Rear end swap ideas.. (Purists need not enter)

dustinmoran91 said
most ranger 8.8's had drum brakes and 28 spline shafts, the explorer 8.8 although needs 3'' off the driver side tube has 31 spline shafts, disk brakes, and most times 3.73 limited slips. i put one in my duster and it was simple. if he is going to be cutting brackets and things off already its no more work to take 3'' from the tube, weld it back and put a passenger side axle in it. also it has the 5x4.5'' bolt pattern to. i would much rather have to take 3'' out of a tube but have 31 spline shafts and disk brakes over having a rear that still needs brackets and has 28 spline shafts and drum brakes. that's just my opinion though.

Do you suppose he has a jig to properly narrow the explorer rearend? If not it's not as easy as just wacking off 3" and welding it back together. If not done in a jig it's not done right, i.e. the wheel bearings won't be aligned properly. Just a few thousandths off and your giving up hp and causing more wear. If he doesn't have the jig (which very few average mechanics have) he's looking at the expense of having a shop do it which can run $125-250 depending on location. I agree that the 31 splines are stronger and disc brakes are nice but it sounded to me like he's looking at a simplistic swap which I believe the Ranger rearend to be. I don't think he mentioned the HP level he's at but as long as it's not real high the 28 splines are plenty strong. JMHO

BTW: what did you do for a axle for the side you shortened?