need some help.

i know i have a 7.5 rear axle with 3.75s and a front dana 35.

i want to put 4.88s with 35in tires.

whats the difference between a 7.5 and a 8.8? im thinkin bigger better? and easier to find gears for.

can i put 4.88 gears on a 7.5 with out killing it?

 

4.56 gears is the lowest gear available for the 7.5.....if you want 4.88 gears, then you will need to upgrade to the 8.8 rear axle....

I wouldn't run 35" tires on the 7.5 for nothing....they are not built to handle that much tire....

 

the 28 spline 8.8 has the same axle shafts as the 7.5

if your going to swap axles get a 31 spline 8.8

 

sweet deal. anyone have a spare 31 spline 8.8 that they wanna sale for cheap??

 

look to pay between $250 and $300 for a 8.8 31 spline axle...

the 8.8 31 spline axles only came in the '02 FX4 and the '03+ FX4 Level II Rangers....those will directly bolt into any Ranger or Bronco II.....

you can also get a 8.8 31 spline w/ disc brakes from an Explorer, but you will have to weld on spring perches and shock tabs....the Explorer axle is Sprin Under Axle (the Ranger axle is Spring Over Axle) and the Explorer axle doesn't have the shock tabs like the Ranger axle....

 

not bad i was thinkin to pay around 800 to 1000.

i guess ether a junkyard or buy a new FX4 axle??

i can weld any diagrams to show where to weld??

 

buying a new FX4 axle will cost you well over $1000.....

 

forget that idea. junkyard it is. lol

what year explorer will match up? and where do i find and weld the spring perches and shock tabs

 

4 wheel parts or something.. just put the axle under the leaves and measure it out.

 

well i got my plan. ya'll let me know what you think.

my truck is a 98 3.0L with 170,000 miles on it i paid $5,000 have about $2,000 put in it. was thinking, sale it for about $7,000, and pick up a 03 or 04 ranger FX4 or FX4 Level II for about 6,000 i saw on ebay and the autotraders. but find one with and 8.8 w/ 31 spline and a 4.0L and automatic. slap on a SL, BL, exshust, intake, and 4.88 gears with some nice 35's.

im to busy with work and overtime to have my DD down for more than 2 days while i weld an explorer 8.8 to fix. and after i do the axle swap with all the miles on it something big happeneds the i loss time and money.

what do ya'll think?? and whats the difference between and FX4 and the Level II??