RE vs FE differential compatibility

[Godzilla]

I have a 95 TC 2000 Fe. I found a similar bus same rearend but it is a rear engine can I just flip the diff 3rd over ( rotate 180°) and put it in my front engine rearend or will my bus now drive backwards... Or should I just keep searching for a third member from a front engine... thanks .

[Njsurf73]

I may be mistaken... The re is in line with the rear just reversed.. so the "front of the engine" is facing the back. The engine and transmission rotate the same direction... If they are the same then they will be a direct swap, no flipping necessary.

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[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Godzilla

...or will my bus now drive backwards...

Yes, unfortunately you will have to get good at using your mirrors going backwards down the highway.

differential goes both ways- bus goes both forward and reverse.

Gears are cut to work better/quieter in one direction, however. Proper lubrication is also a consideration.

more info

So, yes, it would work...for awhile. How long is anyone's guess.

[somewhereinusa]

Originally Posted by Njsurf73

I may be mistaken... The re is in line with the rear just reversed.. so the "front of the engine" is facing the back. The engine and transmission rotate the same direction... If they are the same then they will be a direct swap, no flipping necessary.

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Think about that. In a rear engine the engine is "pulling" you backwards. Only has one speed that direction. Turn the whole drive train around, the engine is "pulling" you frontwards, only has one speed.

[Njsurf73]

Originally Posted by somewhereinusa

Think about that. In a rear engine the engine is "pulling" you backwards. Only has one speed that direction. Turn the whole drive train around, the engine is "pulling" you frontwards, only has one speed.

Now I am lost. Lol

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[Iceni John]

A few years ago someone here changed the diff on his RE bus to get higher gearing. He got a complete axle from a truck and turned it upside down (i.e. he did not just rotate it horizontally so the old right side was then on the left), and he had to drill new oil fill and drain holes in the casing. If you rotate the axle horizontally, you'll have one forward and several reverse gears!

John