Help me decide how to blow all my money

[wakingtowinter]

On the truck, obviously ...but here's what I need help with. The truck is a daily driver/weekend wheeler. Right now I have a 4.0, stock axles, with a 6 inch Skyjacker lift and 33s. And 3.27 gears. OK, don't laugh at me, I know this is a problem. I'll be happy with 33s for a while but eventually I want to go with 35s and probably do an explorer rear axle swap, a D44 in front, and a 302. and 4.56 gears. So my question is this: what is a reasonable way to work toward this? Obviously I could do this all at once but it would cost me about 5 grand. I just realized how many variables there are in these vehicles once you get hooked on it, and man it gets expensive fast. I spotted a 31 spline 8.8 on craigslist with 4.56 gears for only $200, probably could get it for less, but then I'd have to spend about 500 on the front axle (which I'll be getting rid of down the road anyway). AND the axle is LS, and I JUST bought a No-Slip locker for my open 8.8, so I'd have to sell that and get a new one. What's the best way forward here?

BTW this is it:

 

[strvger]

Tacoma is a big town. i'd find an 8.8 with 4.10's and open so you can use your locker.
next, i'd look for a good used d35 with 4.10's for the front. xploder, ranger whatever for those axles. you'll be keeping the 8.8 anyway so your not loosing any money there really.
those things will give you decent performance while you plan for your sas and v8 swap. unless you already have it all planned out, i'd spend the winter researching and costing out your project. and this winter, you'll be cruising much happier with better gears.
just my $.02.

 

[4.0B2]

Well gears is what you need first. 3.27s with 33s are terrible. And why buy stuff to get you by till you get what you want. If you know what you want get it first. Don't waste money on "just for now" parts.

 

[corrond56]

If you already have an 8.8 in your truck I would just by the gears you want to put in that one with the locker you already have. I put 4.56's in mine with 33's and it does pretty well. If you wanted to you could pull some disc brakes off an explorer in a yard and put those on your 8.8. Would save you the trouble of a spring over job but have all the same benefits.

If your end goal is 35's I would personally do the 5.0 second after the rear axle. That way when you do the front axle along with tires you have the extra power to turn em.

 

[gwaii]

i'd buy the 8.8 with the 4.56s....$200 is cheaper than gears,and they are already installed.then,pull the locker out of your 8.8 and put it into the new one.no need to sell anything.put the l/s into your old axle and sell it for $200.now you have no money in your new 4.56 axle.put the money you just saved into the front.

edit-nevermind,i just realised you have 28 spline axles in your ranger.i'd still buy the 31 spline axle,though.

 

[rangerbum]

... How bout buy the 31 spline, install the locker in the old 8.8, sell the 8.8 to me for 24.99, and seller pays shipping... now that's blowing your money professionally...

 

[nate09]

id buy the 31 spline axle and sell the no slip. i hate 30's with 3.27s, cant imagine how they are with 33's. im going with 4.88's when the 35's go on, but some run 4.10s and 4.56's with 35's so you should be fine with 4.56s. and unless something happens to your 4.0, theres really no reason to do a 5.0 swap.

 

[wakingtowinter]

OK I made a mistake...it's actually a 28 spline, but with 4.56 gears for $200, that would still save me a lot of money. Just have to be without 4x4 til I can get gears put in the front, which wouldn't be a big deal.

What should I do with my No Slip? Can I take the posi out of the new axle and change it into mine and use my open carrier and No Slip in the new axle? or should I just sell the No Slip and by a new one for the posi carrier?

 

[nate09]

i would consider waiting to build an expo axle, if you plan on 35's you might just as well build one axle and be done with it. however, buying the axle is a great deal, gears alone are almost $200.

 

[wakingtowinter]

yeah I think that would be the best thing to do, but honestly I probably will be on 33s for another few months at least, and these gears are killing me, so I think this would be worth it for now

 

[nate09]

buy it, build an expo axle, swap in the expo and flip the old axle, should be easy to resell. got any more pics? curious what your bumpers look like.

 

[02RangerXLT]

Re-gear that sucker ASAP!

 

[Toms01PSD]

How much do you want for the No-Slip locker? PM me...

 

[wakingtowinter]

How much do you want for the No-Slip locker? PM me...

You have a PM.

buy it, build an expo axle, swap in the expo and flip the old axle, should be easy to resell. got any more pics? curious what your bumpers look like.

Here is a shot of the front. The bumpers were put on the truck by the previous owner, so I don't know much about them. And yeah, that's a 3000 lb winch on the front LOL, the previous owner put that on too . I have a 12K winch waiting to go on. Front looks professionally made, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't made for a ranger. Rear is more of a DIY job, but I still like it a lot. I do not have a shot of the rear, I can take one tomorrow and PM it to you.

 

[straycat]

Forget the truck...get naked women....get drunk....do evil things and take a lot of pictures and videos!!!!! And here is some more great advice^ Oh...the wife just came in the room.......gotta go..........