Another 8.8 rear question

[855.0ranger]

i've decided im defintitly going to build an 8.8 rearend for my ranger. i know i can get one out of an explorer, but the few people i've talked to about it say the 8.8 rearends out of all the newer explorers are too wide too fit into a ranger. i'd rather not have too narrow one. i've heard that the rear's out of older stlye explorers are'nt as wide and would not have too be narrowed. Basically wat im asking is, are the rear's out of the older explorers short enough that it wouldn't have to be narrowed? And if so wat year explorer should i look for....

 

[BeaterMan]

a explorer rear will fit without narrowing it. any explorer rear will work. i believe their only like 3 inches wider - 1.5 on each side. you would have to cut and relocate the spring perches to the top of the axle and set it with a good pinion angle. i couldn't see why you would wana narrow it for 3" though. good luck.

 

[855.0ranger]

thanks thats wat i needed to know, i can live with it being only 3 inches wider, from at i heard i thought it was gonna be alot more than that, thanks

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The 02+ 4dr Explorers and 06+ Sport Trac's are a lot wider than the previous Explorers... but they are also fully independant and not what you want to put in your Ranger.

Just so you know there are Explorer axles out there that you do not want if you want a traditional Explorer 8.8 swap.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Any explorer 8.8 from 91 to 02 will be what you want. 91-94 will be drum brake, 94 to 02 will have discs.

 

[Evan]

Any explorer 8.8 from 91 to 02 will be what you want. 91-94 will be drum brake, 94 to 02 will have discs.

95-02 have discs, I believe.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

95-02 have discs, I believe.

Yeah, my parents '94 has drums. 02 was the first year for IRS, 01 was the last year for the solid axle in the regular 4dr.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

My bad, meant 95+