Panther Differential Equation Unknowns

"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura) 01/10/2020 at 16:49 • Filed to: None

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The Bruiser has an open differential. Guy I bought the car from says that of the dozens of Vics he’s owned, only one or two have been two-legged. Two questions:

1. What is going to be the rear end in this car? You know, 9-inch blah-blah, whatever...

2. What is the most cost effective way to close the rear diff? Please do not suggest that I weld the gears.

Also, I am going to do some straightening tomorrow, assuming the thing will pass smog.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/10/2020 at 17:11

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I believe it’s an 8.8. You can get a limited slip third member that should bolt in for something like $250, though you’d obviously need to have it installed by someone experienced.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/fms-m-4204-f318c?seid=srese1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1IyCq4b65gIVGI7ICh1dqAupEAQYASABEgJUD_D_BwE

feather-throttle-not-hair > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/10/2020 at 17:14

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My good friend had 2 crown vics, when he bought the second one, i remember him looking under the car for a certain stamping on the rear diff to confirm it was an LSD.

I dude huge 2nd gear donuts in it with 4 people in that car in a wet parking lot. It was definitely an LSD, so I know some of them came with one.

Edit: reading comprehension fail . My comment was probably not helpful because you already knew that. I’m sorry.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/10/2020 at 17:20

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I recall reading something that they had 3 rear diff options in the crown vic for police... something like a 2.73 , 3.27 and a 3.55 .

And when you say ‘close the rear diff’, you mean get a limited slip diff? I would guess the best way is to get a used axle one from an auto recycler that you would swap in . Searching through car-part.com might help.

And info on what you need to look for specifically is covered in this link:

https://community.cartalk.com/t/crown-vic-differential/56523

And here’s some more info:

https://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=3525842

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/10/2020 at 17:33

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The guys on Roadkill and Hot Rod Garage are bolting things in all the time. Looks pretty doable. Do you think an image of the pumpkin from the rear would be enough for someone in the know to identify it? (Obviously not identify the final drive ratio...)

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > feather-throttle-not-hair 01/10/2020 at 17:35

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For that, you must smell my rubber smoke.

Cash Rewards > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/10/2020 at 17:40

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Don't know much about these, but on Miatas there is no way to tell from the outside. I hope you get a better answer, but make sure it's from a trustworthy source before you spend money based on that info.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/10/2020 at 17:43

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While it depends on where you live (certain PDs only bought trac-lok cars, CHP being one of them) - the open diffs are way, way, way more common. I have bought and sold nearly 20 CVPIs from different states and have never had a trac -lok car. 8.8 rear is what you’re looking for, easy to find and super easy to swap. 

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 01/10/2020 at 17:44

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Thank you.

someassemblyrequired > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/10/2020 at 17:45

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Diff option is on the manufacturers plate, it’s on the drivers door on Canadian cars. Check under axle, and then you can google what the codes mean for your year.  I think for some years X5 is the LSD and Z5 is the open.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 01/10/2020 at 17:46

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The P71 only came in 3.55 for the regular cars, 3.27 was an option for the “street appearance package” unmarked cars (as well as the regular civilian Vic and LTC).  The 2.73 rear was really only used in the Grand Marquis.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 01/10/2020 at 17:59

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8.8 sounds like the information I need. Is that the same diff as Mustang and Exploder? On Roadkill and Hot Rod Garage, they frequently buy gear clusters -- or whatever -- and pull out the gear shafts and swap out the gear units. I wondered whether I might do something like that and leave the axle in the car.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 01/10/2020 at 17:59

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This one is definitely a one-legger and it severely impedes acceleration out of the gate.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 01/10/2020 at 18:10

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What about something like this? Maybe not this exact one, but the idea?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-8-8-Mustang-Explorer-F150-Limited-Slip-Traction-Lok-31-Spline-Carrier/174148117752?hash=item288c0964f8:g:mmMAAOSwwB5bncpD

vondon302 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/10/2020 at 18:21

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It's a 8.8 but you already know that. My old p71 had a 3.27 limited slip. I'd try to find a 3.55 if you could. Btw after 2 winters of high speed donuts the axle seals let go, just a fyi.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/10/2020 at 18:24

