Ranger 8.8/7.5 swap

William Spitzer · 10-06-2011, 02:43 PM

I was reading about the 8.8 explorer swap, and i have a couple of unanswered questions. im not really concerned about the 28/31 spline difference, i just want the ease of a dirrect bolt in, as i dont trust myself welding on an axle. do the 8.8 ranger axles have disc brakes? how common were the ranger 8.8's, common enough to find in the junkyard? the major reason i want the ranger 8.8 is for the limited slip diff. for the winter months that are quickly approaching.

legoms013 · 10-06-2011, 03:01 PM

Yes the Ranger 8.8 is dime a dozen in the junkyards.

And 7 out of 10 will have Ford's Trak-Lok limited slip. I wouldn't trust a junkyard one to actually working like it should however, so buy a rebuild clutch kit as well.

As far as disc brakes, most will not. IIRC some FX level 2's might have had them...but like I am said I am unsure. Not having disc brakes is why many owners look for the explorer 8.8's since they have them post 1996.

William Spitzer · 10-06-2011, 05:10 PM

i'd rather have the drum, dont really wanna run brake lines lol, im accumulating quite a junkyard list

**Mac** · 10-06-2011, 07:03 PM

I've found that less than 50% have the L/S but that really varys per area. Only Rangers that come with the disc brakes are the 2011. I'm also one that is happy with a good set of drums on a stock truck.
Dave

William Spitzer · 10-06-2011, 07:19 PM

well maybe i'll get lucky and find one with 3.73's and L/S, if not im sure i can find one with the 8.8 and i'll just get a lockright

**Original_Ranger84** · 10-06-2011, 08:52 PM

I got an explorer 8.8 with 3.73's and limited slip for 100 bucks and had the perches welded on at a shop for another 100 bucks. After that it shoudl just bolt in and you don't have to run brake lines for the explorer.

William Spitzer · 10-06-2011, 08:58 PM

so once the perches are on theres no other really difficult modfication?

**4x4junkie** · 10-06-2011, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mac

I've found that less than 50% have the L/S but that really varys per area. Only Rangers that come with the disc brakes are the 2011. I'm also one that is happy with a good set of drums on a stock truck.
Dave

'10 and '11 have disc brakes.

Around my area the prevalence of limited slips seems about 30% or so.
The axle was made 2" wider in '93, so you'd want to stay with these axles ('93-'09) if you have a '98.

**Original_Ranger84** · 10-07-2011, 01:58 AM

As far as I can tell I haven't seen anything that is major. Of course I haven't thrown mine in yet but the e brake cable might require a little mod like a hole drilled or something (not to bad), last I checked the brake lines were close and atleast no hardline mods, you have to get larger u bolts and spring plates and the shock mounts also need put on.

The only thing I am not sure about is the rear sway bar.

William Spitzer · 10-07-2011, 07:36 AM

who needs sway bars? lol, but that dosent sound too bad, a project always seams more difficult before you start i guess

scotts90ranger · 10-07-2011, 09:04 AM

spring perches and shock mounts are required

BRONCONUT · 10-07-2011, 09:29 AM

If a person was going to go to all the work of swapping ales and moving perches and tabs for shocks I would go ahead and put in a 9" and be done with it. Putting the VSS behind the t-case would only take a few extra steps and cost a couple hundred more but in the long run you are way stronger and have no c-clip's.
I guess breaking so many 8.8's made me dislike them, any more if I am playing with axles I go bigger.

