Author Topic: Ford 8.8 3.55 or D30 3.73 gears (Read 2635 times)

Matt · « **Reply #12 on:** October 18, 2011, 12:29:41 PM »

I may have a set as well.

Sent from a smart phone, duh!

CopperCrawler · « **Reply #13 on:** October 18, 2011, 04:41:26 PM »

Well, here's what's going on... I bought an 8.8 from Michael to go in my Jeep. He thought it had 3.55s in it. We spun an axle and counted the yoke and it looked like he was correct. So, I got an HP D30 with 3.55 gears for a screamin deal to go in it too. Michael had said it was making a bearing noise so I went ahead and bought the master install kit to fix it. I got the 8.8 all prepped to add the new brackets, etc, then pulled the cover to discover it had 3.73s.

So, I have the 8.8 with 3.73s, a HP D30 with 3.55s and a LP D30 with 3.07s. Since I already have the master install kit for the 8.8, I'd really prefer to find 3.55s for it. 2nd preference is 3.73s for the HP D30, and least desirable is 3.73s for the LP D30.

(Or a trade for a HP D30 with 3.73s ;D )

Anyways, let me know what you've got and I'll decide from there.

Thanks for the help guys!!! {salute}

DOUG · « **Reply #14 on:** October 18, 2011, 05:47:16 PM »

Chuck,
If it's an option, I would go ahead and redo the 8.8 with the 3.73's, and not run 4x4 until I found and installed a set of 3.73's for the HP. There should be some low cost gears available if 3.73's was popular in the HP30..
Wouldn't want to go to 3.55's.

Logan · « **Reply #15 on:** October 18, 2011, 06:14:00 PM »

The thing is 3.73's weren't popular in the HP30's. Most common is going to be a 3.55 and the occasional 4.10 from a 4 banger.

CopperCrawler · « **Reply #16 on:** October 18, 2011, 06:43:52 PM »

And I have been running 3.07s for the last 5 years. Albiet it is definitely not ideal, 3.55s or 3.73s will be an upgrade, and there isn't much difference (to me anyways) between the two. So, it doesn't really matter whether it 3.55s or 3.73s, neither are what I want in the end. I will eventually go to 4.88s, but for now I just want to get the front and rear matched so I will still be able to wheel.

As I have said before on this forum, I broke the differential casing in half in my previous TJ just driving it on the street. And the only wheeling it ever saw was some semi rough dirt roads up to that point. So... the D35 in the rear of my Jeep scares the crap out of me. I will feel much better when the 8.8 is in whether its 3.55s or 3.73s.