Need help IDing axle

[Mike1919]

First post but its confusing me. Its a 93 ranger splash with the 4.0. It was my understanding that rangers had the 7.5 except tge 4.0 got the 8.8. The vin decodes to a 4.0, so i know the engine wasn't swapped, however my axle code is 86 which says its an open 7.5. Here's a picture. Thanks in advance.

 

[97RangerXLT]

you gots an 8.8.

are you sure that the code is not 96?

here is what a 7.5 looks like:
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Ford-7_5-axle.shtml

Note the oblong look of the differential cover.

Here is what the 8.8 looks like:
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Ford-8_8-axle.shtml
Note the squarish looking differential cover, and that it looks like your axle

AJ

 

[Mike1919]

I agree its an 8.8 but that axle code is wierd. Heres my sticker.

 

[97RangerXLT]

Weeird.

is the actual Axle tag still on the differential cover? I am curious as to the gearing in it.

Sounds like you have a 3:73 open differential, but I would imagine that someone goofed at Ford when they printed your door sticker..

AJ

 

[Mike1919]

Unfortunately no there is no tag. The previous owner said it has 3.73. But by looking at it, it's definitely an 8.8 right? Where do i go now?

 

[97RangerXLT]

yeah, just looking at it I would say 8.8.

As for the gearing, a quick way to check it if you are unsure is to jack up the back end and turn the drive shaft by hand while a buddy watches the wheel. count how many full turns of the drive shaft you make to make the wheel turn one revolution. if you turn it 3 and almost 3/4, you have the 3.73 gears

AJ

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Is the tag on the door, maybe been replaced.

 

[97RangerXLT]

looking at the tech library on the axles (see the links in my first reply) the 4.0 always came with an 8.8.

Richard has a good point on the door...

AJ

 

[97RangerXLT]

Quick way to check if the door has been replaced with another 93 is the vin on the sticker should match the vin in the window


AJ

 

[Mike1919]

I'll check the vin in the morning to see if it matches. It does seem like it's supposed to be a 96 axle code though.

 

[Mike1919]

But even then i ran the vin on the door sticker and it still came out as a 93 ranger 4.0. And if that same sticker says its got a 7.5 behind a 4.0 when ford never did that. Only thing i can think of is someone didn't get enough sleep and mistyped the sticker

 

[Mike1919]

Okay the vin on the dash matches the vin on the door sticker which matches the vin on the pink slip.