Electric to manusl swap in a live axle truck

[WNY964x4]

hey guys , i was wondering , i know that it is possibel to swap a manual t-case for an electric one and vice versa int the 93 to 97 rangers , i was wondering if it is possible to swap a manual 1354 in to a 2000 Ranger that currently has the electric t-case , the truck is a 2000 model with a 3.0 and an automatic , it has a live axle in the front , i am also swapping in a 7.5 limited slip , as it currently has a 7.5 open , the truck has 3.73 gears and i am running 31 inch tires

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

there was still an option for a manual t-case in the 98+ trucks, so yes, its quite possible.

i wouldnt waste my time with the 7.5 l/s unless your getting a screaming deal on it (or already have it). 8.8's are too common and you'd be able to swap in a 28 spline 8.8 l/s for about the same price as a 7.5 and you'd have the advantage of the stronger carrier in the 8.8.

with 31's id also go for much better gearing for your high-revving 3.0. at least 4.10's if not 4.56's.

 

[Yellowsplash]

The only problem with '00+ models, particularly your '00 in which would have been the first year, is that its possible that the transfer case output shaft might have the larger 1330 3" flange for the rear driveshaft rather than the 1310 2.5" flange older transfer cases have. You can simply swap the output shafts should you run into this problem...

 

[metalmacguyver]

You dont need to swap shafts if that is an issue, just flanges.

 

[WNY964x4]

there was still an option for a manual t-case in the 98+ trucks, so yes, its quite possible.

i wouldnt waste my time with the 7.5 l/s unless your getting a screaming deal on it (or already have it). 8.8's are too common and you'd be able to swap in a 28 spline 8.8 l/s for about the same price as a 7.5 and you'd have the advantage of the stronger carrier in the 8.8.

with 31's id also go for much better gearing for your high-revving 3.0. at least 4.10's if not 4.56's.

The L/S 7.5 would be coming from a friend of mine , he just put in all new bearings and seals , i would love to put an 8.8 in it , but i do not have the money to get one , plus i need one with a 3.73 with a l/s , i like the 3.73 as they are , it does just fine as it is , the 31's are only 2.1 inches biger than the factory tires , if anyone knows where there is a l/s 8.8 with 3.73 gears please tell me and get me a price

and where do i measure to figure out which flange it has

and what is the id for the front axle in my truck , is it a dana or is it a ford made one

 

[Yellowsplash]

Just measure from one bolt hole to the adjacent hole across from it on the flange. It will be either 2.5" or 3". Your front diff is a dana 35. Btw, most 8.8 axles have 3.73 gears...try a local junkyard. Sometimes they let them go for around $100, other times upwards to almost $400. Just depends on who you get it from.

 

[WNY964x4]

Just measure from one bolt hole to the adjacent hole across from it on the flange. It will be either 2.5" or 3". Your front diff is a dana 35. Btw, most 8.8 axles have 3.73 gears...try a local junkyard. Sometimes they let them go for around $100, other times upwards to almost $400. Just depends on who you get it from.

i know that alot of 8.8's are 3.73 geared , but my problem is that most of the rangers , and there is maybe a dozen of them , in the junkyard near me are 2wd trucks , and most are either 4 cylinder or 3.0's and most are from the 2nd and 3rd gen , most of the 4wd's get kept forever

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

a lot of v-6 2wd's got 8.8's too...especially extended cabs....always worth a look.

 

[WNY964x4]

a lot of v-6 2wd's got 8.8's too...especially extended cabs....always worth a look.

there are a few extended cabs out there , i will have to see what they have , i just want to stick to the 10 inch drums if i get a new axle

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

ford was really good at mixing and matching axles...its always worth a peak under a rig just to see whats under there.

 

[Will]

Live Axle is an archaic and mis-used term. Some people use it instead of Beam Axle which comes in semi-floating and full-floating, or in your case you meant that your front half-shafts don't unlock.

A live axle is an axle that supports weight (which is what an axle does) and also provides the driving force. Your Ranger has a live axle in the rear, but not in the front. The front axles on the Ranger (any Ranger) are the little stubs. They support the weight but do not provide the driving force. No front axle is a live axle because the weight is supported by a seperate mechanism than the one the provides the driving force.

This is your basic live axle. It has the sprocket clamped to the shaft and the shaft drives the wheels and supports the weight.

This would not be a live axle. The axle is just a spindle that supports the weight only. Just like on any 4x4 front axle--Dana60 through SLA with CV shafts--or any full floating rear axle.

In the old chain drive trucks there was an axle that supported the weight of the truck and then each rear wheel had a sprocket to drive it with a chain with the differential inside the transmission. The weight was held by the rear axle and the driving force provided through the sprockets. That was a beam axle, but not a live axle. Like this 1925 Mack AC:

This is not a live axle because as you can see, the shaft isn't carrying any weight.

This is a live axle that came loose and it's obvious the shaft is carrying weight.

But like I said, it's an archaic term. Probably ATVs and go carts are the only people that use it.

 

[WNY964x4]

so what is the correct term for the front axle in my truck

 

[Earl43P]

Live axle, Will's (absolutely correct) Doctoral thesis notwithstanding.

Use any other term and nobody will know what the heck you are talking about.


I find it quite odd that Ford put a 7.5 in a V6 4x4 in 2000. Not saying you're wrong, I just find it odd. Could be only the limited slips got the 8.8 (like mine). Or maybe it was a "package" deal, like Off Road, etc.

 

[WNY964x4]

Live axle, Will's (absolutely correct) Doctoral thesis notwithstanding.

Use any other term and nobody will know what the heck you are talking about.


I find it quite odd that Ford put a 7.5 in a V6 4x4 in 2000. Not saying you're wrong, I just find it odd. Could be only the limited slips got the 8.8 (like mine). Or maybe it was a "package" deal, like Off Road, etc.

no , this is as plain jane of a truck as you can get , the only options it has are : 4WD , p/w , p/l , p/m , stepside box and 4 door cab. it didnt even have a sliding rear window until i swapped the one in from my 96 , almost all of the "off road" package ones came with a 8.8 , at least all that i have seen , mine just happens to be a 3.0 V6 4wd auto with a 7.5 rear

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

you just listed about every option the ranger has availible...that is not a plain jane truck!

usually v-6 extended cabs got 8.8's...i wonder if your axle got swapped at some point (that is unless youve owned the truck since new).