What rear end

[joey74]

I have a v8 bored 40 over cam but son doesn,t remember size and a aod transmission.What rear eND should I use for decent power and decent mileage?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I don't think rear end is what you should ask about, you should be concerned about gearing. It really depends on intended use, vehicle weight, tire size, usable rpm...

 

[joey74]

I don't think rear end is what you should ask about, you should be concerned about gearing. It really depends on intended use, vehicle weight, tire size, usable rpm...

OK what gearing should I use? What ever a ranger two wheel drive
Weighs and 295 50 15 on rear 245 60 15 front just a dayly driver and sometimes just to have fun. THANKS JOEY!

 

[Curious Hound]

Your rear tires are about 26.6" in diameter. Using the chart found here https://therangerstation.com/tech_library/gearandtirechart.shtml

I would recommend 3.55 or 3.73 gear ratio

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[Curious Hound]

I forgot you said V8. You could easily go with 3.42 or even 3.31 without it feeling sluggish. I don't know how common those ratios are. I know 3.55 and 3.73 are easy to find

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[joey74]

I forgot you said V8. You could easily go with 3.42 or even 3.31 without it feeling sluggish. I don't know how common those ratios are. I know 3.55 and 3.73 are easy to find

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Thanks a lot joey!

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

3.55 would also be my recommendation.

 

[joey74]

3.55 would also be my recommendation.

Thanks joey!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

3.55 is common for 5.0 Foxbodies. With the Ranger's greater heft 3.73's might not be bad.

With 31's my truck is pretty spunky with 3.73's...

 

[Curious Hound]

2wd daily driver with V8 - I would go with the 3.55 gears. Limited slip would be nice for that also.

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[Shran]

I have a 3.50 gear set in my F150... with just the stock 5.0 and a 4 speed manual, it's pretty snappy. I think it's a good overall ratio, I'd think your light Ranger would make for a fun ride and the AOD overdrive gear will help a lot on the highway. 3.73 would be another good one if you want a little more on the low end and aren't as concerned with your RPM on the highway. 3.55 and 3.73 are very easy to find in 91-up Explorers, and you get 31 spline shafts and limited slips were very common. I'd be very tempted to do that although a 7.5 or Ranger 8.8 would be OK.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have a 3.50 gear set in my F150... with just the stock 5.0 and a 4 speed manual, it's pretty snappy. I think it's a good overall ratio, I'd think your light Ranger would make for a fun ride and the AOD overdrive gear will help a lot on the highway. 3.73 would be another good one if you want a little more on the low end and aren't as concerned with your RPM on the highway. 3.55 and 3.73 are very easy to find in 91-up Explorers, and you get 31 spline shafts and limited slips were very common. I'd be very tempted to do that although a 7.5 or Ranger 8.8 would be OK.

And 95-01 have disk brakes.

For $100 I got my '96 Explorer axle with 3.73's trak-lok and factory disk brakes. I had to go thru the brakes but I think it was still cheaper than having a axle regeared let alone replacing the carrier too.

You do have to fab mounts or use a flip kit to mount the axle though.

 

[joey74]

2wd daily driver with V8 - I would go with the 3.55 gears. Limited slip would be nice for that also.

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Thanks joey!

 

[Shran]

You do have to fab mounts or use a flip kit to mount the axle though.

I cut the spring perches off carefully and reused them for my last 8.8 swap, and used shock mounts from a 7.5. I also sliced off the sides of the u-bolt plates and reused them from the 8.8. The only thing I really had to buy was new u-bolts - axle tube is bigger than a 7.5 and they needed to be 2" longer than stock. Fortunately AutoZone has universal ones that will work and are less than $20 for a full set.

I'm kinda anti rear disc brake conversions these days, if the recipient had drums before it's so easy to just hook up the e-brake cables and be done with it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I cut the spring perches off carefully and reused them for my last 8.8 swap, and used shock mounts from a 7.5. I also sliced off the sides of the u-bolt plates and reused them from the 8.8. The only thing I really had to buy was new u-bolts - axle tube is bigger than a 7.5 and they needed to be 2" longer than stock. Fortunately AutoZone has universal ones that will work and are less than $20 for a full set.

I'm kinda anti rear disc brake conversions these days, if the recipient had drums before it's so easy to just hook up the e-brake cables and be done with it.

Yeah, some don't have access to a welder though which makes an Explorer swap less appealing compared to a plug and play 28 spline Ranger axle.

Now that I am manual I need to get around to hooking up my parking brakes.