Hello everyone.

I am thinking about swapping an 8.8 rear end into my 2003 XL. Mine has the 3:73 gears in it and I want better options for fuel mileage. IIRC the 4.0 Rangers came with an 8.8 rear and had drum brakes in certain years. Would this be a direct swap (whole rear end of course not just the R+P gears)? Would there be any major modifications? I would love to find one with 3:27's. And before anyone says anything.....yes I know it will be slow from a stop. I'm not young and it's not a street truck. It's a highway cruiser. 130 mile daily round trip at 55-65 mph. With the amount of gas I burn a month (even with the 3:73's) the ROI will be there long before I wear this truck out.

Is there an 8.8 from a 4.0 Ranger with 3:27's? If I have to swap a donor rear end to get the 8.8 and then spend more $ to replace it's gears because the 3:27's weren't available in the Rangers I'll probably just swap in a whole new 7.5 with the 3:45's and call it good. I would prefer the 3:27 though. I could go with a 7.5 with the 3:08's but I'm pretty sure it's too tall a gear and any highway gains would be eaten away at every stop light.

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Little Black Ranger: R.I.P Born-1997 Died-2018. 297k miles of good times. You will be missed.

Oh Deer: 2003 XL 2.3L 5-speed stick w/OD. Current mods: Body work after hitting a deer 12 hours after I bought it. Averaging 32 MPG on the highway.