moparmatt89

hey everyone,
I am in need of a rear end update and was wondering if i should buy a rebuilt third member or rebuild it myself. What i really want to know is how hard is it to rebuild a ford 8 inch rear end. Do you think i can do it, or is it to complex. Has anyone had any expereince rebuilding them?
Thanks

atomsk680

if you dont have any experience then i wouldnt touch the rear, same with the transmission

4reboy

But you gotta learn somehow

atomsk680

i wouldnt start with my rear end though, that would be a costly mistake, i would practice on someone elses

THUMPIN455

It isnt difficult but it isnt simple either. Its attention to detail, a few specialized tools, and a bit of knowledge. If you want to learn to build a killer rear end or a 3 speed auto, take some time, come up here and I will get you going on doing them yourself.

Just pickin one up and doing it will lead to messed up parts and it just gets expensive on an expotential scale. You can read about it, but its much more adviseable to learn by watching, then by doing. Its the little things that bit you with transmissions and rear ends. But they are by no means out of the realm of the average guy with a will, some tools, and the space to do the work. You just have to learn how before you do it.

Little things bite everyone, I still have a tough time getting AODs to work right, and havent built a good 700R4 since tech school. I cant think of what I am missing.. so it happens to everyone. the thing is to not allow a little thing to wipe out many thousands of dollars worth of parts and equipment. (kinda like my $8,000 drag engine that someone dumped stuff down the carb, and now its costing me another $4000 to fix it)

Halz5

I haven't and won't touch my 67 rear end but i played with my 8.2 rear end in my 66 chevy and learned my lesson. Don't just dig into it thinking you can figure it out as you go, big mistake! lol I ended up taking it to a guy to do it the right way... and i got 2 buy a second ring and pinion for my troubles.

Soaring

Bottom line. Don't fool around with that rear. Take it to a pro.

Colorado_Mustang

Just get a new/rebuilt third member. It'll be slightly more than having yours done, but you'll have 2 then.

palerider

I would like to just change gears in mine from the current 3.o to 3.55 does the same advice apply?

THUMPIN455

Unless you know how to setup gears and rear ends, then yes. it applies. Take it to someone who knows.