my 1987 F-150 has the 3.55 diff non-limited slip and was wondring how hard it would be to go to a junkyard and pickup a front and rear limited slip 3.55 and install them??

-Mattie

 

I don't think there ever was a front LS option for any 4x4 vehicle.

 

Mattie,

I have a LS 9" on my 78 and the carrier cover broke. I spent an hour in the boneyard looking thru barrels of diffs, and never found a LS. They seem to be hard to come by. I ended up getting an open diff and putting a mini-spool in it. The open diff was $50 and the guy there said a LS would be $150.

Good luck in your hunting and remember to count the splines!

Kevin K.

 

MAN have i got a deal for you! My frined just had his 8.8 LS dif rebuilt last year and then he decided to swap to a welded 9". SO we have a 8.8 LS with 3.55 gears in it...........but.....haha...this is where is get good....he decided to try an unknowing experiment shortly before his swap to the 9". You ever see that duralube ad when they ran the motor with no oil???? haha....well....let just say that the ring gear has more teeth missing than a East Texas Redneck! I thnk an open dif has more limited slip then this NEWLY REBUILT unit! Lesson....keep the oil in the axle...it will run better...done waisting your time! BUT i might add the 9" is an easy swap (if you get the right one...measure measure measure the spring pearchs!!! Or you will become real good friends with Mr Dewalt and Mr Miller!) We did it in a '95 Ford Bronco.....yeah....that Speed sensor was a Mother Dog....but we got it to work.....Im done......

Dan "Mudinford" MacDonald

'86 Ford F-150 4x4 w/ a spooled mono Dana 44/a spooled 9" running 38" TSL. 300ci, Clifford Intake and Headders, .05" Milled Head with SBC valves, port work
500 CFM Edelbrock, Clif. 290* cam with Rhoads lifters, .040" TRW Pist w/ Moly rings.
Future plans: A draw through Twin(or big single) Turbo setup (to help with the upper end)

 

Has anyone used a Detroit True Trac? I'm leaning towards one for my '85's Dana 44 TTB front diff. I'm told it's more effective than a limited slip, but streetable without the noise and ratcheting of a locker. I'd also welcome any comments or experiences with the Spicer/Dana Trak Lok, Powertrax No-Slip, or Eaton Posi..... Thanks in advance!

 

I have a true trac in the front of my half ton and a dana trac lok in the rear of my ranger. Both are unnoticeable on the street but the true trac does seem to work better off-road.
-Cope

95 F-150 4x4
4.9L M5OD
Front Truetrac Rear Detroit
3.73 Precision Gears
Warn Premiums
4" Superlift Superunner

 

I appreciate the feedback! I think I'll head in that direction.

 

hi, i've used the tru-trac in several rigs , and they have been pretty good, they don't like shock loads much ( sudden traction),and they have a little trick too, often when your wheeling only 1 tire will spin, causing you to question what you just spent all that money for, all that is required is a touch on the brakes to cause the tru-trac to lock up and work like a locker , at least until the other tire touches the ground.

 

I think I have just what you are looking for there. Read the topic about power trax lock right in this forum and e-mail me if you are interested in my trac loc units. Marriedguy1@iwon.com

 

I just bought a trac loc off ebay for 50 bucks. They are fairly pleantiful on ebay, make sure its 8.8 with 31 splines though. The mustangs had 8.8 with 28 splines and there are a lot of them out there.


Primary rig is:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Sunroof, and some 32" BFG Muds .

Pictures are in!!


Then theres:
99' Mustang GT 4.6L
88' F-250 Superduty 4x4 351/c6
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 with a
3 spd column shifter. Top speed is 65mph, Go Baby Go!

 

Back in the 80's ford offered a trac lock posi for the D44 front on some broncos and 150's. One of our shop rigs bought new in 86 as with the dual shocks came with a posi in the front and rear as an ordered option on the build sheet.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=4039&.jpg
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=474&.jpg

Why Buy new when you can build and tailor it cheaper?
F-350 4x4 ext cab Short Bed Green Monster, it is now Sporting a 300HP 715lb/ft Dyno rated 5.9L 12v Cummins diesel w/ NV4500 5spd and custom NP205 ford T-case w/ rear spicer 1410 yoke, Converted to Sterling 10.5 gears w/3.73 gears using the 41 spline pinion and 1410 U-Joints, Power-Lok equipt Dana 60 front, 33's on 16x8" Outlaw II's. (Used to have)205000 miles, Mass air 460 w/ performance heads and a E40d to 5spd conversion and Doug Thorleys. Old EFI 460 @10 MPG to the 12 V @ 23.2 MPG @ 75 MPH and loving it.
My other toy is a '69 CJ-5 354 Hemi 4 spd 4.88's 32x12.50 MThompsons w/ power-lok 44 rear.

 

 

> don't think there ever was a front LS option for any 4x4 vehicle

I know for a fact that early Bronco II trucks came with LS front axles.