D35 swop need help


mkpecor

mkpecor

15+ Year Member

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Dec 27, 2007
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black diamond W.A.
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1988
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Manual
i just picked up a 92 explorer so i can do the 8.8/d35 swop in to my 88 ranger super cab 4x4, i looked over every thing in the tech section and want to know from peaple that has done this, is there any trouble spots? or fabing ? i know i have to do the axle over in the rear no problem, but how is the front ? thanks mike...:icon_thumby:
 
Your front drive shaft will probably have to be shortened.. Other than that, 100% bolt in.

EDIT: with a 6" suspension, you might not have to shorten the front drive shaft. Bolt everything in but leave to coil spring out on the driver's side. Use a floor jack to raise the driver's side beam up and see if the slip yoke for the front drive shaft bottoms before the beam hits it's bump stop. If it doesn't, you're good to go.
 
The Exploder d-35 is wider than a Ranger. 1 1/2"? Once you do the swap your tie rods will need to be adjusted WAY out. Everything else fits just fine.
The swap is well worth the trouble though. You also need to weld the shock mounts on to the 8.8.
 
Last edited:
Ummm... you need to use the steering from the D35.
 
so do peaple prefer the ranger d35? if so why? whats the differance? sorry for all the questions i just want to learn as much as i can be for i do it so it goes smooth..
 
I prefer the Exploder D-35. It's a little wider. Wider is good. I did use the Ranger Tie rods. If you have the Exploder tie rods Use them, It will be closer. I redrilled my pivot points so that the axle slider wouldn't bind. I'm pretty sure that I read here, other people didn't and it worked fine.
 
Pretty sure all D35s are the same width...
 
Yup, a d35 is a d35 be it in a ranger or explorer, just the 8.8's were different widths
 
You can also get a 1354 transfer case instead of the 1350 you have now, and use the front shaft that goes with that. That's what I'm doing.
 
if you have drop brackets or are going to get drop brackets the one for the drivers side has to be the better one peice version, the econo bracket that drops down the cast ford bracket will punch a hole in a D35
 
Yeah that too. I think I saw something about clearancing the diff/ bracket slightly?
 
Sunk said:
Yeah that too. I think I saw something about clearancing the diff/ bracket slightly?
Click to expand...

ive used a grinder on the econo bracket before, it works but theres probably a good chance it could still hit
 
The Ranger and Exploder d-35s are a different width. I can prove it for you if you'ld like. I have a Ranger beam in my back yard right now, Of course it is under about three feet of packed snow but, I would dig it out to prove a point.
 
i think you have bad beams. i know when i fawk my beams up they change size and steering geometry:D
 
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