D28 to Dana 35

[1994fordranger]

hi everyone, i have a first gen 1987 ford ranger with the dana 28 up front and 8.8 in the rear, i was wondering how hard would it be to swap a dana 35 up front? thanks

 

[bobbywalter]

its a bolt in, but you may want to run a shorter driveshaft in the front with no lift.

stock front driveshafts to fit the trans t case combos with a d35 from gen 1 trucks are hard to find so sometimes its easier to have yours shortened.

 

[1994fordranger]

thank you very much appreciate the advice

 

[kunar]

it's an extremely simple swap, i just did it myself. unbolt the 28, bolt in the 35. i used my stock steering linkage, there was plenty of adjustment available to make up for the difference in width. i used my original calipers, never opened the brake lines. also used the d28 arms. the beams and everything attached to the knuckle was from the donor.

bobbywalter, how much shorter should the drive shaft be? i havent put mine in yet. ive heard that the front shaft from an 86-87 ranger with an fm145 is the right length (maybe 2" shorter?)i have one i was gonna try, i just ran out of time over the weekend.

 

[bobbywalter]

on the tape its 1 inch almost exactly.

some go back in no problem. depends on what setup you have.

pull the coils and cycle it and see if it binds bad. i have seen guys cut 1/2 inch off the slip end before, but they dont plow or go wheeling, just could not get parts for the 28 and upgraded.