 10 years ago, I changed to 3.25’s with an 8” Currie traction lock.
    When I swapped in the stock 5.0L/T5…as a famous band still sings, “Lovin’ every minute of it!”

    Axle bearings can stay, I would suggest replacement axle shaft seals.
    I’d say give yourself a day for the carrier swap at a leisurely pace.

    Give yourself 3 days if the WYAIT monster gets ahold of ya.

     

    10/03/2022 7:17 PM  #3

    BILLY WALTON from GEORGIA
    Carrollton, GA Bash Host

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    From: CARROLLTON GEORGIA
    Registered: 4/14/2013
    Posts: 2,431

    Re: As far as labor is it about the same putting a trac loc and gears in a

    I am stuck trying to decide what ratio too.... down to 3 different ones.   3:25 or 3:40 or 3:55  

    Its really me....I fixed my caps lock .
       •Thread Starter
     

    10/03/2022 7:20 PM  #4

    BILLY WALTON from GEORGIA
    Carrollton, GA Bash Host

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    From: CARROLLTON GEORGIA
    Registered: 4/14/2013
    Posts: 2,431

    Re: As far as labor is it about the same putting a trac loc and gears in a

    Nos681 wrote:

    Do what makes ya happy.

    I had a 2.80 open diff for over 25 years and had fun.
    About 10 years ago, I changed to 3.25’s with an 8” Currie traction lock.
    When I swapped in the stock 5.0L/T5…as a famous band still sings, “Lovin’ every minute of it!”

    Axle bearings can stay, I would suggest replacement axle shaft seals.
    I’d say give yourself a day for the carrier swap at a leisurely pace

    Give yourself 3 days if the WYAIT monster gets ahold of ya.

    What trans and engine were you running when you ran the 2:80?






     

    Last edited by BILLY WALTON from GEORGIA (10/03/2022 7:25 PM)

    Its really me....I fixed my caps lock .
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    10/03/2022 9:57 PM  #5

    Nos681
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    From: Atlantic Mine, Michigan
    Registered: 7/14/2016
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    Re: As far as labor is it about the same putting a trac loc and gears in a

    As purchased for a year 289/2bb/c4/2.80 open,

    289 (0.030)/4bb/stock 289 heads/c4/2.80 open

    289 (0.030)/4bb/351w c9 heads/c4/2.80 open

    Same combo for a few years with a TCI c4 (26 spline) 2.80 & 3.25’s

    Edelbrock 1406 carb
    Edelbrock 289 Performer intake
    Edelbrock 289 Performer camshaft
    Edelbrock gear drive….oh yes I did!
    Erson 1.6 roller rockers

    Tri-y headers with 2” dual exhaust…first 25+ years,
    then Hooker 6901’s with dual 2.5” exhaust.
    Last summer after Rockwall Bash, installed 2-1/4” Magnaflow’s to replace the Summit turbo mufflers.
    All of my Bash trips have been with 3.25’s.

    The torque from the stock 5.0L/T5 is enough to break traction with 235/40/18’s in my 65.
    More torque is eventually on my list, in time.

    Hope this helps.

    Last edited by Nos681 (10/03/2022 10:04 PM)

     

    10/04/2022 12:10 PM  #6

    lowercasesteve
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    From: Auburn, Ca
    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 1,253

    Re: As far as labor is it about the same putting a trac loc and gears in a

    Nos681 wrote:

    As purchased for a year 289/2bb/c4/2.80 open,

    289 (0.030)/4bb/stock 289 heads/c4/2.80 open

    289 (0.030)/4bb/351w c9 heads/c4/2.80 open

    Same combo for a few years with a TCI c4 (26 spline) 2.80 & 3.25’s

    Edelbrock 1406 carb
    Edelbrock 289 Performer intake
    Edelbrock 289 Performer camshaft
    Edelbrock gear drive….oh yes I did!
    Erson 1.6 roller rockers

    Tri-y headers with 2” dual exhaust…first 25+ years,
    then Hooker 6901’s with dual 2.5” exhaust.
    Last summer after Rockwall Bash, installed 2-1/4” Magnaflow’s to replace the Summit turbo mufflers.
    All of my Bash trips have been with 3.25’s.

    The torque from the stock 5.0L/T5 is enough to break traction with 235/40/18’s in my 65.
    More torque is eventually on my list, in time.

    Hope this helps.

    Let me understand this.

    You started with a stock 289
    Rebuilt the 289
    installed a rebuilt 351
    Did some work to the 351
    Replaced it with a stock 5.0?

    I am surprised.  My story is very close to yours except I still have the 351 in mine.  I have transitioned from a 2.79 - 3.25 - 3.00 rear end.
    I put in the 3.25 for more spirit, but moved it back when the gas mileage dropped from 20 to 16 as I was driving 30k-40k a year.  Sorry if this is off topic.
     

