Anyone out there done a gear change themselves?

oldtexasdog · Jul 1, 2010

I am just an old out in the country gear head, and as this is going to be my hobby I see no reason to pay anyone to have all the fun I will be changing out my 3:33 rears this weekend to a set of new 4:10s FRPP with a complete bearing set. Anyone have any good tips for my journey?
Thanks for your time

GOLDENPONY · Jul 1, 2010

Good luck - you'll need it. Setting up a rear end is best left to a pro.

COBESGT · Jul 1, 2010

I did a gear swap in my 89, went from 2.73's ro 3.73's and it really wasn't too bad at all. You just had to have the proper tools and follow the instructions. The biggest thing was to measure the backlash before and after the gears are installed. One important fact that I heard when I was looking for gears is I was told if you're going to do the swap, buy FRPP gears. Why? Because they are all made to almost identical tolerences and when you remove the old gears and re-install the new gears, you shouldn't need to add/remove any shims, and still get nearly the same backlash as what you had before the swap (most of the time). Well that's how it turned out for me. If you have the tools, mechanical ability, and good instructions, you should be able to handle the swap. Just take your time and don't take any shortcuts. Do an internet search and you should be able to find some instructions on the swap. Good luck!

oldtexasdog · Jul 1, 2010

COBESGT said:
I did a gear swap in my 89, went from 2.73's ro 3.73's and it really wasn't too bad at all. You just had to have the proper tools and follow the instructions. The biggest thing was to measure the backlash before and after the gears are installed. One important fact that I heard when I was looking for gears is I was told if you're going to do the swap, buy FRPP gears. Why? Because they are all made to almost identical tolerences and when you remove the old gears and re-install the new gears, you shouldn't need to add/remove any shims, and still get nearly the same backlash as what you had before the swap (most of the time). Well that's how it turned out for me. If you have the tools, mechanical ability, and good instructions, you should be able to handle the swap. Just take your time and don't take any shortcuts. Do an internet search and you should be able to find some instructions on the swap. Good luck!

Thanks. My last project was power brakes and steering added to a 68 F100 3 on the tree. I got the tools and got the FRPP gears got good instructions with pictures from the internet. Been doing this stuff for 50 years just never a rear end

053vstang · Jul 8, 2010

Back in the day, I had a few buddies that did their own gear swaps. Seemed that they were lucky to get a summer out of em before having to do it again! That same summer, I payed a few hundred bucks to have mine done at a shop, and it lasted over 5 years with some very aggressive driving. Like dumping the clutch at 5500 with sticky tires

Just make sure you do your research, definately search the internet. Changing the actual parts is not real hard.....pull the diff and swap the ring and pinion. The catch is putting it back together and setting it up right. Checking the backlash and gear pattern, etc.....

oldtexasdog · Jul 19, 2010

The 4:10s are in and no whine! The hardest part was getting the old pinion out (needed a bigger hammer)
The good
Runs like a scalded pup and definitely puts the big grin on daily driving.
Third is real strong at 60
5th is now a usable gear on the highway that has enough response as to not need a down shift to move around traffic in most cases.
The Bad
1st is real twitchy in a parking lot environment.
Loss of 3 to 5 MPG
Heel and Toe shifts a lot more extreme
Hard to keep cab quite at highway cruising speeds above 60

DarkFireGT · Jul 19, 2010

Glad you were able to get it done without trouble. S197's are tricky. The guy that did my 05 had done over 100 fox bodies and still had trouble getting it set right. I've heard similar stories elsewhere.

klaw · Jul 19, 2010

I swapped out the 3.31's to 3.73's two weeks ago. Did carbon fibre trac loc clutches at the same time. I'd heard horror stories about the S spring but I used the hose clamp trick and it worked like a charm. I got lucky and the backlash and gear patterns were near perfect with the original shims. No noise so far.

oldtexasdog · Jul 20, 2010

klaw said:
I swapped out the 3.31's to 3.73's two weeks ago. Did carbon fibre trac loc clutches at the same time. I'd heard horror stories about the S spring but I used the hose clamp trick and it worked like a charm. I got lucky and the backlash and gear patterns were near perfect with the original shims. No noise so far.

I think it helped a lot using FRPP Gears. In retro, I think your gear selection was the better one, with the 3:73. I have a short commute, and don't do much highway so the 4:10s I have, I will enjoy--but for most thinking about this mod the 3:73 would be better, I think.
Now to the Sat night grudge races at Texas Moter Speedway!$ 20.00 intro bring whatever!

Anyone out there done a gear change themselves?

oldtexasdog

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Playing with my wife's really makes me want one.

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Anyone out there done a gear change themselves?

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