Aoresteen
Member
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2014
- Messages
- 67
- Reaction score
- 2
- Points
- 8
- Location
- Newnan, GA
- Vehicle Year
- 1990
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Size
- 2.9L
- Transmission
- Automatic
I need some advice here. I just bought a 1991 8.8" open rear end with 3.08 gears & 10" brakes to swap into my 1990 Super Cab 2WD 2.9L Ranger with auto transmission (A4LD). My Ranger came with 3.45 gears in the 7.5" rear end with 9" brakes.
The 8.8" rear end came out of a 1991 2WD Super Cab with the 4.0L V6.
Next week the rear end will be sandblasted & painted then it's off to the differential shop for a full rebuild.
Originally I was thinking that I would use 3.55 gears as it is close to the original 3.45 gears. 3.45 gears don't seem to be available in 8.8" size.
I will be driving 95% on streets & highways, 5% off-road on gravel/dirt/cow pastures to set up ham radio antennas. On occasion I will also be towing a light flatbed trailer with antennas.
I will also be upgrading to 15" rims and 235/75R15 tires (Goodyear Wranglers Silent Armor are the ones I'm looking at).
The 3.08 gears that I have should give me better gas mileage. I will also get less torque.
No matter what I do I will have to have the speedo re-calibrated.
Given what I plan to do, should I keep the 3.08 gears or swap in 3.55 gears?
The cost of the 3.55 gears (about $135) is irrelevant as the shop will install them during the rebuild at no extra cost.
Thanks!
The 8.8" rear end came out of a 1991 2WD Super Cab with the 4.0L V6.
Next week the rear end will be sandblasted & painted then it's off to the differential shop for a full rebuild.
Originally I was thinking that I would use 3.55 gears as it is close to the original 3.45 gears. 3.45 gears don't seem to be available in 8.8" size.
I will be driving 95% on streets & highways, 5% off-road on gravel/dirt/cow pastures to set up ham radio antennas. On occasion I will also be towing a light flatbed trailer with antennas.
I will also be upgrading to 15" rims and 235/75R15 tires (Goodyear Wranglers Silent Armor are the ones I'm looking at).
The 3.08 gears that I have should give me better gas mileage. I will also get less torque.
No matter what I do I will have to have the speedo re-calibrated.
Given what I plan to do, should I keep the 3.08 gears or swap in 3.55 gears?
The cost of the 3.55 gears (about $135) is irrelevant as the shop will install them during the rebuild at no extra cost.
Thanks!