So I finally did the 4406 manual t case swap, found out if you get the rear driveshaft off of a regular cab short bed F150 with the 4406 manual case that that shaft will fit our rangers? I never read this before anywhere but for giggles I tried it. Darn thing fits in there pretty well. I have stock suspension and it actually could be an inch shorter but I cycled my suspension and its not hitting or falling out. I am going to keep an eye on it but it was a nice surprise

I dont know if this is new info or just plain luck but it works

 

I would say luck! So what the the exact config on the f150 and one the ranger? All that plays a role on how it fits.

 

What I believe was a 98 F150 regular cab short bed 4.6 automatic with a manual 4406 t case. The ranger is a 5.0 4r70w automatic with the same 4406 t case. I know I had to get the front shaft from a 4.6 truck but didnt know the rear shaft was that close. I just nabbed it to have that slip yoke end put on my stock shaft when I got it shortened

 

Also an after thought. If the front drive shaft off a 4.6 fits exactly that means the trans/tcase combo is the same length and also the 4.6 sits in the same place as a 5.0. If my thinking is correct this factory rear shaft should work all the time on super cab short bed rangers.

 

sounds very accurate! this woudl be good info! I know when I swapped a zf5 in my OBS I had a terrible time with the rear shaft, had to have one custom made.

 

my friend did this exact swap before I did mine, Had a custom rear shaft made. He did use a m5od trans but they are the same length as a 4r70w. Therefore no difference. I will say this if it turns out to be accurate then we just made this swap a whole lot easier. Bolt in to be exact minus the hole for the shifter

 

Yeah I agree, nothing worse than almost completing the project and having to spend 200+ on a custom length shaft.

 

although it would have been nice to have it cleaned up by the driveshaft shop. Lately anything I work on has to be cleaned before it goes back in, Even to the extent I yanked the t case to fix the t case to trans gasket and ended up polishing my t case up, No one will ever see it but I will know

 

So...If I drop a 5.0L and a 4R70w from a 96 explorer into my 96 ranger... I still have an 8.8 and a D35...

If I take a transfercase (4406) and front and back driveshafts from the 98(ish) f150 reg cab 4.6 auto short box...all that would bolt up? The driveshafts will bolt to the ranger axles??

 

I cant speak for you on the front shaft. Got to remember that 98+ trucks are fixed front ends so are the relatively the same

My exact setup is a 98 ranger 5.0 with explorer factory motor mounts, 4r70w transmission from an explorer. A 4406 manual t case from a 97-03 f150. The truck that the shaft came from was a regular cab short bed with a wheel base of 120". My truck has a wheel base of 125". Some how this works and doesnt hit anything under compression nor does it fall out under expansion

 

Ah yes that is right. 97 and down has ttb dana 35, and 98 up has ifs dana 35 correct? Do they have different "connections"? If so is there a remedy? Conversion u-joint or something

 

I think the TTB needs a longer shaft. I know to use the F150 shaft on the front of my IFS 35 I have to use a conversion joint

 

Well hey that is good news about the rear driveshaft! Normally you would need a expensive custom one eh. I'll look around on the web and see if someone put a 4406 in a 96 ranger. Or (93-97) I guess

 

thats probably going to be a tough one to find. I dont know a whole lot of guys running v8 rangers let alone with that setup. You might try the ranger station. They have a more solid group of 93-97 v8 guys

this place has a more solid group of 98+ v8 guys. funny how it works like that

 

Yeah I have looked around on RangerStation...also...geez 97-03 reg cab short box 4x4 are RARE! I can't find anyone parting one out

 

Yeah they are rare, I think I got stupidly lucky when I got mine. But its either track that down OR pay whatever you have to and have a shaft cut. Keep in mind you need a 150 rear shaft no matter what to get the slip yoke end off of it.

I wonder if a 1992-1996 reg cab short bed 4x4 150 would work? They use a 1356 slip yoke transfer case? They both came with an m5od transmission? maybe one off a 5 speed would work?

 

Honestly. I don't know how slip yokes and what not works. I am kinda a driveshaft and diff NEWB.

I dunno about the 1992-1996...would they bolt up to the 4406?

 

They would bolt in place of a 4406, I can take some measurements as ive got a 1356 sitting here and can be under my ranger and measure a 4406 easy enough

 

Oh you mean just use a 1356 transfer case ... and those axles might bolt up?

 

axles? what axles?

 

Jeez not axles. I meant driveshafts. Were you implying that using a 1356 in a 93-97 Ranger ...and that the driveshafts from a 1992-1996 reg cab short bed 4x4 F150 would bolt up?

 

I have no idea there, All I know as of right now is my setup works. Odds are it wont work but hey I was told this wouldnt work either

 

Can't you just use a rear shaft from a 5.4 expedition with a 4406? I have read in a few places that shaft was a direct bolt in on a supercab ranger? I am getting ready to put the 4406 in my ranger, but I don't wanna have to spend an arm and a leg to get the driveshafts going.

 

I have never heard that before but it may be true? I know its true for an explorer?

 

What is the exact mesurement of the driveshaft from weld to weld