F150 axle swap

[squishyimpala]

Hello all, I am building a budget prerunner out of my 1995 Ranger 4L. I got the rear axle out of a 1990 f150 and am planning to swap it in. I’ve heard of this swap being done before but I’ve never seen how I make my Ranger driveshaft mate up with the f150 differential. My U joints are clearly smaller even though my current axle is an 8.8 as well as the new f150 axle.

What are my options for making this axle mate to my driveshaft.

Thank you for your help.

 

[Curious Hound]

Most 8.8" axles I've messed with have a flange on the pinion shaft. The yoke for the u-joint bolts to that flange. So, if you unbolt the yoke from your Ranger 8.8" pinion flange, you should be able to bolt it to the F150 pinion flange.

 

[scotts90ranger]

And if that doesn't work, take the pinion nut off your Ranger axle and take the flange off the Ranger axle and put it in the F150 axle but I'm pretty sure your flange will bolt to the axle correctly... Rangers used 1310 joints and F150's used 1330 joints but I think the flanges are the same bolt pattern, come to think of it the Expedition shaft I used on my Explorer bolted right to the Explorer rear axle so yeah, I'm sure it'll just work without issue...

 

[squishyimpala]

Awesome thank you guys for your response, I will look into swapping the yokes. Worst comes to worst I found they make a 1310 to 1330 u joint.

My only other concern is driveshaft length. Do you guys know if my Ranger driveshaft is too long since the f150 axle might have a longer pinion…? I feel like that shouldn’t matter though since I am doing a four link wrist case it will just push my back axle out a little farther and I’ll have a longer wheel base. What do you guys think? Any comments?

 

[scotts90ranger]

The gear set is the same for all 8.8 axles so the pinion length is the same for the 28 spline versus the 31 spline so you're good there but yes, what you said is worst case...

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So…

98+ Rangers used the 1330 joint.

It is possible to find a 1310 joint yoke with the larger pattern for an 8.8” because my Choptop has one currently.

The F-150 used the larger wheel bearings and seals that the Explorer 8.8” used, but that’s it other than being a little wider. Still 28 spline, IIRC. The Explorer 31 spline is stronger.

Driveshaft length is a tricky thing. I lowered my green 00 Ranger and swapped in an 8.8” from an Explorer. I had to take an inch and a half out of my driveshaft. Also had to re-clock the spring perches on the axle because the pinion angle was wrong. On my Choptop I also learned that pinion angle shouldn’t be eyeballed and it does matter a lot (death wobble on the rear axle).

 

[Kirby N.]

I have a 94 f150 rear axle in my Ranger. The flange bolted up to my driveshaft. It’s a 31 spline 8.8. I would guess the only reason the op had a driveshaft that needed shortened was due to ride height being lower. The thing you will deal with that it doesnt seem you are accounting for- the pinion is more centered on the f150 axle, on the others it is offset to the passenger side more. With this in mind, you may have some driveshaft interference with your gas tank or skid. I certainly did- but I was able to modify the skid with some trimming and changing the straps that hold the skid to make them thinner.

 

[squishyimpala]

I have a 94 f150 rear axle in my Ranger. The flange bolted up to my driveshaft. It’s a 31 spline 8.8. I would guess the only reason the op had a driveshaft that needed shortened was due to ride height being lower. The thing you will deal with that it doesnt seem you are accounting for- the pinion is more centered on the f150 axle, on the others it is offset to the passenger side more. With this in mind, you may have some driveshaft interference with your gas tank or skid. I certainly did- but I was able to modify the skid with some trimming and changing the straps that hold the skid to make them thinner.

Ok sweet, I didn’t know tha about it being offset, it shouldn’t really change anything though as I’m planning to do a bronco I fuel tank swap behind the rear axle to make room for my four link bars.