Need some help on how to install new gears . I want to take out my factory ones and put in 3.55 or 3.73 I was wondering if someone had a link or maybe pictures that cud help me out .
You might try w w w.differentials.com/. Look under the tab that says Tech Information. And then, Installation Instructions. This is a pretty good article to check out. I used Ford gears for mine, but I looked through this to get some info. Also, I bought the Richmond gear video that Summit Racing sells. It is pretty good to get a grasp of what is involved (and it is involved! ). Good Luck.
Phil
where do you live? in georgia? if so p.m. me, if interested i know a mechanic in town (hokesbluff, alabama) who replaces alot of local race car owners rear end gears. he replaces mustang gears for about $150 and even less if rear end is out of car.i can give you ph #. good info click on links below.
Read Mo_Dingo's writeup. It's excellent, and should give you a feel for what's involved. It's not a job for everyone.
And check out the three links in his writeup too. There right under the smiley (just the word "this" in blue). Those are good too. If you do the install yourself, I would suggest you read whatever walkthrough you can find on installing Mustang gears, because everyone seems to describe different steps in more or less detail than others. So all together, you get a pretty good handle on the whole job.
There are a bunch of guys on here who have done their own gears (me included), so post up any questions or issues you run into, and chances are there are a few who can help.
Thanks for all the replies it was my 1,st time posting and I did not know how fast replies came. I’m going to check out all of those links . And unfortunately I don’t live in Georgia right know I’m in the USAF and stationed in Utah . Thanks again for all the help
MO_DINGO: That is an excellent gear write up. I wish I read that before I bought all the tools to do mine. I bought the pinion depth gauge ($99), instead of just measuring the pinion heads. I guess that is the only extra tool because you still need a magnetic base dial indicator, beam type inlbs TQ wrench, calipers, ect.
The only thing I would add to the write up is the option of a solid pinion spacer. Instead of a crush collar it is a solid spacer and shims. you just measure your old "crushed collar" and use the shims to make the spacer match your measurement. Install and TQ to 125 lbs. Test pinion break away force and readjust shims as needed. just my .02 I will get you the Summit p/n for the spacer if your interested.
The solid spacer is not necessary but it takes the difficulty out of getting the pinion preload into spec. I have no experience with a solid spacer so I cannot give any input on that.
Go to www.gefracing.com or ebay to get your FMS gears. FMS gears negate the need for a pinion depth tool, and more complications. And when doing a gear install for the first time, the KISS method is a good one.
I made a parts list in my writeup. But my writeup is an addendum to the others. I mentioned everything that was not mentioned, as well as anything that wasn't clear. As such, I recommend that you pick an install article, and read it at least 10 times over. If you don't understand one word, or one sentence, see my write up or the 2 others for help. Most of the info is there.
They don't fully explain preload, nor do they fully explain how to measure backlash. Those were the two that confused me most.
Lastly, thanks for the compliments. PM me if you have any questions. I will be glad to help; I have done so for many others. I always try to tell people that anyone can install gears with the tools listed and persistance. Ignore anyone that says a shop should install gears in a Ford 8.8 rear end. It took me under 4 hours to do it my very first time (on a lift), and that was because I was so bloody tedious about learning everything I could. Any problems I ran into were already known to me, thus I knew exactly how to solve them.
Scott