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8.8 swap questions


AzLizard

AzLizard

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Swapped a explorer rear end in the 85 over the weekend.
My question is;
What have you all been doing with the flange?
I'm using the ranger driveshaft and the 8.8 is to big.
Are you changing the flange or redrilling it?
Thanks
 


GodAmRanger

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Can't say I've ever heard of someone re-drilling a flange to accomodate a different bolt pattern, but that doesn't mean it isn't possible.. If you're going to be drilling/tapping it, you may want to consider getting a the right flange to you don't run into issues keeping the driveline straight/balanced..
 
Captain Ledd

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The inner ring the DS-flange centers on the Axle-flange should all be the same diameter. I've had one drilled out before to accommodate a different bolt pattern.

Others have used a conversion u-joint, where one side is the smaller Ranger driveshaft size (but only for certain older Rangers, newer ones about early-mid 90's won't have an issue) and the other is the larger size.

There's probably more ways to do it, but those are the big 2.
 
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I just swapped drive shafts.
 
85_Ranger4x4

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I redrilled/tapped my flange, works fine.

When I get the M5OD in I am going to bigger joints though (since I have to redo the driveshaft)
 
AzLizard

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Thanks for your replies.
I need to look and see if I still have the explorer D/S.
Probably just redrill and tap the flange to keep it simple.
85ranger do you remember the tap size you used?
 
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59bisquik

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Another option is to get the flange from a 90's t-bird with the 8.8. It has the smaller bolt pattern and you dont have to fool with strange u-joints or redrilling. There are normally piles of them in the wrecking yard.
 
AzLizard

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59bisquik said:
Another option is to get the flange from a 90's t-bird with the 8.8. It has the smaller bolt pattern and you dont have to fool with strange u-joints or redrilling. There are normally piles of them in the wrecking yard.
Click to expand...
Thanks,I'll look into that.
 
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