Got a donor vehicle, now some questions...

shadman · Jan 11, 2011

We are getting a 91 explorer 4x4 as a donor vehicle for my son's 89 bronco2 4x4.
I figured the easiest thing to do would be to swap both the engine and transmission, and the dash. If we use the explorer's transmission, which driveshafts should I use? the ones fom the bronco or the explorer? Do both transmission use a vacuum modulator valve? will the transmission from the explorer line up and mount to the chasis/crossmembers on the bronco?

I am sure I will have MORE question as time goes on. Thanks for any info/advice!!

TexCaliBII · Jan 11, 2011

Hello,
The engine/tranny will drop right in and the harness will be a plug and play on an 89. The driveshafts from the Ex would be better to use, provided you already have a 1354 xfercase or are swapping that in as well. If you are also swapping in the D35 then you'll have to use the Exp front shaft but it will most likely have to be shortened a bit. The rear shaft from the BII will fit as is. Good luck!

shadman · Jan 11, 2011

AlaskaBII said:
Hello,
The engine/tranny will drop right in and the harness will be a plug and play on an 89. The driveshafts from the Ex would be better to use, provided you already have a 1354 xfercase or are swapping that in as well. If you are also swapping in the D35 then you'll have to use the Exp front shaft but it will most likely have to be shortened a bit. The rear shaft from the BII will fit as is. Good luck!

How do you shorten a drive shaft? Do you have to cut it and re-weld it?

Chevelle Kid · Jan 11, 2011

AlaskaBII said:
Hello,
The engine/tranny will drop right in and the harness will be a plug and play on an 89. The driveshafts from the Ex would be better to use, provided you already have a 1354 xfercase or are swapping that in as well. If you are also swapping in the D35 then you'll have to use the Exp front shaft but it will most likely have to be shortened a bit. The rear shaft from the BII will fit as is. Good luck!

I think the 90 is the only true plug and play. I think the 89 needs a little modification.

The driveshafts are best done professionally as they have to be balanced. Otherwise just line em up side by side and go to town! I think you have the right trans x-member so no modding there. Just out of curiosity what trans is in the BII and which one in the Xploder?

Ben

BlackBII · Jan 11, 2011

90 Ranger to 90 BII is the only true 100% plug and play 4.0 swap.

91 Explorer to 89 BII will need some changes to the pins on the cannon plug on the firewall.

If you have the wiring diagrams to both vehicles it's a cake walk. No need to swap the dash.

Yes, you cut and reweld the driveshaft to shorten it. Most guys have a driveshaft shop do it, but I've done it myself without any major balancing issues. Do they both have Auto tranny's? IF that BII came with the Dana 35 in the front, you can use the explorers front driveshaft. If it has the Dana 28, just swap the Explorers Dana 35 in it's place, it's a better axle anyway. But, you can most likely just re use the BII's rear shaft, but if its the CV style, I'd replace it with a u joint style one. If the BII has a 1350 Tcase, swap in the 1354 from the Explorer

country0001 · Jan 11, 2011

You might run into some problems with the power windows too.

shadman · Jan 11, 2011

Chevelle Kid said:
I think the 90 is the only true plug and play. I think the 89 needs a little modification.

The driveshafts are best done professionally as they have to be balanced. Otherwise just line em up side by side and go to town! I think you have the right trans x-member so no modding there. Just out of curiosity what trans is in the BII and which one in the Xploder?

Ben

How do I tell which transmission I have? Is it labeled in a certain spot?

shadman · Jan 11, 2011

BlackBII said:
90 Ranger to 90 BII is the only true 100% plug and play 4.0 swap.

91 Explorer to 89 BII will need some changes to the pins on the cannon plug on the firewall.

If you have the wiring diagrams to both vehicles it's a cake walk. No need to swap the dash.

Yes, you cut and reweld the driveshaft to shorten it. Most guys have a driveshaft shop do it, but I've done it myself without any major balancing issues. Do they both have Auto tranny's? IF that BII came with the Dana 35 in the front, you can use the explorers front driveshaft. If it has the Dana 28, just swap the Explorers Dana 35 in it's place, it's a better axle anyway. But, you can most likely just re use the BII's rear shaft, but if its the CV style, I'd replace it with a u joint style one. If the BII has a 1350 Tcase, swap in the 1354 from the Explorer

How can I tell which is a Dana 35 or a 28? How can I tell the difference between a 1350 and a 1354 transfer case?

greasemonkey6886 · Jan 11, 2011

Both the tranny and axles are labeled on the sticker in the door jamb and will have a code. Right down the codes and go to the tech library to figure the codes out. Most likely(just guessing) if its the auto its an A4LD, 5sp. would likely be the FM146. Axles most likely are D28 front and 7.5 in rear. To figure out the gearing in the axles look at the tag affixed to one of the housing cover bolts on the rear axle. The front axle should have one too but I have seen quite a few missing from the front. Use the info again from the tech library to decode the axle gearing. If you use the sploder tans and transfer and D35 the front shaft will be bolt in with no mods but like mentioned the rear shaft will havr to be cut down if using the sploder rear axle.
Paul

Chevelle Kid · Jan 11, 2011

If the Explorer is auto it's an A4LD with 4.0 internals. Manual it's an M50D. Pretty simple. Bronco II auto is a weaker 2.9 A4LD and Manual will either be a FM146 or M50D if the trans has a separate bell housing it's a FM-146.

Bronco II has a D-28 because it's a 1989, D-35 didn't come stock till late 1990. Explorers only came with D-35s.

Chevelle Kid · Jan 11, 2011

Chevelle Kid said:
If the Explorer is auto it's an A4LD with 4.0 internals. Manual it's an M50D. Pretty simple. Bronco II auto is a weaker 2.9 A4LD and Manual will either be a FM146 or M50D if the trans has a separate bell housing it's a FM-146.

Bronco II has a D-28 because it's a 1989, D-35 didn't come stock till late 1990. Explorers only came with D-35s.

Oh and the 1350T case has a slip yolk front driveshaft, 1354 has a solid mounted U-Joint.

Ben

country0001 · Jan 12, 2011

It should have a a fm146 tranny. m5od didn't come until after 9/89. So the late 90 models.

Got a donor vehicle, now some questions...

New Member

New Member

New Member

New Member

Ranger Custom

Active Member

New Member

New Member

New Member

New Member

New Member

Active Member

Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad

Member & Vendor Upgrades

Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store

Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad

Amazon Deals