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Ford traditionally has done a tag off one of the pumpkin that should say something like 3.73 LS or 3.55 NS.  I don’t know if they only did that on trucks or also the panther cars.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > vondon302 01/10/2020 at 18:26

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Other opponaut said these were almost exclusively 3.55. If I understand what’s involved, it looks like you can buy a LSD / Trac Loc that the ring gear bolts to for $150-200 on Ebay.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 01/10/2020 at 18:27

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I will look tomorrow. I am going to use some come-alongs and jacks and what not to straighten things out a little bit.

vondon302 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/10/2020 at 18:28

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There was few guys in my area selling complete axles in my area. Do a search for taxi parts.

NKato > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/10/2020 at 18:30

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You know, these questions can be answered in a cinch at CVN’s discord. https://discord.gg/tu9zDC (link valid for 1 day)

First, check your door sticker. Look for the code like X5, Z5... (3.27 LSD, 3.27 open respectively). I know 3.55's are used in some departments. 3.27 and 3.55 were the options offered from the factory for p71s. So if your door code doesn't have those digits, then you're likely on a 3.55 open. 

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > NKato 01/10/2020 at 18:34

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Thank you for the link. Is Discord where the Ops spoke of repairing to when Kinja was going to shut Oppo down? My work network filter is blocking me.

I have enough information to get some information. I am going to do some straightening tomorrow and I’ll suss out the VINfo.

MM54 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/10/2020 at 19:00

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It’ll be an 8.8, so parts (new and junkyard) are common. I had one with 3.55 open and 3.27 LSD - while the 3.55 was noticeably peppier off the line, the LSD on the 3.27 made it all-around better. Depending what ratio is in yours, a gear change while you have it apart may be worthwhile. T here should be a tag on the cover, will tell you the ratio (e.g. 3L27 is 3.27 LSD, just 3 55 is 3.55 open, etc)

diplodicus forgot his password > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/10/2020 at 19:38

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Get better tires

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > diplodicus forgot his password 01/10/2020 at 20:07

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The right rear tire is in pretty decent shape, actually.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/10/2020 at 20:50

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Yours is a 2010/11, right? 06+ uses 31 spline, pre-05 uses 28. So that looks like it’ll work for your application. 

NKato > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/10/2020 at 21:34

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Just got home, so now I can bomb you with proper information.

The 2010 CVPI has actually three differential options.

X5: 3.27 Locking
Z5: 3.27 Open
C6: 3.55 Locking

There were no open differential options for the 3.55 due to the higher acceleration curve it had. You can identify the type of differential you have by checking the metal tag that’s held by one of the differential cover bolts (assuming it’s still there), or by checking the door label.

As for Discord we do have an OppositeLock Discord server. The one I linked was for CrownVic.net, which offers more specific information. Be warned -- they are panther enthusiasts.

NKato > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/10/2020 at 21:42

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Regarding wanting to get a locking differential, it’s not actually that hard. Just grab the parts out of a 3.27 locking diff and throw it into yours.

Here’s some workable information you can use: 

https://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2583920

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > NKato 01/11/2020 at 01:15

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NKato > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/11/2020 at 06:22

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That’s a 3.27 open diff. Same gear ratio as my car. Getting it converted to limited slip isn't too hard. Search the crownvic.net forums or visit their discord chat server to ask about it. 

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > NKato 01/11/2020 at 08:21

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I read a few posts there. I might prefer 3.55 for better acceleration. We'll see what happens. Today I'll try and get it to pass smog.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > NKato 01/11/2020 at 14:05

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I claimed my account; thanks for the invite. Now, to learn the environment...

NKato > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/12/2020 at 00:05

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Just remember, a switch to 3.55 would require a reprogram on the ECM to ensure the speedometer displays correctly.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > NKato 01/12/2020 at 08:44

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I may just ghost ride this car off a cliff.

NKato > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/12/2020 at 17:48

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I wouldn't.