New to Comanche. Rearend trouble

[Zac]

Bought an '86 Comanche recently. Now rearend is out. Is it possible to put an 8.8 out of a '91 ranger in place?

[Jeep Driver]

Keep it in the family.

 

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[87Warrior]

Yes. An Explorer 8.8 is a popular axle swap. You will want wheel spacers to keep the tire off the inner fender. Is the ranger axle the same width as the explorer?

 

I am currently searching for a 4.10 geared 8.8 for my '86. Far easier to find an 8.8 with 4.10's than a C8.25. Plus more of them have disk brakes.

[88ComancheMitch]

They will fit. Have to relocate the spring perches to fit properly. Drive shaft might have to be shortened/lengthened. Wheel spacers to make the wheels set properly since the 8.8 is a little more narrow. 

 

They're a popular swap because they're easily found in 4.10/4.11/3.73 and posi units are common...and they have the same bolt pattern.

[Zac]

Thank you all.

[thejim42]

I've got a d30 front and d35 rear that are 4.10s that I'll let go for the right price

[dunnc1991]

You'll also need an adapter flange for the driveshaft to bolt up to.

 

http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-4980701-ford-8-8-1310-adapter-flange.html

[Incommando]

Rangers did not automatically have an 8.8 so just make sure your donor has one. The 7.5 was more common in the earlier years with the 8.8 not being available at all until 90 or 91 IIRC. I have seen a guy who mistakenly bought the smaller axle out of a '98 Ranger because he was sure that all Ranger's had 8.8's. 

 

If you just need a git-r-done axle that '91 is ok but the early ones are not as strong as the later ones. Getting one from a later Explorer will get you stronger axles and factory disc brakes as well. For some reason the Ranger 8.8 never had as high of a GVWR as the Explorer version and the 31-splines versions were harder to find.