You would do better to take pics of the numbers around it, or better yet, post the numbers. If you roll the ring gear around, as in pic 1, the outside of the gear will have markings. It will tell you who made the gear at the very least. I see some numbers on the carrier itself in pic 1, but can't make them out since they are off to the side. I am far from an expert, but it reminds me of a Torsen type, read 'GM', carrier. I could be, and probably am, way off. It just reminds me of that, as opposed to reminding me of a Ford Traction Lock. Dave
Here is another pic it looks like it may be a 7.5 from the part numbers?? [/IMG] If it is a 7.5" can a 8" ring be used on this carrier? It is a locking unit so i'd like to use it if possible.
I have a locking 8.8 carrier in my 8" rear axle with 8" 3.55 gears. It requires taking it to a maching shop and having them do the required machining. I had mine done....so I don't have a clue how they did it.
Well by decoding the part number it comes from a 82 ford. That would probably make it a 7.5". Are the 7.5" and the 8.8" the same carrier? I'd have no problem having some work done in the case, as I'd still probably be money ahead. Craig, did you just have to take the carrier in to the machine shop, or did you have to take the axle in? Thanks
I'm gonna take it to the differential shop here at lunch and let the guru Sean take a look at it, to see if it's doable.
If it's from an '82 it's most likely a 7.5" It looks like the same carrier diff lock I pulled from an 82 GT Mustang. Eventually those springs broke and tore up everything. A 8.8 has a better diff lock with clutch packs and a big "s" shaped spring. Those axles (7.5 & 8.8) came apart by removing the long shouldered bolt from the side of the carrier (you can see the empty hole in the 4th photo at about 1 o'clock) and then removing the big long spider gear shaft. The the axles could be pushed in enough to get the c-clip of the axle shaft ant then the axles slid right out. There's no pressed on outboard bearing, just a roller bearing. Mustang guys that drag race with these axles often put in a c-clip eliminator kit otherwise your wheel would come off with the axle shaft still attached to it if you launched hard enough to break the axle off in the spider!
I got the entire set-up from a swap meet vendor.....I just bought it the way it was and the vendor told me it would work with my axles.
Cool tip. 8.8" traclock carriers are so much more plentiful than 8" traclock... Maybe if more folks knew about this mod, there would be alot less heartache for guys looking for an 8" 'posi'.
Yep. I had the 3.55 gears I got out of a 1976 Mustang. Took the entire "pig" to the swap meet.....dropped it off at a vendor, and he sent it back to me a month later with this mod.
there is no way you can machine a 8.8 tracloc to fit in a 8 in carrier. where the clutches on the passenger side of the carrier reside is to thick around. you have have clearance for the pinion support bearing in the 8 in. you can machine a 9" carrier to fit a 8" housing
