Technical Factory applications with a Ford 8 inch with 3.73 or 4.10 gears

It looks like the 3.55 gears are not making my 235 with a T-5 happy in 5th so I will be on the hunt for those gears and was wondering if there was any factory applications to look for,I see them all the time at swapmeets but a little too pricey for my cheap ass budget.

 

I only know of 2.79 or 3.00 gears from factory. I have 3.55 gears behind a decent y-block build and I have to be pulling 45 to 50 mph to hit fifth or it goes flat. Granted I listened to the vendor who sold me too much cam. That's on me. I got the 3.55 gears from Summit I think.

 

I have 3.27 8” from a Torino in my 40, that is the lowest I have found in factory rears. The housing is Maverick.

 

The early 60,s fairlanes with six cyl stick have 355 gears

 

I got a couple of sets of 8 inch 3.55 gears from Pinto/Bobcat V-6 manual trans station wagons. I also have an aftermarket 4.62 gearset.

 

3 years ago I bought new 3.80 gear set from Ebay for $135 or 140 shipped. When the set came, the box was from Richmond Gear.

 

I've got a drop out with 3.80s and a Detroit locker.

 

Just looked the other day at Summit. 3.80’s were $160. I thought that was a good price.

 

I was hoping for a factory application but will have to settle for a aftermarket gear set or go with a 9 inch.

 

newer explorers have 4.10 in the 8.8 rearend

 

All late 90's Explorers with the 5.0 V8 had 8.8 posi disc brake rears3.73 and 4.10 ratios were very common in these rears.

 

Limited ratios in 8in vs. available ratios for 9in . I was thing 3.55 was steepest OEM . But lookin like I was wrong again .

 

You won't find anything in the boneyards unless your very lucky... Ford did offer some low ratio 8" rears but they were optional and very few got ordered. Look under early Fairlanes (62-65), V8 Falcons and first-gen V8 Mustangs.

 

A 3.7-8 gear is only going to change your cruise rpm by a couple hundred +- , before
I spent a bunch of money
I'd look for some taller tires to see if that ratio is going to help...........

 

Um.. 2old— I think you mean shorter tires. Taller tires will be akin to lower numerical gears


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If it was a new build I would go with the 8.8 but I am just going to put some steeper gears in it and call it done,the older I get the less work I want to do.

 

At 70 in 5th the power was lacking,there might be another problem with stepping up the gears and it is since my trans has the 4.03 first gear it will be like a granny gear in 1st but might be able to start off in 2nd.

 

I had an 8" in my 39 deluxe had 3.55 gears from a pinto wagon V-6 std trans

 

84-85 Lincoln Continental Mark VII with the 2.4 liter BMW diesel had an 8" with a 4:11 gearset. At least the one that was donated to my program in the late 90's did.