rear axle swap

[blackhoss89]

hey guys , probally should have asked first ,but i have an 89with an 8.8 that according to the metal tag has a 3.55 ratio i think , recently it for some reason (soon to be known) locked up, long story short bought a 500 dollar 88 with the same engine and axle code which is in the door jamb (code # 18), my only worry is that the metal tags are differentth 88 tag reads (WFL C 4F05, then below that , L55 8 8S807A) the 89 reads(S808A, then below that,3 55 8 8 5J04)

Some one smarter than me (probaly most anybody here) HELP!!!! [-o<

p.s. the whole reason i worry is that i know different ratios front and rear will break stuff, and well im kinda tired of not bein able to drive the ol' girl.

 

[Yardape]

They should be the same, dont worry too much about it, to eliminate the guesswork remove the rear cover and rotate the ring gear until you find all the numbers. If the ratio is not stamped in, there will be two numbers. One is the ring gear count and the other is the pinion. Divide the numbers together and that will be your ratio. If there are a bunch of numbers and you cany decide which are the right ones, count the teeth on the ring gear and find that number with the others, then it will be clear which one also belongs to the pinion. If this doesnt work for some reason then you will need to count the pinion teeth as well, its hard to do but is possible. It should be 3.55 but thats assuming its stock

 

[Yardape]

The difference in the tags are probably, one may be limited slip and the other a conventional

 

[va92bronco]

The 88 was a limited slip 3.55. The 89 does nothave limited slip, but still a 3.55.

 

[WasACop3436]

The 88 was a limited slip 3.55. The 89 does nothave limited slip, but still a 3.55.

Yup! Upgrade!! /