I checked the axle code on an old Ranger at work. It was 3.08, not far from the 2.94 I'm running now.
Bad thoughts are running through my head ...
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| Ford axles in A bawdys https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22606 |
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| Author: | sandy in BC [ Fri Apr 06, 2007 6:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Ford axles in A bawdys |
I went to town in the Valaint today (in spite of knowing better) The ancient 7.25 howled all the way in...everytime I let up on the gas. I went to the local wrecking yard to see what was. I found 2 Ford Rangers with 10"brakes both with 3.73 gears and Trac Loc. One was a 8.8 and the other was a 7.5. I decided on the 7.5 just because the 8.8 is just too freakin big. The owner was on a wrecker call so I went downtown for a cruise down main street ..." does that guy have a blower or is his rear axle that bad?" I only got a mile before the thing growled to a stop at a stop sign . I put the trans in 1st ...let out the clutch and heard the dreaded WHRRRRRRRRRing noise of torque being directed no where. An external exam spotted the stripped pinion nut on the pavement and the free hanging driveshaft. I'LL take the truck and trailer to town tomorrow and pick up my new $200 7.5 and car. I was pretty sure I couldn t race the thing at LV...... |
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| Author: | slantvaliant [ Fri Apr 06, 2007 9:05 pm ] |
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Sandy, are you going to take some pics of the process for us? |
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| Author: | Slanted Opinion [ Sat Apr 07, 2007 4:32 am ] |
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Yes... Pictures please! Is the Ranger axle the one that you don't have to narrow to fit under the 67 and up "A" body? |
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| Author: | sandy in BC [ Sat Apr 07, 2007 8:29 am ] |
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Ill take some photos....but you have to remember I have to do website pics and text for the business website all the time....so such things seem like homework to me. There will be some who wont agree with my choice of a 7.5 over an 8.8. I plan on reviewing the whole rear suspension while Im at it. Im hoping to add 245/60/14 tires on the rear at the same time. All 7.25 A body axles are the same width...so this swap should work for all A bodies. The spring perches will need to be relocated...and pinion angle optimized. I pick up ythe new diff and the car from town this morning.... |
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| Author: | Jamakin [ Sat Apr 07, 2007 8:45 am ] |
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Please let me know how this process goes and esp what year ranger you got the rear out of. This topic has floated around before and the answer is split 50/50 some people say that the ford rears need cut to correct pinion offset and others say that certain year rangers will bolt right in. I plan on doing this swap with an 8.8 from a 94 ranger My friend has a 87 cougar with a 7.5 in it and it holds a good bit of power. He has a pretty worked 302 in it. Everyone said it wouldn't last but he blew his tranny up first |
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| Author: | heckshemi [ Sat Apr 07, 2007 4:44 pm ] |
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Even though there's only a 1/4" difference in the ring gear, the 7.5 is much beefier than the 7 1/4. http://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17616 The pinion is offset about 2" but that should be no problem. |
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| Author: | Dart270 [ Sun Apr 08, 2007 5:40 am ] |
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Cameron Tilley uses an Aussie-made Borg-Warner diff that has 7.25" ring gear. These rears have handled 350+ HP in his racecar and 600+ HP in his turbo car... Lou |
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| Author: | Slanted Opinion [ Sun Apr 08, 2007 6:48 am ] |
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Do all the Rangers use the same gear ratio, or are some more "highway friendly"? I'm thinking that the 3.73 coupled with a 904 and 14" tires may not be too happy on the freeway. -Mac |
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| Author: | Jamakin [ Sun Apr 08, 2007 9:18 am ] |
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i think for the most part that 3.73's was the 'standard' gear set i know some of the trucks with higher up packages had 4.10's |
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| Author: | slantvaliant [ Sun Apr 08, 2007 1:02 pm ] |
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I checked the axle code on an old Ranger at work. It was 3.08, not far from the 2.94 I'm running now. Bad thoughts are running through my head ...
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| Author: | Slanted Opinion [ Sun Apr 08, 2007 5:52 pm ] |
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Slantvaliant, is that something you can decode from the vin or a body tag, or do you have to read it off an axle tag? |
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| Author: | slantvaliant [ Sun Apr 08, 2007 6:53 pm ] |
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Axle codes are on the label on the driver's door, if I recall correctly, and on a metal tag on the differential housing. Decode them here: Ranger Axle Codes |
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| Author: | sandy in BC [ Mon Apr 09, 2007 5:09 pm ] |
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Slant Valiants link is where I got my information. I got my car home and my new 7.5 unloaded. Nice and clean....all parts intact. Even the lugnuts are there. Most important is the emergency brake and rubber brakeliners are in great shape. Note the offset carrier,,,,yup its 3". Im not sure I like that.  I opened up the case and drained the oil. Right away I spotted a broken tooth (3rd from the top) and hammered spiders. Note the ABS timing ring on the ring gear. There was a heavy lump of cast on the far side to protect the sensor. The Trac Loc looks very light. It is from a 4x4 application with a 2.9L 5 speed. The torque is divided to both ends on a 4x4 truck dropping the load on the LOC plates. I wonder if I will thrash them immediately ....and what they cost to rebuild.  Nice 10"drums ....good ebrake cables Note the mounts need to be moved to the bottom side of the axle. This little piggy is going right back to the market. I will make inquiries about the 8.8 3.73 Trac Loc.... Or mebbe Explorer 8.8 with discs. So....there is the car on the trailer.......... it wont go forward at all.....backwards no problem....turn a wheel forward the other counter rotates. What I needed was a simple solution  I took the driverside wheel off and lowered the spring onto a larch block and dragged the car off the trailer onto the repair ramp.....with the drum counter rotating the whole way...we chipped the block as it went over the end of the trailer. Note the wooden gas cap. I read this in my FSM. (Facts by Sandy Marshall) http://www.mobmms.com/view/20511-0.html http://www.mobmms.com/view/20510-0.html http://www.mobmms.com/view/20512-0.html |
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| Author: | slantzilla [ Mon Apr 09, 2007 7:35 pm ] |
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Good luck getting the Val going again Sandy.  Mine comes off the jackstands this weekend, racing season starts the 22nd.  Susan will drive if I can get the seat modified so she can see over the dash. She's only 5' tall. 
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| Author: | sandy in BC [ Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:04 am ] |
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I picked up an 8.8 explorer 3.55 axle in Spokane yesterday. Yes it has discs. I also got a short side axle. Look for a little diatribe on the install in the next few weeks. This weekend Ill dismantle the thing to ready it for narrowing. |
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