Well im new here to pirate but i would like to ask you guys do you think that a 8.8 will hold up ok with my ranger. I am looking to swap a 302, dana 44 front, and if it will be strong enough a 8.8 outback. Im thinking probably max tire would be like a 33 or 35 most likely. Cant the 8.8 be build strong enough to handle some ok power with like 35s?

I don't know - are they strong enough for an F 150? Seems as if Ford put them there...

All the Jeepers are looking to get one - all the Ford dudes are looking to get rid of one. Wierd...

The strongest ones are out of the mid-model Explorers with disk brakes and 31 spines. Yes, they will take 33 or 35 tires. After that, get a 60 or a 14 bolt.

Well right now my ranger has the amazing pos of a 7.5 since its a 2wd, but i would like to put a 8.8 maybe in the back depending on if it will hold up, i have one already and its just wasting space, but i want to make sure it wont turn in to a large pain.

Seeing as how you are really worried about it just ship it to me... :D

BTW, is your 7.5 broke?

Some Rangers came with 8.8s (4.0L V6 ones), but they are almost all 28 spline.

The Explorer 8.8 is the one you want. It's 31 spline and will handle up to a 37" tire fine. The stock carrier is a tad weak, but a Detroit Locker pretty effectively takes care of that ;)

Go with the 95-01 Explorer rear. 31 spline and discs. If you dont care about discs, then get one from a 91-94. Same rear with drums. Will run 35's fine.

or try and find an FX4 level II axle. its a 31 spline drum. but its all set up for the ranger already no having to put new perches on like the explorer axle. explorers are spring under and rangers are spring over thats why. another plus of the FX4 axle is that it has a l/s and 4.10 gears.

Andrew

by the way are you going to do any offroading? or is this a mall cruiser. cause if its just a mall crusier than you can prollly get by with a stock 8.8 28 spline from any 4.0 ranger.

Andrew

Naw it will be far from the mall cruzer, i would really like to build it tough enough to be able to go out and play and not have to worry about my axles leaving me. The 7.5 is not gone but i have a feeling that it will be pretty soon. It already makes some odd noises but i have a 8.8 that is out of a crown vic just sitting so i was thinking about shorting it and puting it under my truck since i already have it and it was free. plus i have a friend who could do the shorting for free also since he build hotrods. But what i would like to do is go 8.8 back, 44 front, and a FI 302 with some sort of Tcase i havent looked into that much yet. If that all falls through it is going to become a desert truck. either way it will be used, not just for looks.

My friend put an 8.8 from 00 Explorer and 4.56 in his 99 Ranger 2wd with 33's. He runs that 8.8 hard and hasn't had any problems. But he didn't have to shorten the axle at all, so I don't see why you need to (but i don't know anything about rangers). He wishes he went with a 9" instead though. From my personal experience the 9"ers are easier to find and cheaper.

well the biggest reason that i am going to have to shorten the axle is cause it is quite a bit wider than my ranger rearend, the explorer rears are about 1.5" from what i hear wider than a stock ranger rear. I have a 9" also i just dont know if it is worth it to shorten it up for something as light as a ranger. I havent found many 9" but i have found lots of 8.8s. I think all the hotroders are picking up all the 9".

whats wrong with 1.5" wider? you can't tell the difference. the EB 9" are only 58" wide, which should be fine for the Ranger. I think shortening it would be a waste of money.

if your going to go to a 8.8, the exlpoder axle is the only way to go. Tossing in any other 28 spline 8.8 is a wast of time, they have the same damn shafts as a 7.5 does..

But if your doing a 44 up front, I think I would rather get a 9" so the bolt pattern matched.. allthough a EB 9" would have smaller shafts than a exploder 8.8

there isnt anything wrong with 1.5" longer, im just trying to work with the equipment that i have right now. And i have a 8.8 28 spline and a 9" 28 spline. both are WAY wider than my ranger is. Plus i can get the axles shortened for free then all i have to do is get new axles and gears. Plus i need to be able to find a 44 first. i have yet to be able to find one. I priced a 8.8 explo. and it was like 900 bucks for a drum set up and open diff.

there isnt anything wrong with 1.5" longer, im just trying to work with the equipment that i have right now. And i have a 8.8 28 spline and a 9" 28 spline. both are WAY wider than my ranger is. Plus i can get the axles shortened for free then all i have to do is get new axles and gears. Plus i need to be able to find a 44 first. i have yet to be able to find one. I priced a 8.8 explo. and it was like 900 bucks for a drum set up and open diff.
jesus i dont think there's any way someone could seriously ask that much for an 8.8

you could drive and pick up one somewhere for way less. you could pry even get one shipped for a lot less than that

$900!!! junkyards at my home town (Benicia, CA) and junkyards around my school (Spokane, WA) have disc brake 8.8's with the limited slip for $450. If you're lucky, then you can find one for $350. If the 9" is only 1.5" wider then keep it that way because it'll give you more stability and looks cooler. Plus replacement parts will be easier to find and wont need any custom work on axleshafts. You can upgrade the 3rd member on the 9" to 31 or 35 spline and call it good.

i wouldnt shorten them. if the 44 falls through and it becomes a dezert truck youll want that width. most likely youll be running extended beams up front anyway in the end. they will prolly be like what 4" per side. that 1.5 doesnt seem so big anymore.

Andrew

yea they seem to think that they have gold on there hands when it comes to rears. Im pretty sure that the 9" is a bit wider than 1.5 and yea i believe the beams are about 4" wider.