Bii on 94 explorer frame or explorer powertrain in Bii?

[fattony]

I have a 85 bronco with 35's and other cool parts on it that I got at a action for a deal but it is hurting bad. I also have a 88 bronco in better but stock shape. My plan is to fix up the 88 with the 85's parts. I also just bought a 94 explorer for the 4L and axles. Now I find myself asking what should I do?
Should I Swap the 4L and axles from the explorer and put them on the 88 bronco? Or should/can I just put the 88 bronco ii body on the 2-door explorer frame and then will the 85's lift fit? I know there is a 8" differance in wheel base but if I cut the fenders right maybe it will work. Has anyone done this?

 

[1989Bii]

I swapped a 94 4.0, a4ld and transfer case, and I think it would be a lot easier to do that, than change the body. Are the explorer's frame C channel also?

 

[fattony]

The explorer's frame is boxed so it looks stronger. I was thinking it would be easyer to swap bodys then then the powertrain, but have never herd of anyone doing it. I was also thinking I could slide the diff a inch or two fwd in the leafs springs to shorten the wheel base, and cut out the fenders, then just cut off the extra off the back.

 

[1989Bii]

Well i guess the explorer would make a better rock crawler. Is that what you are going to use it for?

 

[fattony]

A bit but more so just playing around in the snow

 

[4x4junkie]

I see a lot of work in that myself... The Explorer's frame is much wider and lower in the rear, you'd have to make some fancy brackets to hold up the rear body mounts.

I say swap the Explorer's drivetrain into the BII. If you also swap the dash at the same time, I suspect it's almost a plug & play deal (I think possibly the taillight wiring would still need some splicing, but I don't know for sure).

 

[s10 warrior]

its a lot easier to swap the drive train. switching bodies is Do-able, but its a lot of work. almost every 4x4 project ive had, ive swapped bodies on. waisted a lot of time, woulda been faster to swap drive train/ suspension.

id swap the drive train,motor ,and the whole wirirng harness from the explorer in to the bronco. it pretty much is plug n play that way.

 

[4.0B2]

the drivetrain swap is easier.. i did it, and kept the b2 dash.. 4.0 in a b2 is amazing, it should have came that way from factory!

body swap would be sweet, and would give you all the ex's stuff.. but would be A LOT of work... and idk what you would really gain by it..