Pros/cons of rear spring hanger flip?

[simpleman]

Hello,
I have a 1988 ranger 2wd 5speed 2.3 long bed.
I am going to change the rear axle to a 2005 ranger fx4 level 2 (obviously 4wd axle but I am going to take the blocks out)If the blocks are gone the springs and axle are the same right?
Anyway the fx4 axle would allow me to have a 8.8 instead of a 7.5, gives me bigger drums, a 4.10 gear, and best of all the Torsen limited slip.
I believe the 8.8 is 1/2 inch wider in the tube though(So this would give me a 1/2 inch of lift, correct?
So if I flip the rear spring hanger this will lower the truck 2 inches?
So total I should drop about 1 1/2 inches?
This should level the truck out?
But I was thinking about this rear hanger flip, since you are not moving the front hanger doesn't this change the angle of the driveshaft?
Could this introduce additional stress on the drivetrain?
Also I have a new set of edelbrock ias shocks will these work ok with the 2 inch drop?
Sorry for so many questions but I want to do this right the first time!
Thanks

 

[sledneck07]

i did a shackle flip in the rear of my ranger when i put my f-150 springs in the rear. havent noticed any stress but the ride is a heck of a lot smoother. i would highly recomend a shackle flip. but if the axle tube is 1/2 in. bigger in diameter you would get 1/4 inch lift out of it. over all you would get a 1 1/4in drop if you took out the factory blocks. and if you did a shackle flip you would get even more of a drop. i think its about 3in