HI!... ? Engine stands can be bought for like $35.

 

The heads are down at the shop. They are going to diamond cut the gasket surface as per Ford spec, vacuum test the valves, replace the valve seals, and since I have the 4 thread plug holes, they are installing hard anodised aluminum full thread inserts that lock in the head. They'll be ready to drop back in when I get them back. The exhaust parts are at the fabricator getting chopped & tack'd. Should be doing the reassembly by Fri. night.

 

Sound's good. The plug inserts will give more peace of mind!!

 

They were an extra $200, I do know that. Better to pay now than later I suppose. He was working on a blown 4.6/5.4 plug hole when I walked in, and said he does at least 1 per week. I just hope I'm not making a mistake by not doing cams.

I can't wait to do the gears though. Wish I could justify not dropping in an Eaton TrueTrak. I get by fine without, (4x4 when I need it) but it just doesn't seem right not to.

Got the idler arm on and power steering fluid exchanged tonight.

 

HI!... Stat away from the EATON L/S. It's junk. Everyone I know that has installed one has broke it or had problems with it.

 

Are you talking about the Eaton limited slip OEM style or the Eaton / Detroit TrueTrac that uses helical gears?

http://www.eaton.com/EatonCom/Produc...trac/CT_130283

What do you reccommend?

 

HI!... The EATON L/S style is crap.The KEVLAR clutches melt. Go with the DETROIT "TRUE TRAC".

 

Just to eliminate confusion, Eaton makes a Posi and they own Detroit True Track. So if you buy a Detroit True Track sold by Eaton you are getting a helical gear differential. If you buy an Eaton Posi LSD you are getting clutch type differential that has carbon disc clutch packs.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

Right, I'm only interested in the TrueTrac, clutchless "locker". They're just so damn 'spensive.

 

Jackal, I missed the True Track reference. It is NOT an Eaton, it is a Detroit...important difference. Yes Eaton may own Detroit, but that is like saying you own a Ford Mountaineer.

Eaton Limited Slips are junk, as Neal said. Detroit True Tracks are good. A Detroit Locker is awesome. As near as I can remember, all Detroit lockers replace the carrier because none are strong enough to keep things from flying apart, eventually, under power...unless you have a GM Corporate 14 bolt which would be odd, though not impossible, under the rear of your Ford. (Damn that was a long sentence. I'll leave it to the English experts here to rectify.) The problem with the Detroit locker is it's probably too harsh and serious overkill to use on the street in most situations (Built5.4's truck, and possibly Neal's, excepted...I apologize now to those of you I missed!)

If you want the ultimate in "almost foolproof" why don't you look into a Lincoln Locker? Though I must say a spool would be better if this is an option.

Good luck and I can't wait to see the final result. I'd like to play with mine a bit, but can't walk that long at this time.

 

I thought Eaton bought Detroit and the name, and they were now one and the same, with the Eaton TrueTrac getting a 3rd. helicical gear vs. the old Detroit's 2...???

 

jackal do you have an 8.8 or a 9.75?

to shuler. when referencing builts truck, how could you say that his 9.75 isnt strong? the ford 9.75 is about even with the D60 in some aspects and stronger in many

 

8.8"

 

Maybe they did, I have no earthly idea and do not care, but your position of ownership seems to be supported according to the website. What I said still stands, regardless. Ford owns the Mercury name, don't they? What would you say if someone said they had a Ford Mountaineer?

Perhaps you should click on the link you posted and locate the "Eaton Truetrac" for us...I'll shut the f**k up if you can find it. I see the Detroit Truetrac listed, but can't seem to locate the Eaton Truetrac.

I'm not trying to flame you, but there is a significant difference. Detroit markets the Truetrac, regardless of parent company, much like the Mercury Explorer and F-150 vs the Ford Mountaineer and MarkLT...something sounds wrong there.

I still stand in full support of my previous post. Get the Detroit Truetrac for your current application for the savings and driveability over the Detroit Locker, Lincoln Locker, or spool IMHO.

Just to clarify, the Lincoln Locker involves the purchasing or borrowing of a "Lincoln" welder, which has many other benefits, and welding the spider gears in order to prevent any differential in rotational speed between the rear tires, much like a spool functions, only cheaper.

Enjoy your Truetrac, Jackal and keep the info coming!!! It is great!

 

Slow down there, scottbigred!!! Read my post again, please. In case it was not clear, I was referencing my, admittedly limited, knowledge of the Detroit Locker replacing the carrier in ALL applications, with the exception of the GM Corporate 14 Bolt due to carrier strength issues. Last time I looked, even the Dana 60s carrier was replaced in Detroit Locker applications. In my reference to Built5.4 and Neal's trucks, I was referencing their engine output versus the strength of their rear ends in locked applications. I do not think Jackal has this problem, currently, and think a Detroit (not Eaton ) Truetrac will work fabulously for him. I only referenced their trucks because they were the only ones I could think of with that kind of power off the top of my head. Again, my apologies to those of you I missed with wickedly powerful engines!!

As an example, if you have a rear strong enough to handle 500 ftlbs of torque, tires with a tractive effort of 400ftlbs of torque each, have an engine pumping out 600ftlbs of torque coupled with an open differential, then I don't really see an immediate problem. When you change nothing but install an apparatus that increases tractive effort significantly above the 500ftlbs level, regardless if it is a limited slip, locker, spool, or slicks then (assuming the carrier is the weak link) you will have problems with the rear end eventually.

I certainly hope that makes sense, because it was a pain to type.