Doing a 8.8 swap in a 94 ranger

[scrapper]

I have a 7.5 rear end but have removed a 96 explorer 8.8 l/s 3.73 rear end at work to install. I was shocked at all the different parts on the ex axle. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to swap my shocks to the back of the axle and install the bars that run from the frame to the axle. I am guessing this is to stop axle wrap? Would it be to much work? I was thinking I would need to know to get all parts before they are recycled. I have read no sway bar is fine. You can use ex shock mounts or weld new ones. I am really excited to get it done. I only have a 2.3 stock engine so is welding the axle tube nessesary ? I can use any help. Thanks and I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas.

 

[kryptonitecb]

The bar is a sway bar, its to keep the body of the vehicle from leaning when you turn. You can make anything work, I don't know if stock rangers had sway bars in the back. I don't have one and my truck does fine.

As for the rest of the stuff you can chunk most of it. Take the brake lines off your ranger and use them for the 8.8, it keeps your brake line T at the diff. If your running disk brakes you'll need to buy another short brake hose and flare it on to the passenger side.

The ranger has spring over so unless you decide to run spring under you don't need the spring perches or spring plates. You'll need to weld on spring perches and get new u-bolts plus spring plates to make it all come together.

Do some reading in the tech library, they have a couple write ups on how to do this. I did mine in an afternoon. It was my first time and was probably the easiest thing I've done besides changing the brakes.

 

[legoms013]

The bar is a sway bar, its to keep the body of the vehicle from leaning when you turn. You can make anything work, I don't know if stock rangers had sway bars in the back. I don't have one and my truck does fine.

As for the rest of the stuff you can chunk most of it. Take the brake lines off your ranger and use them for the 8.8, it keeps your brake line T at the diff. If your running disk brakes you'll need to buy another short brake hose and flare it on to the passenger side.

The ranger has spring over so unless you decide to run spring under you don't need the spring perches or spring plates. You'll need to weld on spring perches and get new u-bolts plus spring plates to make it all come together.

Do some reading in the tech library, they have a couple write ups on how to do this. I did mine in an afternoon. It was my first time and was probably the easiest thing I've done besides changing the brakes.

Ditch the sway bar.

It is also very easy to keep the explorer hardlines, and purchase a front passenger side brake line for the ranger and use it to thread into hard line at the frame rail, and then also into the line coming off the explorers T fitting on the left side. Cheap cheap and easy.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Yeah I would remove the sway bar as you need to remove the brackets for it before you can weld on the spring perches.

The most expensive part of the explorer swap is buying new hardware to bolt it onto your truck.

 

[scrapper]

I am thinking of trying to turn one of the explorer shock mounts backwards on one side and just keep shocks the same. I got axle today complete for 60. I got a guy at work to change the spring perches, will be a couple of weeks before he has time. I got the spair tire and rim also, tire was 235/75/15 and looks new. I am not sure fliping the shock mount will work. I was reading a couple of posts and one said it was possible . I am hoping for a 92 or so explorer to come in for the dash. Then will be looking for a turbo coupe or murkur.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

There are no shock mounts on the explorer axles. They have to be welded on seperately as well. The shock mounts are actually part of the spring plate on an explorer but they aren't used in a SOA setup.