I am in need of some suggestions/answers any and all kinds of help with or without pics..... I just inherited a friend of mines '83 Ranger for a 302 efi swap. Of course my mind is running 18 different directions on what and how I am going to start this adventure.
My first task is for the rear end....considering the truck currently doesn't have one, I figure that will be my starting point. Will a late model 8.8 out of a 2001 and older Ranger/Exporer be a direct bolt in? What gear ratio would you go with? I have an AOD that I'm using, so I was leaning towards 4.10's..... Thanks in advance

 

Any Ranger with the 4.0L will have the 8.8 rear end and bolt right in. 93 and newer are a little wider. Don't know what power level your motor is but the more power, the less gear you need. Explorers are used by quite a few but not a simple bolt in and are wider yet.
Good info here:
Ford Ranger Rear Axles - The Ranger Station
Dave

 

All rangers with the 4.0 came with the 8.8 and they are all the same width. They have 28 spline axles and some have limited slip carriers. The explorer axle is what you want. 96 and newer to be exact. They all had disc brake setups, 31 spline axles and are 3 inches wider than the ranger 8.8.

 

Thanks for the help and the info....greatly appreciated.

 

With a 302 EfI I would go with as tall gear as I could get. 2.73 3.08 You will have plenty of power and they will help with the MPG'S

 

I myself would no go below a 3.55 gear. Go too high of a gear and you drop out of your torque range. Most all the the newer Mustangs run a gear of 3.55 and they sure are concerned with mileage.
Dave

 

All depends on what you want to do. If neck snapping acceleration is what you want then go low geared. If decent power and better Mpg's go taller geared. And the torque range is going to be decided by the cam. A passenger car 302 will have a different power band more in line with tall gears then a truck 302 which will be set up for power more inline with lower gears.