what axles codes stand for what factory gears on a 98 V6 , anyone have a breakdown of what gears match the axle code on the tag inside the door .....
Well stock V6's in 98 came with 2.73 gears in a 7.5" differential with an open-carrier. It appears Ford has used the same letters over all the years (1979-1993 all had the same codes), so here are those codes. (not posting the ones that haven't been used since 1983). First number is the gear ratio, 2nd code is the code if it is a limited-slip, 2nd code is for open-carriers. 2.73 M 8 3.07 - 7 3.08 Z Y 3.27 E 5 3.45 R F 3.55 K 2 3.73 W 6
Actually I should correct that, 94-98 was 2.73. In 93 autos had 3.73 and manuals had 3.55 gears. I got tempted to swap the 3.73 out of my 7.5" axle in my 93 to my 00, but decided they are OLD and if I sell the car, it'll be REALLY freaking slow.
well I checked the code , under axle is says 68 I drove the car and according the the speedo its definitaly calibrated for 2.73s not doubt in my mind about that , now as far as what they put in it , I would guess to say a 3.45 or 3.55 ......I am going to pull the cover in a day or so to check the number on the pinion , now as far as fixing the speedo , is that something the local ford dealer can do for cheap or is changing the gear or a speedcal the only way to get that done ......
A 98 uses a small speedo gear. I'm not entirely sure how that gear is replaced but it is not electrical like 99+ where they just use calculations. If you know what speed the speedometer is going, and what the true speed of the car is, I can tell you what gears they are, I got the formulas for that.
That's what I thought, but I figured I could be wrong. BTW, I can't even imagine how slow my 2.3 would be with 2.73's. A Toyota Prius would straight-up walk away from it, NOW, let alone with 2.73's
