1988 BII Build

[88_Eddie]

oh and 4.0, are you running the e brake pads? i dont think i'm going to.

 

[RangerBoy94]

No there not there extended 3 inches over stock im pretty sure.

 

[88_Eddie]

still gonna be too short. i need them to be 11-13" i'm thinking.

got the old perches and sway bar mounts cut off and ground down.

tubes are welded also, might throw a truss on there while i've got it out. i want to do a doubler once i find a manual 1354

 

[RangerBoy94]

Mine are exactly 11 inches

 

[disciplerocks]

I am running stock 8.8 ubolts, but I am going to be adding some stock 2" blocks so I picked up some stock 4wd F150 ubolts. They are long enough to install blocks.

 

[88_Eddie]

dad came over and we degreased the axle and took it to a car wash and power washed it, it was pretty dirty.

i think i am going to truss it, that way i can be sure the tubes arent going anywhere and i can add a traction bar down the road if i want.

i got the bolt out of the front spring hanger finally. i got a grade 8 bolt to replace it, i just need to figure out how i'm gonna get it in there and tighten it.

took the springs apart and added 3 leafs from the old bronco pack, they're almost 2" thick now.

got all the leafs under the truck so i can start getting my measurements together. i'm gonna figure out where the perches need to be then i'm gonna hook everything up and tack the perches in, take it part and then fully weld it.

as soon as it's under there i'm gonna measure for the ubolts and figure out what length i need. maybe the 9" ones from autozone will end up working.

 

[disciplerocks]

Your shackles are backward.

 

[RangerBoy94]

I dont think it matters does it?

 

[88_Eddie]

yeah i wasnt sure how they mounted, so i consulted the write up in the tech library before i installed them and it said they could go either way. so i just put them in like the factory ones were.

 

[88_Eddie]

here's what the tech library says

6. Now install the new BellTech 6400 shackle in place of the stock shackle. Install in reverse order of removing the stock shackle. You can install the shackle backing plate in either direction. The stock shackle has the back plate towards the front of the truck. Make sure to use red thread locker on the nuts of the spring and shackle bolts.

if it looks like it's limiting wheel travel i'll reverse them, but i dont see it being a problem

 

[88_Eddie]

rangerboy, are your u-bolts for a ranger 8.8 or explorer 8.8?

 

[88_Eddie]

officially 8.8'd

started with the u-bolt spring plates from an explorer that i got with a drum 8.8 a while back.

cut off the raised edges so they dont bump the frame at all and threw some paint on them

rolled the axle under the truck and set the pinion angle (6.5 degrees)

then measured for the spring perches, set the pinion angle again, made sure everything was set and burnt them in, then painted the axle

pushed it back under the truck and bolted everything together

got a couple more odds and ends to do, but it's under there. i need to go buy some lugnuts for it before i can put the tires back on. plus, i need to weld on the shock mounts

 

[88_Eddie]

here's the cart i built to help roll the axle around, worked great since i was doing all this alone

here's the u bolts i used, grade 8's made by currie. got them from the local 4 wheel parts store, only $7 a piece!!! didnt have to pay shipping and got them the day after i ordered them. they fit great

i've probably posted these, but here are the rear shocks tabs i'm using, i'll get them on tomorrow and hook up all the brakes

 

[4.0B2]

I used my stock shock mounts... And I'm gonna go check on those u bolts. Since mine are kinda bowed since they are the ones fr RC and were used on my 7.5

Looks good. Great to be on a 8.8 huh? Your axle cart idea is awesome.

 

[88_Eddie]

it feels good to finally have one under my truck and with discs.

the part # for the u bolts is CE-9020. they're only about 8-9 inches long, so they may not work with lift blocks. but they're for a 3.25" axle tube.

i'm using the shock mounts in the pic above so that i wont have anything hanging down from the axle, besides the diff.