Im buying an 87 ranger with a throttle bodied 5.0 engine. I have 2 questions to help me out in preparing to put some money into it.

1. truck has no exhaust but has shorty headers. Can I have a shop run me true duals or do I need to run a Y or X pipe for it to run right? I only ask because I know someone with a 5.0 jeep and he had to run a y pipe. I also know mustangs use Y pipes.

2. it has dana44 and 9" with 5.14 gears. Currently has 40" Hawgs that I am going to replace. I dont think previous owner did any real wheeling. What size tire can I get away with so I am not breaking every time I take it out. It will be a trail/mud truck. Id rather not pay the price to change gear ratio.

The front D44 probably leaves you with 35's. That is A Lot of gear for 35's & V8 power. You may get away wth 37's-38's. That 44 will probably break under 40's if you try to turn them under power. IMHO.

The exhaust issue is up to your emissions regs and available space. Usually, a y-pipe can route the exhaust away from crap ( driveshaft, for example) where there is not enough room for a pipe. So, if you have the room you do not have to run a y-pipe.

I meant H pipe or X pipe

I meant H pipe or X pipe

There is not a "have to" for running an h or x pipe. The idea is that by combining the exhaust patterns you get a better flow/back pressure & cylinder scavenging + improved performance. On a 4x4, such a pipe may be hard to fab due to space limitations. I am not sure about a V8'ed Ranger, but plumbing such a pipe & snaking around a driveshaft & and x-fer may be tough.