Opinions please!

[marky mark]

Hey fellas, so I have an 86 bii.. I've just put in a fuel inected 302 out of a crown Vic with a 5 speed M5od out of an f150 as most of you can imagine my rear axle lasted about a month with this set up.. then in search for something stronger I stumbled onto a rear 8.8 axle out of an explorer with 4.11 gears for a $150.00 not bad so I grabbed it.. However now I can't use forwheel drive cuz I still have the stock front end ... This is where I need help.. My question is, what straight axle can I put up front that will work with my 8.8 with 4.11 gears or do I need to buy a set of gears and throw them in a different axle? Would it be cheaper to just find a set of matching axles? I'm hearing alot about ford 9inchs and te Dana 44.. I'd like to get by without putting my girlfriend on the streets for money but will do what I have to for the broncosuarus

I appreciate any replys and trust me I've been through the site and I'm just a bit simple minded so I sometimes need to hear it direct from someone ha ha thanks guys!

 

[Ozwynn]

you can swap a D35 from an exploder into it ....... almost a bolt in deal...........

 

[marky mark]

Is the d35 A straight axle? That's what I was hoping to put in there..

 

[marky mark]

It's is not I looked lol.. But ya I'm wanting a straight axle set up .. I'm not against the I beam set up really I just like the look of the straight axles plus it really opens up the underneath which means less snags ..

 

[BLOODBANE]

Straight axle is gonna cost you some coin. I run a D35 on my Ranger and Explorer. I do moderate to difficult trails with both and each one has held up. If your just going for "look" find a D30 out of a JEEP. Not that its a bad axle or anything, but the bolt pattern is the same as the 8.8. Just my opinion here, so take it as such. Personally I wouldn't go anything below a D44, but I want to go to a 40" tire (D60's F/R are in my future).

 

[Hagan]

Straight axle is going to cost a lot! Trust me. Unless you'd rather do a half ass job? Ford 9" suck. They are low pinion!

Your cheapest option would be finding a D35 with 4.11's or swapping out your current gears.

Good luck!

 

[Rose2300]

dont explorers use 4.10's and not 4.11's? anyways yeah you should just find a d35 with the correct gears, bolt in on, and go!

 

[marky mark]

Well I pulled this axle straight off a explorer and unless someone changed the gear tag it's got 4.11s.. Ok so let's say money wasn't an issue and I was going to stay with 8.8 rear what straight axle would you suggest for the front? D44? That's a different bolt pattern tho huh?

 

[shane96ranger]

dont explorers use 4.10's and not 4.11's?

Yes

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

you can swap a D35 from an exploder into it ....... almost a bolt in deal...........

4.10's are not very common in TTB Explorers so you would likely still be looking at a regear.

James Duff makes stuff that to me looks like it might be close to a bolt in deal for a solid front axle.

http://www.jamesduff.com/newproducts/new_bronco2.asp