Tell me what I should know

[Jspafford]

I am selling my F-250 for something cheaper.

I've found on craigslist...

1997 Ranger Ext Cab
3.0L Manual Tranny
Electric Shift 4WD
Grey in color

I have to go see it, but are the 1997 3.0L the same as the 99 3.0 that is in Heather's truck?

Does the 3.0L in a 1997 have the Dana 35 or the 28 hybrid?

It only has 98K, was owned by his grandpa and he's selling it for $3500!!

That would leave me with NO car payment like I want to be, but I would have a second truck!

Fill me in.

 

[Will]

Whether it has the hybrid or not means nothing. It has all the good parts in the axle either way. It has the same joints and almost all the shafts are the same. The only difference is the left inner and the slip shaft--both parts that go into the pig. The parts inside are not the things that break.

 

[metalmacguyver]

That sounds like my truck minus 10K miles and 1.0 liters. Paid 3500 for it last year. You know you want another TTB man. Buy it!

 

[4x4junkie]

Its very hard to say with 3.0Ls if it's a hybrid diff or the real deal, the only real way to tell is to look at it (two guarantees, if it has 3.45 gears, it's a hybrid, if it has 3.55s, it's the real deal. Any other ratio, who knows).
I tend to believe more stickshift trucks got real D35s, whereas autos got more hybrids.

If you ever think you want to do ANYTHING with the truck offroad (bigger tires, regearing, any lockers), you most certainly do not want that hybrid diff thingy under there.


99 3.0Ls were FFVs, i don't believe '97 had that yet. Otherwise, same engine.

 

[Will]

If you ever think you want to do ANYTHING with the truck offroad (bigger tires, regearing, any lockers), you most certainly do not want that hybrid diff thingy under there.

Why not?

 

[4x4junkie]

Well... have you ever checked out the wonderful selection of lockers and gear ratios that are available for it? (and how those 23 spline inner shafts won't break any easier than the D35's 27 spline shafts?) Shouldn't this be obvious?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

the 97 might have a different plenum than the 99. that and the FFV differences...otherwise the same.

who cares if its a hybrid or not? if he blows it up (doubtful...especially with <31" tires), a true 35 pig bolts in.

 

[Will]

No, because there have been people running V8s and 33s in old D28s and even managing to weld the caps on the joints and having them live pretty well. Any of those people would have jumped on a kit to upgrade to the D35 joints. Breaking those splines isn't common and the swap isn't worth being on the list of upgrades unless it breaks. Whatever D28 parts break aren't hooked to D35 parts so there's no harm in it. I would rather have a winch than the exact same axle with a little bigger pig in it.

I don't know what gears are available. I wouldn't imagine the aftermarket goes very deep with them. Still doesn't mean it's a throw-away like the D28 was. Once you decide to upgrade it's an easy decision to replace it if there aren't any gears for it.

 

[Jspafford]

Got to be honest guys, I drive a B2 with a stock Dana 28 and have had no problems.

I was just more curious if anything.

I am stoked about seeing it tomorrow.

He told me his Grandpa owned it up until a month or so ago and he bought it, but has 3 cars so he does not need it.

I hope it was taken care of.

Does 3500 sound like too much?

The only thing he warned me about was it has two dents in the bed.

I would hope I can make a good judgement call on if it will be a worthwhile buy when I see it tomorrow.

Was the 3.0L of that year a decent motor. I think having a stick will make it more peppy.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

the only thing to watch out for is the flakey cam position syncro bushings.

 

[BlackBII]

I've busted enough Dana 28 joints/shafts/hubs/spiders to know not to wheel one, but then again, It's pedal to the metal or none at all

Hence the Three '90 BII's I have............ D 35 baby

 

[Ranger44]

A stick will make a big difference on the 3.0. A hybrid axle is considered an "upgrade" over a true d35. But I'd say it most likely has a true D35.

 

[BlackBII]

A hybrid axle is considered an "upgrade" over a true d35.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

i think he meant upgrade over the d28.

 

[Ranger44]

Yeah, long day. Ugrade over a D28.