Finally convinced my dad to get new gears for the Stang so I have some basic questions. It's a 66 with 289 4bbl and T-5z. The 2.88 open 8" is still in there. The car is mainly driven on the weekends (everyday when I'm home which is every couple months) and I like spirited driving. For the gears, I'm looking at 3.55s since we do do some highway driving. I'm wondering, should I spring for a limited slip, or is it a waste of money for my application? Thanks for any info.
Getting new gears, some questions
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69Rcode_Mach1
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I would go with 3.73's because the T-5Z has a .63 overdrive as opposed to the typical T5. This will net you lower rpm. Limited slips are a good idea, because believe me peg legging it down the road sucks, I prefer a detroit locker myself though.
68stang351
Founding Member
Yes you want limited slip.
A couple months back, the LS 8.8 rear end locked up in wife's 90GT, and the only thing I could do at the time (because of time and money) was to yank it out and put my buddie's old open diff 7.5 in it. Peg legging it does suck!
Thank God I just got the 8.8 back, but with 3.73's this time, and a new trac-loc.
A couple months back, the LS 8.8 rear end locked up in wife's 90GT, and the only thing I could do at the time (because of time and money) was to yank it out and put my buddie's old open diff 7.5 in it. Peg legging it does suck!
Thank God I just got the 8.8 back, but with 3.73's this time, and a new trac-loc.
iskwezm
10 Year Member
you cant get 3.73's in a 8" so get 3.80's, thats what i have and still do highway driving.
You dont NEED a limited slip, but it wont hurt anything
You dont NEED a limited slip, but it wont hurt anything
With a Stang's usual 26" tall tires, I'd go no farther than 3.55's. With the 2.95 ( some have 3.35's I think) 1st gear, you'll tach out first almost instantly when you nail the gas. My 06 will take off in 2nd gear with 3.55's, the Tremec 5 speed, and 27" tires. It too will tach 1st almost instantly after nailing the pedal. I sure as **** wouldn't put 3.73's to 4.11's in it. 1st gear take offs would be like driving a truck, you'd end up never using first most times. My Ranger is similar with a 2.78 1st, 3.73's and 28" tires.
If you wanted limited slip and new gears in it, you'd be better off pulling a fox-body 8.8 with the trac-lok and 3.73s. Have it modified and slip it in. You'd have everything you want, plus a better rear-end, for about the same, or maybe a little bit more than buying a trac-lok, gears, and having it installed. This is what I'm current;y trying to tlak my dad into...lol
Ya but a 9" with a posi is really really expensive, lol. I am starting to think about a 9 though, simply because the 8.8s aren't that much better than an 8. Are you guys gunna do the gear install yourselves? I'm trying to convince my dad but he's not havin it. He'd rather spend 200 in labor to have it done.
CornerCarvin67
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- Dec 30, 2004
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Damn...you people have it easy...mine tosses me a wrench and tells me to yell if I need any help! I like doing my own stuff, but there's something to be said for not HAVING to do it66StangFastback said:
Granted, he did get scared when I suggested ripping apart the C4. Not like we haven't done just about everything else though, I mean, if you can tear down a rearend with handtools and a piece of pipe, whats a stinking trans? 
5.0ina66 said:Damn...you people have it easy...mine tosses me a wrench and tells me to yell if I need any help! I like doing my own stuff, but there's something to be said for not HAVING to do it
Hahaha, well, I usually start things without his knowledge unless it's something big. When we were doing the tear down on it he found me sitting in the engine bay with all the front end parts in the yard. I dominated that sucker! haha. He's always griping about how much it costs and I inform him that we can save quite a bit of moeny by doing things ourselves, but i htink hes about done with the DIY route. We've done basically everything ourselves and now he'd much rather just drop some extra cash to have someone else do it..He's getting old!
First off 3.55s and a t-5 would be fine, especially since it sounds like you don't have a wild motor.
If you are serious about the posi, I don't remember the name but a guy on EBAY sells complete center sections for $500 with a posi and whatever gear set you want for the 8".
Next thing:
8.8s are one heck of a rear-end. Well built ones have been and are in deep 8 second quarter mile times. They can withstand up to 950-1000 RWHP if you build them right.
9" obviously can withstand the most.
And the 8" has its limits arguably at 350 RWHP behind a stick. I have 337 RWHP with a c-4 and have had absolutely no problems with it on the track with 26x10.5 ET Streets.
If you are serious about the posi, I don't remember the name but a guy on EBAY sells complete center sections for $500 with a posi and whatever gear set you want for the 8".
Next thing:
8.8s are one heck of a rear-end. Well built ones have been and are in deep 8 second quarter mile times. They can withstand up to 950-1000 RWHP if you build them right.
9" obviously can withstand the most.
And the 8" has its limits arguably at 350 RWHP behind a stick. I have 337 RWHP with a c-4 and have had absolutely no problems with it on the track with 26x10.5 ET Streets.
CornerCarvin67
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I really have no clue. But in actuallity it comes down to HOW you abuse your car. I don't do big showy burn outs or bang the gears out of stupidity. Drive it smooth and fast and that rear end will hold up just fine to what people are saying at 350rwhp. That is alot of power when you really think about it. Maybe not to the hard core quarter miler. But you have to be realistic... it's not always the power that breaks a rear end... it's the traction/bite of the rear tires. Every application is different... and everyone will have good and bad experiences depending on the quality of the build and parts involved. And back to the original post... it does not sound like he's making or plans to make a ton of power. Waking up his car with some kind of posi and gears from 3.55 to 3.80 is a world of difference. He might just be happy with that.
66StangFastback said:How much power do you have going through the rearend?
I've asked here before and many say a stock8" rear is only going to hold 350hp or so?
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