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Need help deciding which axles

Which parts truck should I buy in my situation?

  • 1988 - 4.10 gears, 3" suspension lift, good FM146 & clutch

    Votes: 3 100.0%
  • 1990 - 3.45 open gears, D35 front, untested M5OD

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    3

Muddytruckn

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OK here's the deal. I currently have an 88 Bronco with a 3" BL & I had originally just thought about keeping 31x10.50s & the stock axles, maybe going up another 2-3" in suspension lift at the most. It serves me fine for most places I go with the occasional hanging up on the rear bumper. I was thrown a curveball yesterday when I found a nearly complete 90 Bronco while searching for a replacement transmission. I can probably pick up the whole truck for $5-600. Also ran across another 88 with a 3" suspension lift & good FM146 that I need.

Here's the dilemma I am having. My current gear ratio is 4.10 so it feels pretty good to drive, but with a D28 up front I'm limited to 31s, MAYBE 32x11.50s if I'm easy on the throttle from what I've been reading. The 90, although having a D35 front, has 3.45 open gears. It would allow me to jump to 33x12.50s or bigger if I wanted BUT I'm afraid the gearing would make driving it unbearable. I have no experience with gear swaps nor do I really have the extra money to have someone set up a set. Already looked & finding 4.10s seems impossible anyways.

If I bought the entire Bronco, I would use the manual doors and better center console for sure. I could buy just the M5OD for $200 in unknown condition from him. The engine is missing & not much else that I need. I also found an 88 Bronco with a good FM146, new clutch, stock axles, & a 3" suspension lift for $500 so if I passed on the 90, there's always that one too. Both are an hour drive from me. I have a budget of about $600 this week so what would you do?

Swap to D35 with open 3.45 gears
Keep D28 with 4.10 gears & worn out LS

I'm open to any suggestions, just know my input shaft is going out so a transmission is needed ASAP. I'd also like to buy new tires in the next month so matching to my drivetrain setup would be nice. Would 3.45s, 5 speed, 2.9, & 33s be that horrible, or would losing that inch of ground clearance & front end strength to keep the 4.10 gears be a smarter move?

So my poll is, buy the 88 parts truck or the 90. Both are similar condition & price. 88 has 3" lift, good transmission, new clutch. 90 has stronger front axle, better (IMHO) gen 2 door panels & console, untested transmission.
 


1986ranger2.9

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make sure the b2 isn't a dana 35 with 28 guts I seen that in a few b2s before look in tech articles under gear an axals to tell the diff with a real dana 35 an a hibird 35 with 28 parts I ran my 86 ex cab ranger with 37s an had no problem with my dana28 as long as I didn't beat the hell how of it if the tires are spinning an your not going anywhere so soon as that tire catches it will brake I only ever broke 1 half shaft then I got all new u joints I had a 2.9 5 speed 3.73 open ya I was first gear 4 low ever where but I didn't bitch but I just played in mud an trail ride nothing hard core don't get me wrong the 28 isn't very strong all matters how far you put your foot down
 
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Muddytruckn

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I thought the hybrid was only on 93-97 2.3 & 3.0 Rangers? Right now I'm leaning towards the 88 parts truck simply for the lift & knowing the transmission is good.

After hearing that someone runs 37s on a D28, it makes me a little less nervous about 32-33 inch tires. I'm running aluminum wheels to knock down on rotational mass to so hopefully that helps too. I'm not looking to go hardcore rock crawling or anything like that. Most I run is moderate trails & the occasional mud if I can't go around it. So as long as I'm not doing full throttle pulls with the wheels cocked or bouncing up a ledge I should be fine for a while until I find a good 4.10 D35? That sounds good to me.
 

1986ranger2.9

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when I was looking for a dana 35 with 4.10 I found a b2 1990 in the junkyard had a 35 but 28 parts so I left it an just got 4.88 for my new rears 31spline 8.8an real dana 35. but back to the 28 you can brake them with 235/75/15s that like a 30 maybe 31? my buddy keep braking them left an right but his off roading meant put your right foot down an don't let go till you make it or brake it the dana 28 to me isn't that bad of a axal as long as you take your time an don't have real heavy tires like super swamper boggers they will brake axals fast if you don't know how to wheel
 

4x4junkie

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The D28/35 hybrid thing did not come about until the '93 models.
If you found one in a BII, it was most likely swapped in by a previous owner at some point just for the 4.10 gears (it happens sometimes).

If it were me, what I would do is find a D35 (any D35) and take the chunk in somewhere to have it geared if you aren't comfortable with doing it yourself. With just the chunk it should be considerably cheaper since there would be no shop time needed for tearing down the whole axle.

4.88:1 seems to be the best ratio if you're planning on 33" tires anyway (unless by chance you got a 4.0L, then 4.56:1).
 

1986ranger2.9

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how would that drive on the road with 4.88 an 33s?? 2.9 screaming???? at 65? my 03 ranger screams down the road with 4.10s with 31s
 

Muddytruckn

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I'm running 4.10s & 31s right now without overdrive. I hit 3000 rpm at about 65 in 4th gear. I'm sure having a working 5 speed would tame it down a bit, lol.
 

4x4junkie

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I run 5.13s and 35s (same overall as 4.88 & 33s would be). This runs the engine a bit under 2600 RPM @ 65 MPH (M5OD trans, 0.79:1 overdrive, the auto's OD is an even taller 0.75:1), very much within the comfort range of a 2.9L. Infact, much lower than this can cause an increase in fuel consumption due to the engine struggling harder below it's torque peak (think of it like pedaling a mountain bicycle uphill in a too-high gear, you'll get winded a lot sooner than if you use a gear or two lower).

MPG lately has been about 20-21 (hwy... I don't drive it in-town enough to have a good city or "combined" figure for it, but guessing it's around 17).

If you don't have OD though, then certainly 4.56 or maybe even 4,10 would be a better ratio (I'd swap in an OD trans before making compromises on axle ratio).
 

Muddytruckn

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So I ended up passing on the 90. Just couldn't bring myself to downgrade in gear ratio & figure the 28 will hold up for now until I can find a 4.10 D35 in the future. I went to go get the 88 parts Bronco this weekend & found out after 2 hours of driving that the "lift" was really only 3" blocks in the rear with some kind of weird metal spacers wedged in the front springs. It had the stock 7.5/D28 axles with bald 33x12.50 TSLs. I passed on buying it too & just took the transmission, clutch, pressure plate, flywheel, speedo gear, and manual doors. Almost took his chopped fenders but I figure I can just cut mine if I ever need to.

Gonna turn my electric doors into 1/2 doors since I prefer manual anyways. I figured since that one had 3.42 gears it's speedo gear would be somewhat accurate with my 4.10s & 31s, but on my way to work this morning I was reading 35mph when I know I was closer to about 45-50. Oh well, it didn't cost me anything but a couple of minutes to switch them out. Will it be more accurate with bigger tires or maybe I'm going the wrong direction with speedo gears?
 

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