I had neglected a bunch of rear end symptoms for years culminating in the rear seizing, the drive shaft spinning the nut loose, then dropping on the highway (that was fun).
I hastily bought a junkyard rear with little regard for VIN info or stampings or anything. My intention was to use the junkyard rear as a core, and rebuild it (since my wrecked rear was likely unrebuildable at that point), and install gears of the original ratio, or a more optimal ratio (was having a trans problem that was easily remidied with a $600 rebuild, but at the time considered it may have been a lost cause and entertained switching to an AOD or manual, if I was shelling out cash for a trans anyway)
Since then, the van had been taken off the road for years. Just this summer, I did 10 years worth of catch up repairs on the motor, emissions, fuel system, brakes and exhaust.
As I am driving it again, I am reminded that the gear ratio of the junkyard rear is just plain wrong.
Top speed is around 65-70 (per the speedo, which is also wrong, of course), v.s. 80-85 with the old rear (not in nearly as good running order as it is now--it's a /6 1bbl, btw)
The JY rear is off of a larger V8 van (b250, 15 passenger, I think) with larger brakes, etc. It's starting to make noises (moreover the motor is now quiet enough for me to hear--mostly gear mesh noise, but still...)
I'm looking to reseal the rear, check the bearings and change the gears to the original ratio for the van.
How do I identify the JY rear?
How do I decode my VIN to find the original ratio apart from asking a dealer? (my local Dodge dealer is not so thrilled to hear from the likes of me. Where I live nobody drives anything over 5 years old, and the parts department seems to exist just to provide repair parts to thier own service dept, and replacement parts to body shops. They would gladly do without my $100 worth of business every three years or so.)
Any info is greatly appreciated.
I hastily bought a junkyard rear with little regard for VIN info or stampings or anything. My intention was to use the junkyard rear as a core, and rebuild it (since my wrecked rear was likely unrebuildable at that point), and install gears of the original ratio, or a more optimal ratio (was having a trans problem that was easily remidied with a $600 rebuild, but at the time considered it may have been a lost cause and entertained switching to an AOD or manual, if I was shelling out cash for a trans anyway)
Since then, the van had been taken off the road for years. Just this summer, I did 10 years worth of catch up repairs on the motor, emissions, fuel system, brakes and exhaust.
As I am driving it again, I am reminded that the gear ratio of the junkyard rear is just plain wrong.
Top speed is around 65-70 (per the speedo, which is also wrong, of course), v.s. 80-85 with the old rear (not in nearly as good running order as it is now--it's a /6 1bbl, btw)
The JY rear is off of a larger V8 van (b250, 15 passenger, I think) with larger brakes, etc. It's starting to make noises (moreover the motor is now quiet enough for me to hear--mostly gear mesh noise, but still...)
I'm looking to reseal the rear, check the bearings and change the gears to the original ratio for the van.
How do I identify the JY rear?
How do I decode my VIN to find the original ratio apart from asking a dealer? (my local Dodge dealer is not so thrilled to hear from the likes of me. Where I live nobody drives anything over 5 years old, and the parts department seems to exist just to provide repair parts to thier own service dept, and replacement parts to body shops. They would gladly do without my $100 worth of business every three years or so.)
Any info is greatly appreciated.