Will my differentials handle it?

[Southern_Trendkill]

I've got an 88 ranger with the 2.9, and it's got the ford 7.5 rear and d28 front. I don't use it for offroading, just a daily driver and getting over the occasional snow drift. I found a 302 out of a 60s mustang that I would like to put into it, but I'm wondering if the differentials would handle the power, or if they would break. Did you guys that did v8 swaps change the axles, or just the engine and tranny?

 

[greasemonkey01]

with a stock 302 & stock size tires they should handle fine. but if you're hard on the skinny pedal you'd probably snap something.

 

[projectnitemare]

Dana 28...no but you can make do with it but expect it to break. The 7.5 will hold ok but if you break it an 8.8 is bolt in.

Matt

 

[Scrambler82]

I did the same swap on an '88 Ranger 4x4.
Same axles and they held up fine even with a little off-roading as long as you do as greasemonkey01 stated easy on the go-juice pedal.

The engine was a '93 5.0L out of a Mustang and a C-4, if you go 5-speed there may be problems sooner but I think the auto helped a little.

Luck on the swap.