Diff swap question.

[richard booth]

I have an 88 B2 w a stock open rear diff ( 7.5) and I got a 7.5 from an 88 STX Ranger w/ an LS same ratio (373) for cheap. Question is would it be suicide to just pull the open diff and put in the LS? Or would it possibly work fine if no excess "stack up" or sloppiness?

 

[adsm08]

If you have no experience setting up gears (gonna have to do it if you swap carriers) it might be easier to swap axle tubes and bolt the franken-axle to your BII.

 

[projectnitemare]

Swapping the carriers should need no more than a reset in backlash. It's not a bad idea to check the patternt before you start and after you are done. There is also a decent chance of not even needing the aftermarket shims, it might be in spec just dropping it in. You will want to remove the ring gears and swap the carriers. If lash is out of spec you need the shims to adjust the ring gear and carrier side to side to achieve proper lash. From what I remember from entire axles between BII and ranger the width is close but the spring mounts need moved.

 

[richard booth]

swapping axle tubes? is that a difficult swap? Changed plenty of axles but no experience doing that or setting up gears, ought to break into that eventually but for now I just want a LS in my 500 dollar B2 I am resurrecting.

 

[doorgunner]

There's always "the first time"!

Just make sure adsm08 is home when you put in the LS so he can walk you thru setting the depth & backlash!

IF I CAN DO-IT.....ANYBODY CAN!

 

[CurtisP87]

swapping axle tubes? is that a difficult swap?

I'd also like to know about this....I've got an 8.8 I picked up with a locker already installed, so I'm trying to find someone to relocate the spring perches and shock mounts. The trucks already got an 8.8 in now (open diff) so if I could somehow just make a "frankenaxle" that might save me some time.

 

[Surrey]

I'd also like to know about this....I've got an 8.8 I picked up with a locker already installed, so I'm trying to find someone to relocate the spring perches and shock mounts. The trucks already got an 8.8 in now (open diff) so if I could somehow just make a "frankenaxle" that might save me some time.

Your easiest option would be just swap in the new axle. Getting spring perches and shock mounts welded on should be easy - go to a 4x4/truck shop, or a welding shop. If you dont know any, use google or the yellowpages.

I assume the 8.8 you already have is also an expo axle? If so, you can certainly swap parts from one to the other, but you have to keep gear ratio in mind. You want front and rear to be the same otherwise you will get funny binding issues around the transfer case. If its a Ranger 8.8, than you HAVE to swap axles.

Generally speaking, swapping entire axles is less work than setting up gears, unless you know exactly wtf you are doing.

 

[CurtisP87]

Both the old and the new axle are expo axles, and both are same ratio. It just sounded like there was a way to seperate the pumpkin from the axle tube, so that I could use the new pumpkin (with internals already setup) with the old axle tubes (with perches and mounts already relocated). Ive never heard of such a thing, but if possible it might be easier than moving mounts and perches

 

[Captain Ledd]

I don't see swapping axle tubes being easier than relocating spring perches/shock mounts. You need a serious press to do axle tubes.

my vote is to just re-weld the mounts.

 

[PlumCrazy]

Not sure why swapping tubes was even suggested....

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