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  1. #1

    Default What did I just buy?

    Just picked up this 7.5 rear. Was told it came from an 84 GT. It decodes to 7.5 limited slip 3.45 gears. Made 7/4/1983.

    Any idea what the giant s cast into the housing is? Haven't seen that and can't find anything on it.




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  2. #2
    FEP Power Member Ourobos's Avatar
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    It's for "S"hould have bought an 8.8
    1986 CHP SSP Coupe

  3. #3

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    July 1983 build date would make it too early to have Quadra-Shock rear suspension, but it has the brackets. And 3.45:1 means it's from probably from a 2.3T car. It probably came out of an early 1984 Thunderbird Turbocoupe. They had Quadra-Shock rear suspension in 1983. On the differential housing, by the driver side upper control arm mount, there will be an engineering number and date code. Post them here and I can tell you what it was originally engineered for and when the differential housing was cast.
    Last edited by FoxChassis; 09-29-2017 at 08:16 PM.
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  4. #4

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    LOL I know but the cost of rear end was cheaper than the bearings and incredibly whiny gears I need to replace in my 82. It was $50. My 82 is so bone stock, I didn't want to throw an 8.8 in. After much internal debate on what to do with the car, I'm going to keep it as close to stock as I can.

  5. #5

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    Quote Originally Posted by FoxChassis View Post
    July 1984 build date would make it too early to have Quadra-Shock rear suspension, but it has the brackets. And 3.45:1 means it's from probably from a 2.3T car. It probably came out of an early 1984 Thunderbird Turbocoupe. They had Quadra-Shock rear suspension in 1983. On the differential housing, by the driver side upper control arm mount, there will be an engineering number and date code. Post them here and I can tell you what it was originally engineered for and when the differential housing was cast.
    it is hard to make anything out. does 340 make sense?

  6. #6

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    Nope 340 is neither an engineering number nor a date code.
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  7. #7

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    Quote Originally Posted by FoxChassis View Post
    Nope 340 is neither an engineering number nor a date code.
    how about 21. I'm really not trying to be difficult. I just cant read them.

  8. #8

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    Fox chassis are you sure July 1984 is too early to have quad shocks? My July 1984 lx has quad shocks.i
    84 LX Vert. 5.0 5speed canyon red on white
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  9. #9
    FEP Power Member 4-barrel Mike's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lowetlx View Post
    Fox chassis are you sure July 1984 is too early to have quad shocks? My July 1984 lx has quad shocks.i
    Quote Originally Posted by FoxChassis View Post
    July 1983 build date ....


    Mike

  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ourobos View Post
    It's for "S"hould have bought an 8.8
    now thats funny!!!!
    GLADLY burning the fuel your Prius is saving!!

  11. #11

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    Quote Originally Posted by Lowetlx View Post
    Fox chassis are you sure July 1984 is too early to have quad shocks? My July 1984 lx has quad shocks.i
    I meant July 1983. Corrected above.
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  12. #12

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    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?168650

    See there for what the engineering number looks like. (Example: E4DW-BA)

    The date code is four numbers.
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  13. #13

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    If those are original control arms from a tbird/cougar car, they will be a bit longer then the mustang. Upper is Almost the same, lower is like 3/4" longer or something like that.
    2 1986 cougars (both 4 eyed and 5.0)
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  14. #14
    FEP Super Member xctasy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ourobos View Post
    It's for "S"hould have bought an 8.8

    Ha ha ha, Word up!


    S is for Sterling. Sterling Heights, Mich. This is Fords go to plant for making axles when outside suppliers do the dirty on Ford. It happened in 1956, 1978 and again in 1983, and again in 1988, when other suppliers couldn't help Ford with its supply. So Ford just made its own stuff.

    Where the Fox 7.5" axle was made, to replace the pressed steel 8" axle (The 8-inch was the second Pumpkin/ banjo style or third-member diff introduced in 1962).