10-06-2011, 02:43 PM	#1
William Spitzer Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Fulks Run, VA Year: 1986, 1994 Make: Ford Model: Bronco II, Ranger Engine: 2.9, 2.3 Class: 4x4, 2wd Used For: Winter driving and wheeling, keeping me broke and being a project. DD, project street truck Posts: 153 Rep Power: 5 iTrader: (0)	Ranger 8.8/7.5 swap I was reading about the 8.8 explorer swap, and i have a couple of unanswered questions. im not really concerned about the 28/31 spline difference, i just want the ease of a dirrect bolt in, as i dont trust myself welding on an axle. do the 8.8 ranger axles have disc brakes? how common were the ranger 8.8's, common enough to find in the junkyard? the major reason i want the ranger 8.8 is for the limited slip diff. for the winter months that are quickly approaching.
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10-06-2011, 03:01 PM	#2
legoms013 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CA Year: 1996 Make: Ford Ranger Model: XLT 4x4 Engine: 4.0L V6 Class: Serious Bolt On 4x4 Used For: DD, Rearranging the Landscape Posts: 2,460 Rep Power: 18 iTrader: (7)	Yes the Ranger 8.8 is dime a dozen in the junkyards. And 7 out of 10 will have Ford's Trak-Lok limited slip. I wouldn't trust a junkyard one to actually working like it should however, so buy a rebuild clutch kit as well. As far as disc brakes, most will not. IIRC some FX level 2's might have had them...but like I am said I am unsure. Not having disc brakes is why many owners look for the explorer 8.8's since they have them post 1996. __________________ '00 Ranger on '96 TTB frame/drivetrain
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10-06-2011, 05:10 PM	#3
William Spitzer Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Fulks Run, VA Year: 1986, 1994 Make: Ford Model: Bronco II, Ranger Engine: 2.9, 2.3 Class: 4x4, 2wd Used For: Winter driving and wheeling, keeping me broke and being a project. DD, project street truck Posts: 153 Rep Power: 5 iTrader: (0)	i'd rather have the drum, dont really wanna run brake lines lol, im accumulating quite a junkyard list
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10-06-2011, 07:03 PM	#4
Mac Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: C. Wisconsin Year: 2003 Make: Ford Model: Ranger XLT Ext Cab Engine: 3.0 Class: 2WD Street Used For: Summer Beater Posts: 4,414 Rep Power: 55 iTrader: (2)	I've found that less than 50% have the L/S but that really varys per area. Only Rangers that come with the disc brakes are the 2011. I'm also one that is happy with a good set of drums on a stock truck. Dave
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10-06-2011, 07:19 PM	#5
William Spitzer Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Fulks Run, VA Year: 1986, 1994 Make: Ford Model: Bronco II, Ranger Engine: 2.9, 2.3 Class: 4x4, 2wd Used For: Winter driving and wheeling, keeping me broke and being a project. DD, project street truck Posts: 153 Rep Power: 5 iTrader: (0)	well maybe i'll get lucky and find one with 3.73's and L/S, if not im sure i can find one with the 8.8 and i'll just get a lockright
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10-06-2011, 08:58 PM	#7
William Spitzer Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Fulks Run, VA Year: 1986, 1994 Make: Ford Model: Bronco II, Ranger Engine: 2.9, 2.3 Class: 4x4, 2wd Used For: Winter driving and wheeling, keeping me broke and being a project. DD, project street truck Posts: 153 Rep Power: 5 iTrader: (0)	so once the perches are on theres no other really difficult modfication?
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10-07-2011, 07:36 AM	#10
William Spitzer Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Fulks Run, VA Year: 1986, 1994 Make: Ford Model: Bronco II, Ranger Engine: 2.9, 2.3 Class: 4x4, 2wd Used For: Winter driving and wheeling, keeping me broke and being a project. DD, project street truck Posts: 153 Rep Power: 5 iTrader: (0)	who needs sway bars? lol, but that dosent sound too bad, a project always seams more difficult before you start i guess
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10-07-2011, 09:04 AM	#11
scotts90ranger Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Salem Oregon Year: 1990 Make: Ford Model: Ranger Engine: 2.3 Turbo Class: 4x4 Used For: holding down the driveway Posts: 2,678 Rep Power: 32 iTrader: (1)	spring perches and shock mounts are required __________________ converted to 4x4, turbo'd the 2.3, 6" lift with 35's and 5.13 gears! Send e-mail instead of PM, box full...
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10-07-2011, 09:29 AM	#12
BRONCONUT Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hartford, KY Year: '95~'00 Make: Ford Model: Bronco~Ranger Engine: 5.8~4.0 Class: 4x4 Extreme Posts: 69 Rep Power: 8 iTrader: (0)	If a person was going to go to all the work of swapping ales and moving perches and tabs for shocks I would go ahead and put in a 9" and be done with it. Putting the VSS behind the t-case would only take a few extra steps and cost a couple hundred more but in the long run you are way stronger and have no c-clip's. I guess breaking so many 8.8's made me dislike them, any more if I am playing with axles I go bigger.
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