Stupid plan, mental help required.

[TheUndeadRanger]

okay i9'm dead set in trying to figure out how to make my '96, 2.3L, 5 speed push BF Goodrich AT k/o 35's. my boss sold them to me for $100 with rims, they were goign to be for my roommate's 81 FS Bronco. he doesn't want them, now i have a plan, the ranger will push them whether or not it likes to. how would i go about accomplishing such a task. i've heard put a different gear ratio in the rear end, lighten the load, get smaller tires, or give it up man. and i didn't really have a problem with any of those decisions except for the fact that i HAVE smaller tires and i am one stubborn SOB. i have stock sized ATz on there already, 15in rims and they work great, but i'm lifting the truck 4 inches all the way around suspension and plan on a 2+ inch body lift. it will clear 35s, kinda, but how do i make my 2WD push them???

 

[TheUndeadRanger]

i didn't mention i have rims for the tires that fit great, and everything drive-train wise is stock on my lil truck.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Well if they were for a fullsize Bronco, the rims won't fit your ranger...bolt patterns are different.

As for pushing them...with the right gearing you should be just fine. You would want 5.13 gears for tires that size with the 4 banger.

 

[MountainMike]

Same thing that is told to the four-popper Jeep guys. Gears, gears, gears. You'll be able to, with deep enough gearing, get that little rig to turn those tires. Just make sure you're running enough lift, that fact that it's a 5-spd is a huge tilt in your favour.

 

[7.5L_STX]

the first thing your gonna want to do is get some pretty low gears, probably 5.13's. 4.56's probably wouldnt be enough.

Edit: aww, you guys beat me to it!

 

[Nater]

Don't know what your worried about man....I am pushing 35s, a 6 inch lift and 3 inch body lift on my 2.3L with no problems.....

Granted I cannot use 5th gear, but I can maintain 60 -70mph on the Autobahn..

 

[TheUndeadRanger]

awesome thanks, and i have the right rims, 5 on 4.5, FS is 5 on 5.5 i believe, i have 15s in just about every sizee, my taurus and escape have 5 on 4.5 as well i believe. yeah i'm a ford guy.... so where would i go about gettin the right gears? i have a buddy that has a d35 with 5.13s locked and loaded but i doubt he'd take it off his tadpole (97 ranger)... it has seen better days though.

 

[TheUndeadRanger]

the lift height is the only thing i'm 100% confident in, it already sits as high as my roommates bronco with 33's and a 2 inch lift WITHOUT my body lift. handy things these little rangers, it totally out-drives his bronco any day!

 

[Original_Ranger84]

awesome thanks, and i have the right rims, 5 on 4.5, FS is 5 on 5.5 i believe, i have 15s in just about every sizee, my taurus and escape have 5 on 4.5 as well i believe. yeah i'm a ford guy.... so where would i go about gettin the right gears? i have a buddy that has a d35 with 5.13s locked and loaded but i doubt he'd take it off his tadpole (97 ranger)... it has seen better days though.

The D35 is the front axle, you probably have the 7.5" rear axle but I would highly suggest getting an 8.8" with the gears. It will hold up alot better!

 

[feellnfroggy]

You can get an exploder rearend in 8.8 with 31 spline axles and limited slip. And looking on craigslist is all sorts of cities in state, out of state, everywhere is the best way to find decent gears. Theres a few sets for sale on here.

 

[strvger]

yep, what everyone else has said... xplorer axle, 5.13 gears. and i'd get an axle that has the disc brakes as you'll be needing the added stopping power with those big tires.
just my $.02.

 

[feellnfroggy]

93 and newer sploder.

 

[shane96ranger]

93 and newer sploder.

Out of curiosity, what's wrong with the 91 and 92? I thought 91-94 were pretty much the same, and not any changes until 95 with rear disc?

 

[straycat]

In the past 24 years I have only known two buddies who put on 35's with a 4 cl. Ranger. They were never happy. Both of them bought new wheels and tires and wish thay had bought the wheels and tires used so they could sell them cheap to move them. Both put on gear sets and both hated their Rangers after the 35's were mounted. 5th gear was useless they said and pulling thier trailers or a boat they cried all the way to where they were going and on the way back!!! It is not always the same for everybody of course..but these two it was horrible!!!! After they swapped to 33's they both were happy. Maybe you would be best with 33's as well.

Just my .02 worth.

 

[TheUndeadRanger]

okay so '93 explorer 8.8 with disk brakes. gotcha. and my oh so helpful mechanic buddy has 33's on his, feels like they're running on stock tires, he hooked me up with some very nice rims, and these 35's are only roughly 2 inches wider than the 31's i have on it now so steering should be no issue, if not i'll do the forbidden and add wheel spacers. but i think my truck should push those 35's as is, but with ZERO balls, so should i still be looking for 5.13 gears or with the explorer rear would i be good just leaving it stock.... still kinda in the dark about gear ratios, never been good at math and 5.13 looks like a price difference more than a differential haha