What is the benefit? really need some advice here please

[StangSVOMan1974]

Ok I have an 84 with stock trans and rear end. The rear end makes noise and I really dont want to waste money rebuilding the 7.5 it has in it. Now this is not gunna be a daily driver prolly to the tune of 5 to 6 k miles a year if that. I searched the archives and didnt really get an answer to my qusetion. I want to put in an 8.8 but can't decided if 3.55 or 3.73 is the the way to go. I want the stronger 8.8 for the horsepower level I hope to achieve in the 4 to 5 hundred hp range ( over time). I will be running the SVO at the local strips there are both quarter mile tracks. I'm thinking that 3.55 is better for manuals and 3.73 is better for autos. I suppose I could run 3.55 and than change when I switch to a c4. Though I think the 3.73 would turn faster on the track with either manual or auto. The only "driving" it will see is to reunions, tracks, or what I do around town so gas mileage is not really to big of a concern. Ok so after all that I guess the question is 3.55 or 3.73? Oh and possibliy 28 or 31 spline axles? Sorry if this is long winded I just wanted to lay out as much info as I could to get the best answers being im not that schooled on rear ends just a lil bit of knowledge on them. Thanks for the help

Brian

[BrianO]

if you're stayign with that stock NWC tranny then despite which rear end you choose you might stick wtih 3.55's.. those are the closest ratio to match that tranny you have. If it were me with your goals I'd swap tranny's to a world class one from a later model and do the 8.8 and match with 3.73's..

$.02

[MacToolsSVO]

I ran 4:11's in my 8.8 and absolutely loved it....of course the car was a local cruiser and never saw the freeway so the high RPMs in the higher gears didnt matter to me....I found the higher gear a real bonus around town...

my .02 cents!


Andy

[Jesse]

My car actually got quicker after the stock rearend with 3.73's broke and a TC 8.8 with 3.55's was switched in. The car leaves just as hard, and the longer gear allows it to use the power the turbo makes for longer. I think

[StangSVOMan1974]

well it's seems that the 3.55 is looking to be the better choice for now. I was lookin at jegs and summit and they both sale an 8.8 w/choice of either 2 gear sets. They are 28 spline but im not thinkin the 2.3T would have enough torque even at 4 or 5 hundred hp to warrant the 31 splines right if people are use stock TC 8.8's with 5 lug axles. The only thing I'm wondering about is it says for drum brakes is this really an issue? I thought you would just cut off the caliper brackets on the 7.5 and reweld them to the 8.8? Anybody done this to an 8.8 that had drums on it?


Brian

[SVO4PWR2]

The only thing I'm wondering about is it says for drum brakes is this really an issue? I thought you would just cut off the caliper brackets on the 7.5 and reweld them to the 8.8? Anybody done this to an 8.8 that had drums on it?

7.5 & 8.8 "Most Fox cars" have the same width...no need to cut and weld just unbolt and install on to new rear.

-RICH-

[MeZapU]

Try the junk yards. I bought a 3.55 geared 8.8" rear(minus axles and brakes) off a 87 Turbo Coupe for $100. Much cheaper than fixing the noisy 4.11's in my present 7.5" axle. I'll hopefully be installing it in on the next three day weekend I get.