92 Ranger XLT Single Cab LB 2.9L 5 Speed 8.8 Open Diff with 3.55 Gears 31 x 10.5 r15 Wheels and Tires and a 4" Lift

[Rooster26]

I have a 1992 Ranger XLT Single Cab LB 2.9L 5 Speed Dana 35 Front and 8.8 Rear Open Diff with 3.55 Gears 31 x 10.5 r15 Wheels and Tires and a 4" Lift. It takes a lot of clutch work to get it moving and getting it up to speed on the highway takes a bit. This is my first truck and my dad and I are planning to do so some work on it this summer. Right now, it is my daily driver back and forth to school and work. The area that I live in is hilly. I don't take it off road (yet ) and the 4-wheel drive mainly gets used when it snows. Though currently the automatic hubs are acting up and won't engage (we are planning on replacing them with manual ones). My question is what gear ratio do you think would be best for the combination I have described? My dad and I looked at the charts and it seems something around a 4.10 would be good? Are those readily available? Any recommendations on brands to use? Any advice would be great!

 

[Curious Hound]

I would recommend 4.10. Even 3.73 would be better than what you have. That 3.55 axle probably came from a truck with an automatic transmission. Bear in mind, your front and rear differentials need to have the same ratio.

 

[Rooster26]

Thanks Eric. I believe the 3.55 axle did come with my truck strangely. My dad thought it was strange too from what he read on the forum We looked up the axle code on the VIN door sticker and it said 95. Which decoded as an 8.8 with 3.55. Any recommendations on parts suppliers or brands?

 

[scotts90ranger]

4.10's are hardish to find, mainly found in 4 cylinder 4x4 rigs, you can find some 2 wheel drive explorers with them but that's more work...

Are you sure it's not a 4.0L? a 2.9 with an 8.8 isn't all that common...

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I dont think an 8.8 ever came factory behind a 2.9.

Im going to guess axle codes changed between 92 and 95 since 93 brought a big redesign. As a matter of fact did 3.55's ever come in a 1st/2nd gen? I thought they went right from 3.45 to 3.73

Hmm...according to the TRS chart 95 is infact an 8.8 with 3.55's. If you for sure have a 2.9 you have a rare bird there. But it was 92 and nearing the end of the 2.9's run so who knows what ford did.

Are you sure its the original door?

 

[Rooster26]

100% sure it is a 2.9L. I'll take a picture of the engine and post. Can you buy the 4.10's new or do you have to find used? I see places like Summit Racing advertising new?

 

[Rooster26]

This is the VIN Tag. I blocked out the VIN but you see in the axle code.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I would compare the vin on the door to the one on the cab and make sure they match. Or better yet crawl under and see if your axle tag is attached.

You can buy 4.10's yes, but they are expensive and setting them up takes some skill. Youre better off swapping axles.

Since your 4wd youll have to find a matched set front and rear.

You would probably have a much eaiser time finding 3.73's cause as i recall they were pretty common in extended cab 2.9 4x4's, which, were pretty common.

The 3.73's would help quite a bit....not as much as 4.10's though.

Heres a website to help you in your axle search...

www.car-part.com

 

[Curious Hound]

I don’t want to argue with a door sticker. But when you said 8.8”, I assumed the axle has been replaced.
Weird.

 

[Rooster26]

I dont think an 8.8 ever came factory behind a 2.9.

Im going to guess axle codes changed between 92 and 95 since 93 brought a big redesign. As a matter of fact did 3.55's ever come in a 1st/2nd gen? I thought they went right from 3.45 to 3.73

Hmm...according to the TRS chart 95 is infact an 8.8 with 3.55's. If you for sure have a 2.9 you have a rare bird there. But it was 92 and nearing the end of the 2.9's run so who knows what ford did.

Are you sure its the original door?

Yep, original door. My dad and I double checked It, matches tag under windshield on the cab. 2.9L looks like it is all original. We have replaced the radiator, fan, fan clutch and alternator. Axle tag is in the first post. Says 3.55 88 which matches the door sticker.

 

[Rooster26]

Not that it matters for this post but here are the interior pics.

 

[Rooster26]

So it sounds like I have an unusual but original combination of engine and gears. A 4.10 gear ratio would be ideal for my truck but fairly difficult to find used for the front and rear. If I go with new I should have it done professionally. Does that about sum it up? If I were to purchase new is there a brand that is better? Would this work as an example?

8.8" 4.10 RING GEAR AND PINION

8.8" 4.10 RING GEAR AND PINION|Ford Performance Parts

performanceparts.ford.com

 

[Rooster26]

Sorry just realized I should have posted this in the help forum.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Odd, but they did weird things in the '90's, it is Ford anyway

Gear brand shouldn't really matter much, I don't think the price changes all that much and you aren't putting all that much horsepower down... Might be worth a try if you're up to such things and check a local community college automotive department if you know of anyone and maybe they would do the regear for you for a better deal than a shop? Going rate for a long time around the country hovered around $500-1000 per axle, much less if you pulled the axle drained and gave it to them...

If you can find them swapping axles is way easier and cheaper, even going to a 7.5" out back would be fine for what you have now if you found one with 4.10's, anything '90 (mid year, count the diff bolts on the front, you want 10 not 12) through '97 will bolt right up since you have a Dana 35, '95-97 have better brakes...

 

[Rooster26]

Appreciate everyone for the advice. I am not planning to anything until this summer so that gives me some time to think about what I should do and can afford.