Ok so I am building a ranger. Well, we are building two. One has a 302 bored 40 over and the other a 351W bored 40 over and stroked. Mine is the 302. I am planning on putting a dana 30 axle out of my spare parts jeep. I hear the axle spring spacing is about the same. I want to run 5.13 gears and maybe 38" tires. I hope the axle can handle this. What do you guys think? Maybe I should only go with 4.88 gears? This Truck is for MUD ONLY. It will be trailered to the pit.
Thanks for any info.

 

35s are pushing it on a Dana 30. With 38s it's not a matter of if but when and I'm guessing quite soon especially with the torque and hp of that sb.

 

What about if I beef it up with better axles? And remeber no rocks just slippery Florida mud.

 

IS there a better short axle I could use?

 

truss the dana 30 and you'll be fine. its just mud. the worst that will happen is that you break a shaft or strip gears with the torque. lincoln lock the bastard and have fun!

if you do break it... there a dime a dozen.

 

It's surprising what you can get away with in mud, I've seen alot of trucks with BUILT motors and 38"s and bigger in the local mud runs running 10 bolts, I think it has alot to do with only driving it in mud, and the right gears, and try to strip as much weight off the front end as possible. Also remember the lower the gears the smaller the pinion is, something to think about, if I were you, I'd go with 4.10's, maybe even 3.73's if you've got a built motor you don't need those ultra low gears, plus you'll be able to spin your tires/wheels a lot faster. Just my .02

 

Wagoneers have d44s and they are only 1 inch wider than a d30. Just make sure you get it out of a later model wagoneer as some of the earlier models had CAD and pass. side drops. I wanna say 76+ are the ones you want to go for.

x2 on the 3.73s or 4.10s. You have to remember that a 302 bored over is making a boatload more power than a 4.0.

 

I think im going to get an old bronco front d44 axle. It will have the strength I need. I only wanted the gears so I can make the tires just spin up like crazy and sling alot of mud. Im not racing or anything just having FUN. Down here in FL thats what we have so thats what we build for most of the time. The nice thing is that when my jeep is done and then I finish this ranger, the jeep will not have to be in the mud as much. It will be more for other playing.