All you 8.8 explorer guys

[elgemcdlf]

I did a bit of homework & found out I can use the complete carrier unit out of a solid 8.8 in my MN12. I have read Explorers came with 3.73 gears & Trac Loc. I would prefer something more like 3.56 but 3.73 would be ok (price). How do I determine the ratio in the rear without opening it. Tags? Location?

[JG F100]

Yes, there is a tag. Lockers have an L. Such as 3L73 is 3.73:1, most lockers in the v8 explorers are 373 or 410s. You won't have a problem finding them, yards are littered with them.

[71fordkid]

they will not have lockers from the factory, only limited slips....

[ultraranger]

This is the tag on the T-Bird Super Coupe IRS rear I have. A little hard to see the "3" because of the bolt head but it says "3L27" "8.8", which translates to an 8.8" with 3.27:1 ratio with a Traction-Lok differential. If the tag just said: "3.27", then it would have an open (single track) differential.





These pictures were taken right after I got home with the IRS. I've pressure washed it since these photos were taken and it looks a lot better now.

Unless someone has worked on the rear end and neglected to put the tag back on afterwards, there should be a tag with the information on it, with reference to ratio and whether it has an open differential or one with a Traction-Lok diff. Another place to look would be at the rear edge of the driver's side door, or on the driver's door jamb, for the "Axle" code. You would just need to do a websearch for the vehicle codes for the particular vehicle you are trying to source the rear from to cross-reference the alpha or alpha-numeric to a particular ratio.

...I actually bought BOTH an '03 Crown Vic front suspension AND the '90 T-Bird SC IRS at the same time.