'89 Ranger.... 8.8 Rear End

[89rangerboy]

How much modefying would i have to do to change the 7.5 rear end to an 8.8 rear end....

Also will the gearing be fine for 31's....

The ranger is a '89 5 speed... It's an XLT if that makes a diff....

Any answers will do just fine =]

 

[MAKG]

How much modefying would i have to do to change the 7.5 rear end to an 8.8 rear end....

About 1.3 inches.

Well, you said ANY answer.

I believe you can find your answer from any 4.0L Ranger. I believe it is a direct swap, except for the driveshaft rear flange. You can even grab the driveshaft from the same donor if it has the same wheelbase.

 

[89rangerboy]

Yeah i have been reading a lil bit in the past hour...

Its not as hard as i thought it would be...

I think me and my friend can do it...

I plan on getting a whole explorer... Just becuase its the smart thing to do!

 

[kennykenny]

Explorer will be spring under axle so you will have to cut off the old perches and weld new ones on the top to fit it in a ranger. And make sure you get one with the right ratio. (Not sure how much reading you did.)

 

[redneckracerx]

My first question is, supercab or regular? In my LIMITED experience with 2nd gens I have noticed that the final joint in the supercab shafts is smaller than the regular cab final joint. If you have a regular cab, spicer makes a conversion joint to go from the 7.5 shaft to the 8.8 flange. If you've got a smaller joint take the shaft to a shop and have them put the matching yoke on it.

Next you need some spring pads usually about $15-20 from your local 4x4 shop not a big deal but you also gotta get some u-bolts for the bigger axle tubes. You could probably reuse the ones from the original vehicle but I've been told never to do that (we never reuse u-bolts right?) As for shock mounts you can either cut em off your 7.5 and weld em onto your 8.8 or just start with new metal and fab up something. You're also going to need to get another right side rubber brake line to put onto the left side. You can then re-use your stock center rubber line and most likely the stock metal lines from the 7.5 with some creative routing. If they're too rusty get some new metal line.

If this seems a little detailed, I just swapped a 8.8 from a explorer into my 89 supercab and everything is still fresh in my mind. I went with 3.73 gears because thats what was in the yard, I'm runnin a 265/75/15 basically a 31" 2.9l 5speed 2wd. It's a nice setup, runs down the road pretty good, but I would have liked a little more gear.

 

[89rangerboy]

Uhm... if you dont mind me asking....


What is the gear ratio in a ranger that year?

 

[89rangerboy]

That is exaclty what i have....

Same tire size and its a supercab...

It doesnt seem to hard... Just need a little fab here and there...

I prolly could do it in a day with some help.

 

[redneckracerx]

stock could be anything, gotta check the axle code. Mine was a 2.73

 

[89rangerboy]

Wow thats really low haha....

 

[Hahnsb2]

You will need an 8.8 from a 92-older 4.0 ranger, 93-up they got wider as well as the spring perches. 2.73, you sure that's not a typo? 3.08 is highest I'm aware of in any RBVs factory.

 

[89rangerboy]

Thats what i was thinking... The ranger would hardly even go... 3.08 sounds about right... Maybe even 4.10 i think its 4.10!

 

[redneckracerx]

the guy I bought it from got it from his uncle who put 200,000 highway miles on it. I believe he had the gears changed for better highway cruising. It currently has 277,000 on the original 2.9, 5-speed. And from what I've been told it's only on the second clutch

 

[scotts90ranger]

You will need an 8.8 from a 92-older 4.0 ranger, 93-up they got wider as well as the spring perches. 2.73, you sure that's not a typo? 3.08 is highest I'm aware of in any RBVs factory.

they changed the width of the axle, the perches are at the same width compared to the pumpkin I believe...

 

[89rangerboy]

Yeah my dad has put CLOSE to 300,000 miles on the 2.9... Its a good motor but i wanna put the 4.0 in it....

 

[BlackBII]

You need to check the Tag on the pumpkin or the sticker on Drivers door to find out your Ratio. 3.08, 3.73 or 4.10

Most likely 3.73