[spoons22]

Installing 3.73 Gears....Is this a job for a professional to install? Just didn't
want to bite the bullet for the labor cost..Any advice would be great appreciated.
Thanks.

[mustangtk]

This definitely a job best left to someone knowledgeable in differentials. As there are a couple of special tools and procedures in order to setup a diff. I work at a Ford dealer and have done quite a few, we normally charge 5 hours for a gear change including replacing the bearings and races.Shop around and ask around your area for recommended shops.

[Mana4Real]

Have a professional do it... Labor ran me $200... I think that's the only thing I didn't do to my car myself.

[nl mex stang]

Originally Posted by spoons22

Just didn't want to bite the bullet for the labor cost..Any advice would be great appreciated.
Thanks.

Damn, I'm glad I've got friends who are mechanics.....

[rla2005]

I did my own gear install in my garage with no air tools. 2 trips to the machine shop for them to press on new bearings and shim the pinion gear. $20 in labor cost. $22 for 2 cases of beer I drank doing the job. Mine was more involved than a simple gear swap. Pinion bearing went bad, real bad, and filled the rearend with shiny metal flakes. I removed the whole housing so I could thoroughly clean it out. I took the time and put in new bearings, races, and rebuilt the differential clutches as well as installing the 3.73 gears. It wasn't too bad of a job. Car has been running 3.73s for almost 2 years now. If you are very mechanically inclined, and do not need it done in one day, it is within reason to do it yourself. My two cents worth.

Randy

1997 GT 5-speed
1993 F-150 Lightning