Tire question?

[lvwill]

A good option is going to the local pic a part and getting a ranger rear axle with 4:10 gears. It would just be a completely bolt in swap and would be pretty cheap.

 

[88ranger5speed]

I've looked around. About 100$ or local Craigslist. I'm gonna test out the 31s with the 3.08s but definitely getting limited slip before winter.

 

[Andy D]

I lost track in the posts where this is a 4 wd. Doesn't matter. Big wheels look cool. I'm glad I'm past that. Oversize wheels have negatives. their weight, wears out the front ends. Jacking the suspension affects tire wear. Everything you do lowers MPG.. The first place to start is with a higher diff. The tires should be matched to this. If you're gonna re-gear, I would go with a LSD too.

 

[88ranger5speed]

I'm just not ready to drop a grand on 4.88s which sounds like something I would want. If he's getting 20 with 33s imagine what I'd be getting?

 

[88ranger5speed]

This truck with stock height would go anywhere with some weight in the bed. I grew up on a farm so this truck has went a lot a places I wouldn't take my step dad's 7.3 power stroke f-250 4x4. But I think changing the center of gravity and the bigger tires my traction may now suck.

 

[lvwill]

4.56 would probably be a better choice for 31s .

 

[88ranger5speed]

Didn't those come stock in some ranger/explorers?

 

[lvwill]

I know they were in some rangers but not very common. If you could find one in the wrecking yard that would be a major score!

 

[88ranger5speed]

That's what I'm thinking. But I don't want to get an explorer rear end. I don't have any welding skills to make it fit.

 

[lvwill]

An exploder 8.8 is an incredible upgrade. You get better brakes and a way stronger rear end in general, plus it's approximately 3" wider than what's in your truck now. But if I were in your situation I would find a ranger rear end with 4.10 gears and lsd. It will be so much better than what you have now. The thing is with gears and tires is that you need to keep the engine in it's happy spot in rpms at the speed you want to drive. If you have a manual transmission you can just use a lower gear. I have an automatic and was having a lot of heat issues and it wouldn't hold in a gear on the highway. As my truck is now at 65 mph it's turning about 2700 rpm and not having to work very hard and it will hold in overdrive.

 

[BLOODBANE]

4:10's with the 31" tire would be plenty. I run 4:88's in my 94 Explorer with 35's, and it put it back to almost stock. At the most, for a street truck, I wouldnt go deeper than a 4:56 (I run those in my 84 Ranger, with 35" BOGGERs (I do have a V-8 in that though).

Im not to sure on the 4:56's in any RBV though. I think the deepest FORD ever went was 4:10's (I could be wrong on that though, just never heard of them).

 

[88ranger5speed]

Mine is a manual so I won't have those issues. I just want a bolt in swap for now til I go to school for some trade work.

 

[88ranger5speed]

Sounds like you have some sweet rigs. Got any pics?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

My 4x4 with a 3" BL and Explorer coils lightly rubs 31's if I hit certain bumps with speed...

(gotta crawl out of carquest because the city didn't do a great job shaving down the curb for example)

 

[88ranger5speed]

Dang. I think I should be okay with 31's. No rubbing. But then again...what do I know?