6.7" rear end Q

[NootPNW]

so, 1983 ranger, 2wd, 2.0L, 4 speed manual. got home the other day and smoke was pouring out of my rear passenger wheel area. took her apart and had bad axle seals. planned to swap. but I removed the axle shafts, 1 is good (captain side) other axle bearing is shot (drinker side) so I'm gonna have the bearing removed to see about condition of axle shaft itself. good news, I can find bearing for it. bad news, seems like this 6.7 rear end is a unicorn of sorts and I cannot for the life of me find axle shafts for it. I'll be checking local junkyards for a replacement. ANYWAY the question is, should I be able to just swap a 7.5 rear end on her or is this dumb 6.7 rear end too different. mainly asking about pinion angle and direct fit to u joints etc. kinda wanna drop a 7.5 in because they are everywhere. Thanks in advance. I feel very unlucky to have the 6.7 rear end. sad days.

 

[19Walt93]

I'd expect a 7.5 to bolt right in but you may need to use a hybrid rear u joint. There may be an easier fix, though. There used to be aftermarket offset bearings that would allow the scored axle to be reused, at least for 7.5's. The 6.7 isn't a unicorn, 6 cylinder Falcons, early Mustangs, and Pintos used them. I never noticed one under a Ranger but that may just mean we didn't have any trouble with them.

 

[NootPNW]

thanks for the reply. I'll check into offset bearings if axle shaft is damaged. hoping not the case. I know some older mustangs and pintos had the 6.7, and a short list of other cars. but only a few had the 3.08 gearing (im hoping to stay woth that or slightly shorter) and id imagine if I find one at a yard, it must also have the 28spline which is what I have now, from my research a lot of the 6.7 rear ends had less spline.

 

[Snoranger]

I never thought I would say this... I would upgrade your rear axle to a 7.5.

 

[NootPNW]

HAHAHAHA right im thinkin the same. id imagine it should be a pretty direct fit as they came on the 84 and newer rangers. I think even some 83s. I just dont feel like paying a fabricator to make a 7.5 fit when I could just keep at it with the junkyards and install a new axle shaft.

 

[19Walt93]

If you swap rear ends going to 3.45's will make it feel like more power. I had an 83 with a 2.0, 4 speed, and 3.08's. They weren't too snotty.

 

[NootPNW]

thanks, they got that gear ratio in 7.5s? or was that your stock 6.7 rear end ratio. I saw they came in 3.08 and 3.45 ratios on the 6.7 rear ends for the rangers.

 

[19Walt93]

Mine might have been a 6.7, I never had to do anything to it. It was one of the first 83's we got in and my father bought it. Just like everything he bought, it had no options. It had a radio because I put one in it. 3.45 is a common ratio in 7.5's.

 

[NootPNW]

awesome thanks for the reply. my gage setup is annoying and ill likely swap in the future. got radio, works when it wants to. no other options. I love the truck. I pulled axle shafts to do axle seals as they were leaking into the drum. if I swap to the 7.5 ill look for that ratio. the 3.08 feels super gutless.