Driven5 wrote:
I have that with phone numbers!
Running it through my suspension spreadsheet yields these results for top speed in each gear (stock 6000rpm rev limit) and rpm in 5th at speed:
Axle.....1st.....2nd.....3rd.....4th....5th.....@60.....@70
3.55.....44......75.....112.....148.....218.....1650....1925
3.73.....42......71.....106.....141.....208.....1735....2025
4.10.....38......65.....97......129.....189.....1900....2225
I'd be looking at the 4.10 if I could get them, or the 3.73 if not...The 3.55 wouldn't even enter the equation for me.
Thanks for that.
I've noticed front 4.10 axles are pretty plentiful on ebay but rears demand a premium over 3.73. My suspicion is the Explorer IRS is similar enough to other vehicles (Mustang?) that those are finding their way into swaps. Just a guess. Plus I hear that the aluminum 8.8 weighs about the same as an iron 7.5, so that's a possible avenue for the apparent demand.
Might even luck out and find one with limited slip. Junkyard is always a craps shoot.
One thing that works in my favor is the 2002-ish Explorers have the halfshafts going through the frame. Great for interior packaging. Sucks for owners who want to do a lift as the axles will contact the hole in the frame if you try. So that generation generally doesn't get molested like the earlier ones.