Okay Bad news my Topaz has a bad valve in #1 cylinder so it's been running on 3 cylinders not gonna fix it. Good news i can get a early 90's Ford Ranger 4x4 for $400 but it needs a new rear end the gears are supposable out or it might be just the spider gears don't know and needs 2 ujoints up front not sure if the guy meant on the axles or front DS will find out this weekend. Anywho if it does need new gears and i'm able to find the right gear ratio to match the front in an 8.8 instead of a 7.5 how hard would it be to go with an 8.8

 

You`ll hafta move the sping perches and there`s gonna be driveshaft issues. Oh, and brake issues if the donor 8.8 is disk or drum..

Here ya go..The Ford Explorer 8.8-Inch Rear Axles

 

Thanks Ken i'm hoping that maybe when i do get it and i take the cover off it's just needs new spider gears but if not then i'll have to make decision on which rout to go upgrade or just drop another axle out of a Ranger into it.

 

I do think the ranger and B2 have different 7.5s, so check first.

 

I didn't think the ranger and the BII had differnet 7.5's but I could be wrong. Swapping in an 8.8 shouldn't be that hard. It would be kind of like a spring over swap. Find out what the gears are. I though in the 90's they where all danna 35 and 8.8's. At least for the carriers-- they did have some hybrid crud for awhile.

I may have a front carrier, and a rear carrier for dana 35's and 8.8 if you need parts. I also have a whole 8.8 axle. I was planning on selling them someday anyway.

 

I think tony still has some goodies too.

 

The newer Rangers with 4.0s have 8.8s but they are sprung over like the older stuff. May be a little easier, main difference with the Explorer is the disc brakes and 31 spline axles. Hope my 2¢ help