General Ford Ranger Discussion General discussion of the Ford Ranger that does not fit in any other sub-forum.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: DashLynx

8.8 expo swap?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 02-01-2010
02rangermayhem's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: C.Springs
Posts: 573
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
8.8 expo swap?

before anyone says it.... yes, i used the search bar.

moving foward.... i have been unsuccessful at finding a thread that shows the swap in progress. ive had enough with my drums binding when the humidity goes up. (in Florida its about every day)

ive read a little about it and got a basic idea that its not as easy as i thought,(which was basically bolting it up and workin some brake lines), so can any walk me threw what all it entails?
 
  #2  
Old 02-01-2010
HighRollerII's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 10,073
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
new spring mounts..and shock tabs..other then that its easy..

since the explorers leafs were under the axle you gotta chop off the mounts and weld new ones one..you will need new ubolts and plates also..

somebody makes a kit for it too..cant remember..minus the shock tabs..but those are easy
 
  #3  
Old 02-01-2010
Tys 4x4 FTW's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
techinically... couldnt you leave it spring under and just use some lift springs/and or blocks to keep it at the height?

idk why you'd want to. but it might be easier if you dont have the resources to redo the mounts and tabs
 
  #4  
Old 02-01-2010
02rangermayhem's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: C.Springs
Posts: 573
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i have the resources.... thats no problem.

i would much rather have the axel under the leaf springs. better peice of mind i guess?
 
  #5  
Old 02-01-2010
02rangermayhem's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: C.Springs
Posts: 573
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by HighRollerII
new spring mounts..and shock tabs..other then that its easy..

since the explorers leafs were under the axle you gotta chop off the mounts and weld new ones one..you will need new ubolts and plates also..

somebody makes a kit for it too..cant remember..minus the shock tabs..but those are easy
very interestead if anyone knows who it is....
 
  #6  
Old 02-01-2010
Tys 4x4 FTW's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
yeah i was just wondering because i dont really have the resources and i want disks in the rear lol
 
  #7  
Old 02-01-2010
02rangermayhem's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: C.Springs
Posts: 573
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
im sure its possible..... in the long run i think it would be cheaper to cut and weld the taps and spring plates.
 
  #8  
Old 02-01-2010
Tys 4x4 FTW's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
without a doubt lol
 
  #9  
Old 02-01-2010
pwrranger88's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: West Greenwich RI
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by 02rangermayhem
very interestead if anyone knows who it is....
here is where i got my kit when i did my swap
Ford 8.8 Rear Axle Simple Swap (31 spline) [8.8 Simple Swap (31 splin] - $120.00
 
  #10  
Old 02-01-2010
Downey's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Muncy, PA
Posts: 8,470
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
^^^ you dont need that kit. that kit is more than i have into my whole explorer axle swap. i cut the perches off carefully with plasma cutter and cleaned them up nice and had them welded back on. you need to find out what your pinion angle is and set the new axle to that. also cut my shock tabs off my old axle and welded them back on. i had new ubolts made at a local spring shop and used f150 spring plates but you can use explorer spring plates. for the brakes you need 2 passenger side brake hoses. then take the had line off the ranger 8.8 and shorten the ends and attach the hoses to the axle. i have less than 100 dollars in to explorer axle swap. i hope that answers your questions. you dont need to have a plasma cutter or access to one to reuse the shock tabs and spring perches. you can do it with a cut of wheel then clean them up nice and get the pinion angle and burn them in.
 
  #11  
Old 02-01-2010
korey89's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: South, FL
Posts: 4,672
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Originally Posted by pwrranger88
I would buy that ^ and not do anything the idiot above this post did.
 
  #12  
Old 02-01-2010
Downey's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Muncy, PA
Posts: 8,470
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
^^^ why the stuff i did was just as strong i just didnt spend a lot of money i dont have money coming out my *** like you do. I spend my money smart and try to make it go as far as possible. so kiss my ***
 
  #13  
Old 02-01-2010
mlw20lu's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Loxahatchee, FL
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
but not everyone has a plasma cutter at there disposal. for the simple guy the kit is much better. I got mine from Ballistic, it was on sale for 96
 
  #14  
Old 02-01-2010
Toreador4x4's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Livonia, MI
Posts: 3,958
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
i would purchase new spring plates and shock tabs when you install it...its pretty risky to cut them off and try to reuse them...guaranteed unless they were machined after they are probably not parallel to the axle, eachother or the centerline of the vehicle
 
  #15  
Old 02-01-2010
Downey's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Muncy, PA
Posts: 8,470
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
Originally Posted by mlw20lu
but not everyone has a plasma cutter at there disposal. for the simple guy the kit is much better. I got mine from Ballistic, it was on sale for 96


^^ like i said above a cut off wheel works just as well. if its a 2 inch or a 4.5. they will work
 
  #16  
Old 02-01-2010
korey89's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: South, FL
Posts: 4,672
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Originally Posted by Downey
^^^ why the stuff i did was just as strong i just didnt spend a lot of money i dont have money coming out my *** like you do. I spend my money smart and try to make it go as far as possible. so kiss my ***
Because you're a hack, and it isn't just as strong. Stop giving people wrong advice and trying to act like you know what you're talking about when you really don't at all.
 
  #17  
Old 02-01-2010
annguyen1981's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Chicopee, MA
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
+1

Not everyone has those kinds of tools. Not everyone knows HOW to do it even if they HAD the tools.





Back to the OP... what advantages are there doing that swap?
 
  #18  
Old 02-01-2010
SteveOh's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Ft. Campbell Kentucky
Posts: 4,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i got 4300lbs trailer leaf perches from tractor supply and welded them on and plasma cut the shock tabs off the old 7.5 then grinded them and welded the **** outof them on the exploader axle and so far 7000 miles no issues and i beat on my truck regular here lately
 
  #19  
Old 02-02-2010
t5cents's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Eureka, CA
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
i got new perches at my local offroad shop for 20 bucks...and then got f-150 u-bolts and top plate at my local JY for free.....shock tabs i still havent decided to cut the old ones off or make/buy new...
 

Last edited by t5cents; 02-03-2010 at 08:44 AM.
  #20  
Old 02-03-2010
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Salmon Arm BC
Posts: 959
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
some of us dont have a local offroad shop. i got access to a plasma cutter and the welder is at the house but the plasma cutter is not its a half hour away..

oh and korey wtf are you saying?? you spend more time trying to defend what your saying or bull****ting on other peoples comments that you forget that we are trying to help out the OP. get your head outta your *** and move on.
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Masteratarms93
eBay & Craigslist Finds
3
09-15-2010 11:41 AM
Alex98
Suspension Tech
8
05-27-2010 09:07 AM
Smakes
Interior Semi-Tech
37
09-17-2009 11:23 AM
RangerJacoby99
Drivetrain Tech
12
09-03-2009 01:47 AM
howells
Drivetrain Tech
21
06-09-2009 08:59 PM



Quick Reply: 8.8 expo swap?



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:19 PM.