Posted by Kanavas on March 12, 19100 at 13:05:10:
In Reply to: PW Differential Gears posted by J Gilman on March 12, 19100 at 11:49:40:
PW's could be had in either 5:83 or 4:88 rations.
The majority were 5:83, as 80 horsepower and 4:88's didn't do that well with a 5000 pound truck. If you have a fresh engine, 4:88's with an unloaded truck should do about 52-54 mph at 2500 rpm.
If you go to the part sources section of Joe's page, you'll see Veteran Vehicles. Bob Stahl offers 4:88 conversions for your differentials.
I think this conversion costs about $800-900 per differential. I had my 5:83 rear diff freshened up by Bob, and am installing it today. Takes a while for that 90 weight to flow down a tube into the axle! I'll test it within 1-2 hours.
Sending your diff to Bob has a 2-3 week turn around time. Time in your garage to in/out the differential is 4-6 hours depending on beer/coffee breaks.
He put a used matched 5:83 set and new bearings/thrust washers in it. I've been driving it for years, but the gears and bearings had a lot of rust on them from who knows how many years of dormancy before I got the truck.
Repairs and freight cost me $800. The differential in a good strong case weighs 140 pounds. This can be sent via UPS. Freight each way was $57. Wisconsin/Mass/Wisc.
Steve