Here's a rear end gear quandry

[Distortion 5.0]

When I did my T-5 swap I left the Auto gears in the back on my 87 lx. I'm getting the 87 turbo coupe tomorrow, and it was a manual, and I was considering swapping in the gears. I imagine it will accelerate more quickly on the go but I will loose some torque. She is capable of some really wicked burnouts (my uncle said it sounded like a v-8 burnung out) and I don't wanna lose that either, but if the accel. gain is large, I'm willing to give up the burning out. Thoughts?

 

[Shawneebear93]

That automatic gears in an '87 LX are 3.73's, I am not sure about which gears would be in the TC though.

 

[kiddiccarus]

I would keep the 3.73 in the rear. I have the same in mine and I am planning on keeping them in and adding a limited slip carrier. I have heard real good things about the combination and if you do open it up please consider using "Royal Purple" lube to replace the fluid you will lose it is another great product.

 

[Red_LX]

Well unless your '87 has an 8.8, you can't just swap the gears anyway I would recommend swapping the whole TC rearend over, it has 3.55 gears which are almost the same, but it also has a trak lok and disc brakes, and you'll have the strength of an 8.8 too. it'll be a bit of a job but it's worth it. Oh, you'll have to fiddle with the brakes a bit too to accomodate the rear discs...

 

[evintho]

I wholeheartedly agree with Red_LX. Swap the entire TC 8.8 in there! While you're at it, upgrade the fronts to 11" rotors and 73mm calipers. You'll be glad you did! I once had to do a panic stop in my '89 on the freeway with the stock binders. Never again!! I did the full swap following the directions given here..................
http://www.svo73mm.cjb.net
It wasn't difficult at all!

 

[Distortion 5.0]

I thank you guys for the advice, and one day, I might get to use it. But to solve my non-transportation issue, I have purchased a 1991 Thunderbird 5.0, so the mustang project has taken the back seat for now. My efforts are currently directed towards (read carefully) *converting the T-bird back to stock* because I love her just the way ford made her, and the kid who had it for a little while before me didn't. He put in a billet shifter, conical air filter, and felt it neccesary to GUT THE MAF and istall it in a stainless steel pipe. Expensive part, stupid idea. So I have to get a 5.0 maf to go back in it. Probably gonna stock the shifter back too (if possible) Because the billet one want's to hang up. He put a body kit on it that LOOKS good, but the front clip scrubs EVERYTHING. And I mean, I was driving around on hilly roads and it would scrub when the road changed from an incline to a gradient. So probably gonna restock the front clip too. It's a shame, because the clip looks good, but the car drives on more surfaces that just a smooth racestrack. (which ironically is the only surface it WONT be seeing)

 

[Shinlee]

distortion, you make me sad when i hear of your car expedintures..... play with them more, and show them more TLC. I promise your cars enjoy a little bit of hi-po parts, and they show it with economy, and power.

leave the 'restoring back to stock' stuff alone!!!

 

[kiddiccarus]

*converting the T-bird back to stock*

Ouch Stop swearing like that there are children that read this forum man

 

[Distortion 5.0]

I'm probably gonna leave the conical, and upgrade the OE exhaust to a flow-master equivalant. Other than that, his other stuff has got to go. This T-bird is a nice classy car and I'll not have it gay-ed up with half hearted mod's. I would concider myself no more than rice if I where to continue in the fashion this kid was working in. Maybe if it where a TC, I'd customize everything. But this is my grown up car, and adjustments to it's appointment will be strickly asthetic.