Newb. 306ci Splash. Looking for drag wheel advice.

[buddyantunez1]

Hey all, new guy here. Picked up a cool little 96' Splash Ranger for a whopping $2400! Has a 96' Explorer 302 in it backed by a C4 and an 8.8. Here's the details:

-302 .030 over(so I'm told)
-Crane cam(so I'm told, doesnt sound stock).
-1.6 adjustable rockers.
-GT40 heads and intake.
-shorty headers
-oil filter relocation

-C4 auto.
-shift kit.
-lokar shifter amd linkage.
-aluminum 1 piece driveshaft.

-28 spline 8.8. Blah...
-3.73 and open carrier. Blah...

-2010 GT wheels and tires.

-aluminum radiator.
-electric fan.
-bucket seats(not sure if OEM?).

Sure I'm missing some stuff. Its a blast to drive, but teally needs a track-lok unit and either 29" tire and/or a gear reduction(3.27/3.08). Cruises decent at 45ish.



Really looking for wheel specs for 15x8" Jegs race wheels. Not quite sure what offset is needed to clear a set of either 10.5 or 12" ET Street/Drag tires. The 2010 GT wheels are 6.2" backspacing and 18x8. Thinking 5.5" would sit about right or 4.5 if it wint rib the fenders. Still has factory spring over suspension.


Would appreciate some input!


Plans are a 31spline conversion or whole axle swap, drag wheel setup with 28-30" radials, nitrous(havent made my mind up, previously had a dry kit on a Mustang), caltracks, and a good tune.

 

[buddyantunez1]

 

[buddyantunez1]

 

[buddyantunez1]

 

[chvlfrk]

Fft>>>>>

Hey all, new guy here. Picked up a cool little 96' Splash Ranger for a whopping $2400! Has a 96' Explorer 302 in it backed by a C4 and an 8.8.
Sure I'm missing some stuff. Its a blast to drive, but teally needs a track-lok unit and either 29" tire and/or a gear reduction(3.27/3.08). Cruises decent at 45ish.
Really looking for wheel specs for 15x8" Jegs race wheels. Not quite sure what offset is needed to clear a set of either 10.5 or 12" ET Street/Drag tires. The 2010 GT wheels are 6.2" backspacing and 18x8. Thinking 5.5" would sit about right or 4.5 if it wint rib the fenders. Still has factory spring over suspension.
Plans are a 31spline conversion or whole axle swap, drag wheel setup with 28-30" radials, nitrous(havent made my mind up, previously had a dry kit on a Mustang), caltracks, and a good tune.

==================
NICE lookin Steppie from the rear..........

I would recommend swappin in a 95-00 Expo 8.8 with L/S and it gets ya 4 wheel disc brakes plus 4" drop in the rear!

You can get 10" wide rims under it without any issues.

On my 94, I jumped in deep by converting my rear suspension like the Explorers using stock Ford parts with the exception of having to make rear shackle mounts & shock mount bar, narrowed my rearend 3" by using 2 right side axles, and this gave me clearance for Welds 15x12 with 6.5" bs & 28x15.50 Pro Street style tires........NOT TUBBED>

BTW: Welcome from SE TN!

Wherebouts are you located???

 

[buddyantunez1]

Thanks for chiming in. Your thread about the narrowed 8.8 was saved in my browser for thoughts on how to stuff some good tires under it.

I'm planning on keeping the spring over axle. It only has two leafs so it should squat good and plant the power down. I'll use either caltracks or an antiwrap bar to help with leafspring wrap.

I'm contemplating swapping to a 31 spline 8.8 with 3.55's, discs and LSD. Not new to the swap, we put them in Jeeps all the time and East Coast Gear Supply is right down the road from me. They specialize in 8.8's so I'm in good shape.

So besides your springs being under the axle, are they in the stock location? Suprised you're stuffing 15" tires. I measured the outside of my springs to the outside of the fender and only have about 13". That 3" must really make the difference.

If I centered the 31 spline 8.8, whats the best offset to run a 15x8 with either a 10 or 12" radial and not rub?

Thanks for the help!

 

[07nhbpsi]

==================
NICE lookin Steppie from the rear..........

I would recommend swappin in a 95-00 Expo 8.8 with L/S and it gets ya 4 wheel disc brakes plus 4" drop in the rear!

You can get 10" wide rims under it without any issues.

On my 94, I jumped in deep by converting my rear suspension like the Explorers using stock Ford parts with the exception of having to make rear shackle mounts & shock mount bar, narrowed my rearend 3" by using 2 right side axles, and this gave me clearance for Welds 15x12 with 6.5" bs & 28x15.50 Pro Street style tires........NOT TUBBED>

BTW: Welcome from SE TN!

Wherebouts are you located???

that trk is awesome I love that look, & even better u didn't have to tub it....somebody did their homework

 

[chvlfrk]

>>>>

Thanks for chiming in. Your thread about the narrowed 8.8 was saved in my browser for thoughts on how to stuff some good tires under it.

=================
Specs on my tires from American Racer>
TIRE SIZE: 28.0/15.0-15 TREAD TYPE: D TREAD WIDTH: 14.5" SECTION WIDTH: 16.8" DIAMETER: 88" RIM WIDTH: 13-15 WEIGHT" 26"

I'm contemplating swapping to a 31 spline 8.8 with 3.55's, discs and LSD. Not new to the swap, we put them in Jeeps all the time and East Coast Gear Supply is right down the road from me. They specialize in 8.8's so I'm in good shape.

=================
I'm runnin 3.73's and as you can see in the previous post, I'm runnin slapper bars.

So besides your springs being under the axle, are they in the stock location? Suprised you're stuffing 15" tires. I measured the outside of my springs to the outside of the fender and only have about 13". That 3" must really make the difference.

=================
I used NEW stock 95-00 Explorer front spring mount brackets that I placed in line with where the original Ranger ones were outside the frame>

Before I narrowed the rearend I measured to see how much tire clearance I gained moving springs under the frame>

If I centered the 31 spline 8.8, whats the best offset to run a 15x8 with either a 10 or 12" radial and not rub?

=================
I centered my chunk after I narrowed it as I'm runnin a fuel cell and also 3" dual exhaust.

 

[buddyantunez1]

Thanks for spelling it out for me. I didnt know the explorer brackets relocated thensprings further inward. I have a weekemds worth of work on my hands now to replace the rear emd and strip parts off a parts Explorer.

 

[Chazz1989]

Fft>>>>>


==================
NICE lookin Steppie from the rear..........

I would recommend swappin in a 95-00 Expo 8.8 with L/S and it gets ya 4 wheel disc brakes plus 4" drop in the rear!

You can get 10" wide rims under it without any issues.

On my 94, I jumped in deep by converting my rear suspension like the Explorers using stock Ford parts with the exception of having to make rear shackle mounts & shock mount bar, narrowed my rearend 3" by using 2 right side axles, and this gave me clearance for Welds 15x12 with 6.5" bs & 28x15.50 Pro Street style tires........NOT TUBBED>

BTW: Welcome from SE TN!

Wherebouts are you located???

I wish I was as handy with fabrication as you im trying to put a wide tire on my 88 ranger

 

[chvlfrk]

I wish I was as handy with fabrication as you im trying to put a wide tire on my 88 ranger

====================
Same setup would work under yours, just have to careful if your keeping the stock tank to be sure of no driveshaft issues with the chunk being center instead of offset and your exhaust clearance as well.

Post some pics, lets see what your workin on...