    Same as the Mainline/Falcon/Pinto/Fox/Ranger 6.7/6.8 (to replace the Spicer/Dana pickup axle on in line sixes),

    The 9" (the 1957 on wards truck axle, and first cars, c.MEL 1958 Pumpkin diff to replace the 8.5" Customline axle)
    The Granada 8.7 (intermediate step to replace the 9")
    and 10.25 and 10.5 axle's (F250 truck axles)

    And the 8.8". It was first used in model year 1983 Ford trucks. The axle was developed to replace the heavy pressed steel Ford 9-inch axle. This axle is still in production today for a variety of Ford vehicles.

    In 1988, Ford was forced to make IRS centers for the 7.5, 8.0 and 8.8" axles the MN12 and Premium Automotive line was used.


    It stated in 1956, and happened when Ford couldn't get enough Spicer and Dana axles for its light duty Mainlines.

    By its peak in 1978, the Sterling Plant employed 8,400 workers. The 7.5" axle was needed for the huge spike in intermediate and compact car sales in the late seventies.

    Mostly, they made Salisbury style closed axle assemblys, but they also made ring and pinion parts which were slotted into 9" and 8" sub assemblies from elseware in the Ford empire. Ford's 2-1/4" axle offset was causing some friction isues, and the pumpkin assemblies with its complex fixturing and welding process, coupled with its weight and fuel economy concerns, is what eventually led to their production demise.

    The 7.5 and 8.8" are very compact 1-1/2" pinion centre offset axles.

    IIRC, the 8" was always a Sao Paulo Brazillian outsourced axle, but the sub assemblies were brought together with Ford made ring and pinions from the Sterling plant.

    Sources



    http://www.diyford.com/ford-axle-his...differentials/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_8.8_axle

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterling_10.5_axle

    http://www.macombdaily.com/article/M...NEWS/151129646

    http://www.autonews.com/article/1994.../SEO/412190725

    https://corporate.ford.com/company/p...xle-plant.html

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLeRGw7NqL4

    http://www.mustangandfords.com/how-t...nch-rear-axle/

    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...-Odd-rear-axle

    https://fordsix.com/viewtopic.php?t=69291

    https://www.tapatalk.com/topic/420713-6558

    https://www.fordsix.com/viewtopic.php?f=76&t=74435

  15. #15
    FEP Super Member erratic50's Avatar
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    That's interesting.... 3/4" longer arms on birds....

    messes with pinion angle if used in a fox stang. Would reduce weight transfer also by shifting the tipping point further back. Less overhang after the axle means less mass at the rear. How much less depends upon how many sand bags are strapped to the tail light panel.

    BTW - if anyone doesn't think this matters very much - here's a test.... Just move a boat 3/4" further forward on the trailer and weigh or lift the tongue again.... That's about the same as moving wheels 3/4" back. My results - my 17' has zero tongue weight and pulls like crap just 1" further back on the trailer than it is now. Tongue weight is over 250 right now. Busted the wheel on the jack at 2" forward and no way I'm lifting it-- period.

    So then on cars you start talking about axle wrap vs control arm length next. Longer arms have less leverage on their attachment point. So foxbody mustang control arms on a Tbird should help weight transfer and therefore launch. Fun...

  16. #16

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    Quote Originally Posted by FoxChassis View Post
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?168650

    See there for what the engineering number looks like. (Example: E4DW-BA)

    The date code is four numbers.
    Thank you! How about this - ECW-F2A

  17. #17

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    Four characters before the dash. The example I posted above breaks down as follows:

    E = 1980s decade
    4 = introduced or revised in 1984
    D = LTD model
    W = Axle and Driveshaft Engineering Office design
    BA = release level BA
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  18. #18

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    The cougar birds used a different wheel base, necessitating the longer arms. Marks and Fairmount did the same, depending on year. The 87-88 cougar birds also used the continental suspension arms for improved geometry and a bit better turning radius, later also used on the sn95's.
    2 1986 cougars (both 4 eyed and 5.0)
    1 1987 cougar

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