Regarding the small (7.25") (glass) front end of the '88, before swapping the gearing, you should swap the front diff, mounts, and axles and put in the 8" front end from a Gen I V6. Before I swapped 5.29s into my '88 several years ago, I swapped the front end for the 8" front. The 8" front end is not only much stronger, but it also sets you up to install the ARB RD110 locker up front when the time suits you. I did that swap...being dual-locked rocks! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Oh, and if you did swap in that front end, you'd have to likely have the front drive shaft shortened roughly an inch (mine had to be shortened 1.5").