8.8 swap in BII, need Flange help!

[rangerbum]

I have begun my swap in my b2, putting Ex D35 front, 31 spline 8.8 rear.

Its all in, just one problem. Napa told me a week ago that they'd have the Flange I need for the 8.8, and the conversion U joint. Go in today to pick them up, and they have no such thing, and can't get them either.

I'm borrowing shop space and need to be done as quickly as possible. The temp here has been around -10 to +5 degrees this week. If I need to go to the junkyard I want to know exactly what I need and be done quick.

Is there any flange that I could put on my driveshaft or my pinion flange to accept the stock u joints since nowhere here can get them? Do 93-97 rangers with 7.5 axles have the same size and number of splines on the pinion Flange?

 

[4x4junkie]

I don't think 7.5 & 8.8" pinion flanges are interchangeable (however the driveshaft flanges would be the same, '90-'97 models).

On mine I used a flange from a '90-'97 Ranger driveshaft (1310 u-joint, large-pattern) fitted to the Ex 8.8" pinion flange.

 

[scotts90ranger]

That's what I did too, worked fine.

If the front end is together, you can just drive it around in front wheel drive...

 

[rangerbum]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the confirmation. I quit being an idiot and remembered that my daily driver is a 97 ranger and went out and measured it this morning.

Of course its in use and all the yards were closed today. So I just focused on the front axle today, its mostly in. Need to tighten the rad arms, do the brakes, put on shocks, and align it.

I'll go pull a Flange tomorrow morning, have my machinist friend take 1.5 inches off the front shaft while I'm in class. Then tomorrow night hopefully put the finishing touches on the front end and line up the rear so I can weld on my perches and shock mounts.

And some good news, I passed certification in welding unlimited thickness in 3G positions on Wednesday!