Ok well i have a 87 4x4 ext cab ranger it has 7" lift. I want to upgrade the rearend and i was wondering if a 2000 ranger 8.8 rearend with drums on it, will fit and bolt right up cause i can get it real cheap.
Or what would i have to do to get it to fit.

Thanks

 

it should work with little or no modifications... what do you have now a 7.5?

 

I believe the 88 springs are narrower, but that shouldn't be a big deal I don't think.

 

Well it is the 7.5 right now but i want to upgrade to a 8.8 cause i have a bulit efi 302 in it.
Thanks guys

 

The only strength you will gain with that swap will be the diff itself (ring pinion etc) b/c the shafts, tubes, bearing are the same between the 7.5 and 8.8. Go with an Ex axle or even an F150 for the 31 splines.

 

^^He just said he was getting the 8.8 really cheap.

 

yes the 8.8 from a ranger will bolt right in. it will be slightly wider, but not enough to really notice anything. the only thing that may be different is the flange for the driveshaft, depending on what your 87 has, it probly has the smaller one, it was around 89ish that they went to a larger flange for the rear of the driveshaft. this can be easily solved in a few differnt ways, you can either get a conversion u-joint and use your driveshaft with the conversion joint in the rear and the flange from the larger size driveshaft. or you can unbolt the flange from the pinion on your 7.5 and bolt it onto the pinion of the 8.8. or you can get a newer D-shaft and bolt it in... all 3 of which are pretty easy and the newer driveshafts (90ish-up) use slightly larger u-joints.

just looked at things, with your ex. cab you probly have a 2 piece rear driveshaft with the carrier bearing, if so it would be a wonderful thing to swap to the 1 piece shaft from a 98-up 4x4 ext. cab ranger (unless you need custom shafts due to the v8 and different tranny and t-case being longer or shorter...)