And Sone Aluko and substitute Salim Kerkar secured three crucial points with fantastic strikes in the latter stages of this entertaining SPL clash in Fife.
Putting McCulloch up front was a gamble for manager Ally McCoist albeit he did not have many options.
But with transfer target Daniel Cousin sitting in the stands the bold move paid off with the club’s no 6 taking his goal with aplomb and proving a handful for the Dunfermline backline throughout the 90 minutes with his aerial ability and intelligent link-up play.
Lee’s inclusion was the only change McCoist made to his starting eleven following last weekend’s disappointing Scottish Cup exit to Dundee United.
Mervan Celik was named on the bench as a result and despite the poor playing surface Rangers started the match positively and asked questions of the Pars defence with the lively Aluko seeing plenty of the ball.
But against the run of play Jim McIntyre’s men had a great chance to take the lead on 14 minutes and it came from a moment of hesitancy from the visitors.
Steven Davis attempted to spray the ball out to the right wing to Bartley but David Graham intercepted and after sprinting 50 yards with the ball, and skipping past Dorin Goian, he blasted a shot across Allan McGregor and off the post.
It came back out to Liam Buchanan but Bocanegra was there to clear.
In the next attack, however, Rangers found themselves a goal down and defensively it was a poor one to lose.
Bartley gave Paddy Boyle too much space and he drilled in a low cross which found its way through to Kirk who gleefully fired the ball into the net at the back post.
The travelling Bears were stunned but the Rangers players responded and after sustained period of pressure they were back on level terms through Healy.
Edu linked up with McCulloch to drive into Dunfermline’s 18-yard box and when the American was tackled the ball fell perfectly for the Northern Ireland striker who rolled it into the empty net.
The Light Blues were now in the ascendancy and before the half hour mark they almost edged ahead when McCulloch dinked the ball to the influential Davis who saw his left foot shot skim off the top of Chris Smith’s cross bar.
McCoist was now urging his men forward and on 39 minutes their efforts were rewarded when they bagged a fine second goal.
Wallace’s deep cross was nodded into the danger area by Bocanegra and McCulloch powered a terrific volley from 15 yards high into the net.
Rangers continued where they left off after the break with McCulloch glancing a Healy cross inches over the cross bar.
And at the other end McGregor did well to hold a powerful shot from Boyle.
Rangers, however, were in control and with Kirk Broadfoot and Celik now on the pitch, having replaced Bartley and Healy, they scored a stunning third with 19 minutes remaining.
Aluko cut inside from the right wing and with options either side he elected to try his luck from 25 yards and his left foot rocket flew past Smith into the postage stamp corner.
It was yet another moment of class from the Nigerian but the scoring was not finished there.
Having been on for just 60 seconds Kerkar drilled an accurate shot into the corner of the net after Smith had denied Celik his first Rangers goal with an excellent stop from the Swede’s powerful header.
Man of the Match: Lee McCulloch – Several top performers for Rangers this afternoon including Edu, Davis and Aluko but McCulloch clearly enjoyed being back in an attacking role.
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