I have a 1988 4x2 truck with 3.07s that I want to put lower gears in. I was reading that a Ford 8.8 out of an Explorer is suppose to bolt in place of the Toyota axle, and I will just have to get a custom drive shaft made. These have disc brakes and lower gears. Here is a link:

http://myjzswap.com/forum/index.php?...91&topic=228.0

I cannot find much information on that swap other than that. Has anyone here done that swap? Also, what would be an average cost of having a drive shaft made for that?

If that swap does not work, does anyone know if a newer 4x2 Tacoma axle would fit? I searched and all I can find is information on 4x4 axles.

 

Got any more info on your 2wd truck? 4spd or 5spd? What's your axle code? Could mean the difference between new gears/3rd from a 4x4 'yota or a new axle.

 

It is a 4 speed with axle code G662, which is an 8 inch with 3.07s. I have a vibration that I think is in the driveshaft, so I plan on getting the shaft balanced when I change the gearing, then later I want to put a 5 speed in it.

I could swap the third member, but I was thinking I could possibly get a newer axle for cheaper than I could re-build mine. My truck has about 265k on it, so most of the parts that get removed would probably end up getting replaced, which could really add to the cost of a basic gear swap. I figure I need driveshaft work done either way, and my friend told me Pick-n-pull sells the Ford axles for about $150.

 

Ah, yeah, rebuilding the rear axle after it hasn't been taken care of for a few eons is a costly exercise in "Why exactly am I doing this again?" for sure. Depending on the work needed it could be under $100 to the better part of $1k. So far for me it's been "replace everything that isn't big, heavy, and solid," such as the housing, and axle shafts, and bearing cases (well, these guys aren't big and heavy, but they're pretty solid casings anyways), everything else is basically slowly being replaced.

 

if its an 8" 3rd, find a set of 4.10s on CL for next to nothing and swap that in.

 

Hey OP, bit of an unrelated question: Does your truck get listed as a 4Runner on parts look-up sites and the like? I can never figure that one out (my truck's always been a pickup and isn't a Frankenstein), your model code has KRK like mine, right?

 

A 4x4 8 inch will work in a 2wd? I thought I read they have different spline counts, but maybe that was between 7.5 and 8 inch.

I am not sure if it has KRK in the model code. On a couple of sites it is listed as a 4Runner with a VIN of RN50 (which is a 2wd pickup). Parts stores list it as a truck, but the correct heater core can only be found under 4Runner with no rear heater. So far, that is the only part I have seen listed like that.