[BlouDon]

Having explored various options of extending the 59's legs for better open road cruising, I have decided doing as follows:

Fit the 6-stud rear axle of a Ford Ranger 2.2 6-speed manual 2WD with a diff ratio of 3.15.

This will have the following benefits:
1. Original engine / 3-sp manual transmission retained;
2. Significantly improved ratios for open road cruising;
3. lower prop shaft RPMs produces less vibrations - in theory. I might even end up using the Ford propshaft which has a centre support bearing ;
4. diff in this axle comes with electronic diff lock - FWIW;
5. Solves the oil leak problems that exist on OEM axle.
6. I should be able to use the ABS sensor outputs to drive a digital speedometer - if I ever do this;
7. will allow me to retain the existing original instruments since speedo cable drive input comes off transmission - it will be reading way too low of course.
8. The mod is fully reversible and not in-your-face "visible".

The attached graph showing the effect of the new diff ratio as well as the ID sticker of the axle.