    Original owner - 351w,T-5, 4whl disks, power R&P
     

    10/04/2022 5:00 PM  #7

    TKOPerformance
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    From: Newark, DE
    Registered: 12/15/2014
    Posts: 7,495

    Re: As far as labor is it about the same putting a trac loc and gears in a

    You won't notice a difference between a 3.40 and a 3.55.  Might not notice much between either of those and the 3.25.  Honestly I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.  I run a 3.55 behind my warmed over 289/Fox V8 T5, and its a good combo.  If I had Z spec gear ratios I'd probably want a 3.73 ratio, but the 3.35 first in the Fox V8T5 would make that too steep in first with only a 5,000 RPM redline. 

     

    10/04/2022 6:22 PM  #8

    Nos681
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    From: Atlantic Mine, Michigan
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    Re: As far as labor is it about the same putting a trac loc and gears in a

    TKO…agree about setups.

    My ‘92 had 3.73’s….first was a granny gear.
    Done by previous owner.

     

    10/04/2022 6:47 PM  #9

    TKOPerformance
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    From: Newark, DE
    Registered: 12/15/2014
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    Re: As far as labor is it about the same putting a trac loc and gears in a

    Nos681 wrote:

    TKO…agree about setups.

    My ‘92 had 3.73’s….first was a granny gear.
    Done by previous owner.

    When I used to go to the track a lot and the Foxes were everywhere I'd bet my buddies I could guess the rear gear in a manual trans car based on the run.  All I had to do was see where on the track he had to shift into 2nd and I could tell 4.10, 3.73, etc.  Really 3.55s were the perfect ratio for them, but guys always got hung up on more, more, more. 

     

    10/05/2022 4:19 AM  #10

    BILLY WALTON from GEORGIA
    Carrollton, GA Bash Host

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    From: CARROLLTON GEORGIA
    Registered: 4/14/2013
    Posts: 2,431

    Re: As far as labor is it about the same putting a trac loc and gears in a

    Mine has the 3.35 first gear and 0.68  5th he added cluster support plate and billet 3-4 keys in my T5 it has a 90-93 gear set.

    Last edited by BILLY WALTON from GEORGIA (10/05/2022 4:25 AM)

    Its really me....I fixed my caps lock .
       •Thread Starter
     

    10/05/2022 4:20 AM  #11

    BILLY WALTON from GEORGIA
    Carrollton, GA Bash Host

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    From: CARROLLTON GEORGIA
    Registered: 4/14/2013
    Posts: 2,431

    Re: As far as labor is it about the same putting a trac loc and gears in a

    3:55 rear gears is the set I will go with

    Its really me....I fixed my caps lock .
       •Thread Starter
     

    10/05/2022 7:59 AM  #12

    Steve69
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    From: Madison Wisconsin
    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 2,735

    Re: As far as labor is it about the same putting a trac loc and gears in a

    I have a 3.25 True track in my along with a T5.  for me I think its about perfect.  

     

    Last edited by Steve69 (10/06/2022 11:39 AM)

     

    10/05/2022 9:22 AM  #13

    BILLY WALTON from GEORGIA
    Carrollton, GA Bash Host

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    From: CARROLLTON GEORGIA
    Registered: 4/14/2013
    Posts: 2,431

    Re: As far as labor is it about the same putting a trac loc and gears in a

    Steve69 wrote:

    I have a 3.25 True track in my along with a T5.  More me I think its about perfect.  

     

    yeah 3.25 would be fine but if the 3.55 is same price I will go with 3.55 I drive 15 miles to work one way and no highway so it should work good.This car will be driven most days....no need in having a car that sits in Garage lol
     

    Its really me....I fixed my caps lock .
       •Thread Starter
     

    10/05/2022 9:55 PM  #14

    Nos681
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    From: Atlantic Mine, Michigan
    Registered: 7/14/2016
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    Re: As far as labor is it about the same putting a trac loc and gears in a

    lowercasesteve

    Started with a stock 289

    Rebuilt the 289 w/289 heads (pressed in studs pulled out, bent valves) 

    Same 289 w/351w heads (c9oe) (351w heads already machined for screw in studs… machine shop did basic rebuild w/Edelbrock 351w springs).

    Replaced it with a stock 5.0 (factory EFI)

    Sorry for confusion.

    351w is still a future endeavor

    Last edited by Nos681 (10/05/2022 10:07 PM)

     

    10/06/2022 7:37 PM  #15

    BILLY WALTON from GEORGIA
    Carrollton, GA Bash Host

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    From: CARROLLTON GEORGIA
    Registered: 4/14/2013
    Posts: 2,431

    Re: As far as labor is it about the same putting a trac loc and gears in a

    Has anybody took a 8.8 out of a lets say a 93 GT and had it narrowed to fit under a 64-66?

    Its really me....I fixed my caps lock .
       •Thread Starter
     

    10/06/2022 7:38 PM  #16

    BILLY WALTON from GEORGIA
    Carrollton, GA Bash Host

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    From: CARROLLTON GEORGIA
    Registered: 4/14/2013
    Posts: 2,431

    Re: As far as labor is it about the same putting a trac loc and gears in a

    maybe a 98 GT with disc brakes be a better choice to narrow.

    Its really me....I fixed my caps lock .
       •Thread Starter
     

     

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