rear diff gear swap?
 

Hey der-

I have a '68 ford vanette with an 8.8 rear. I am looking for a shop or individual that can change the gears to something higher than 4.56, at least 4.11, maybe 3.8? Do any of yous people know someone? I live in St. Paul.

thanks a billion billion!

Josh Andersen
1968 Ford P-350 Vanette
1966 F-100 (for sale)
1997 ford explorer

rear diff gear swap?
 

You should be able to find a list of places in the phone book under trucks or four wheel drive. Try to find a company that just specializes in driveline and/or trucks. All the places that I know of are located in the NW suburbs. Like AA driveline in Anoka, Hooze in Ham Lake, 4 wheel parts and service in Ham lake and I know of some places in Princeton and Saint Cloud as well. I Know there has to be a lot more, I just don't know Saint Paul very well. I live by Milaca. Are you sure it's an 8.8 axle? Does it it have the removeable center section in the front of the axle instead of a rear cover? If it does it may be an 8 or 9 inch. Just a thought.

rear diff gear swap?
 

yes it is a 8.8 ford.
My problem is the size of the van. It is a step van, and it is a bugger finding a place to do it. They dont want to touch it if they can't get it on the lift, seems they forgot how to work from a creeper.... but sometimes it won't fit in the garage door.

I had a place called Standard Truck & Auto do some work on it about a year ago, and they completely ripped me off..

thanks for the names of those places, I'll check them out.

Josh Andersen
www.joshandersen.com
1968 Ford P-350 Vanette
Close Coupled

rear diff gear swap?
 

Standard Auto and Truck in Minneapolis off of Broadway and Washington? I don't deal with them but have gotten parts from Libson which is right around the corner. Thats kind of strange to find an 8.8 in a 68 van. Is this a swap because I though I was sure the 8.8 did not show up until the early 80's.

rear diff gear swap?
 

I don't believe there was a swap. It could very well be something else, i have always believed it was an 8.8

Where would an ID tag or stamp be? just somewhere on the housing?

It has a rear cover like the 8.8 does. It is also a one ton van if that matters.

And yes, the Standard Truck by Libson, but that location is actually closed now.

Josh Andersen
www.joshandersen.com
1968 Ford P-350 Vanette
Close Coupled

rear diff gear swap?
 

If its a 1 ton van the 8.8 is out of the question. More than likely you probably have a dana 60.

rear diff gear swap?
 

Here is what a Dana 60 looks like.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=11346&.jpg

rear diff gear swap?
 

Here are two pics of my rear end.... my vans rear end....
do you think this is a dana 60?

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=11406&.jpg
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=11407&.jpg

thanks for your knowledge!

Josh Andersen
www.joshandersen.com
1968 Ford P-350 Vanette
Close Coupled

rear diff gear swap?
 

That looks like a Dana 60 too me. It looks just like the picture I posted but aged a little thats all. Some shops may be more knowledgeable on these axles anyways since they are more commonly found in bigger trucks. Bigger than half tons anyways.

rear diff gear swap?