Axle donor questions ?

[Mack1100]

I have an 88 BII, 5 speed, manual shift transfer case, manual hubs, 3.45:1 gears.
I want to upgrade to a Dana 35 and 8.8. I want 4.10 differentials and a rear limited slip. I also want Explorer leafs and about an inch of lift. I am going to run 235/75/R15 tires.
Was the 4.10 LS common in the 91 to 94 Explorer ?
What is the best way to match the front to the same slight lift you get with the Explorer leafs ?
Are the BII front and rear shocks long enough for the slight lift I am looking for ?
If I end end up with an Explorer front axle that has automatic hubs, what do I need to convert to manual hubs ? Are the Warn manual hubs any better than Ford manual hubs ?
Will the Explorer front drive shaft be the right length for the BII ?

 

[adsm08]

Wow, you never did learn to use a search function, did you? It's all been covered before. Well, I guess I'll just go answer them again.

No, 4.10 gears were not common in Explorers until about 1995. Your best bet is to find a 4.10 Ranger and add limited slip, or to get Explorer axles and re-gear. While we are at it, you do know the Explorer rear axle will have to get flipped to work in your B2, right?

Look into F-150 coil springs.

Yes, your shocks will work.

The store sells conversion kits. Or you could just tear another vehicle with manual hubs down to the front bearings. The Warn hubs that are listed as specific to the Jeep Wrangler work on the Ford version of the axle and are of a much heavier construction. Between the Ford hub and the Ford-listed Warn hub there is no real difference.

Yes.

 

[Mack1100]

Thanks for replying. I have read alot of the discussions and found some contradictions, I wanted to ask the questions direct.
So it seems the best way to get what I want is to get a 3.73 LS Explorer and change the gears. 4.10 gear sets will fit the 3.73 carriers ?
This way I get the leafs, 31 spline axles and a limited slip.
Yes, I know to relocate the spring mounts to the top.
Wouldn't Explorer coils give me a slight lift ? Or do the 150 coils give a better ride ? Use the 150 coil full length ?
I didn't know about the Wrangler Warn hubs. Will they fit through the center holes of the factory BII aluminum wheels ?

 

[adsm08]

Yes, the carriers for the 8.8 and TTB D-35 are all the same. Bolts in, bolts out. Just remember you have to set pinion depth and backlash.

Explorer coils will not give you the same lift in the front that the leaves will in the rear. Explorer leaves lift the rear because they are arched higher so that the rear rides at the same spot. Attaching under the axle would make it ride about 2.5" lower if the springs were the same length. The mounting in the front is the same so the coils aren't gonna give you the same lift.

As for the F-150 coils, DON'T CUT SPRINGS. It makes them not springs so much as spring-shaped pieces of metal. Yes you use them at full length. They will probably stiffen the ride a bit though.

Read this: http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/May04/offroad.htm

 

[Mack1100]

Excellent, Thanks !

 

[Mack1100]

Are the 95 and newer 8.8 axle shafts the same as the 91-94 axle shafts ?
I got a housing from a 92 and found the drivers side axle bearing surface is worn. The junk yard doesn't have anymore 91-94 housings, only disc brake 8.8s.

 

[509lifted]

if u van get the disk brake 8.8 disks are so much better than the crap stock ones on the b2

 

[Shran]

Are the 95 and newer 8.8 axle shafts the same as the 91-94 axle shafts ?
I got a housing from a 92 and found the drivers side axle bearing surface is worn. The junk yard doesn't have anymore 91-94 housings, only disc brake 8.8s.

I seem to remember that they are exactly the same (might be wrong though.)

Another thing with Explorer leaf springs - the amount of lift you get depends on the year and model of Explorer you pull them from... for example, a 2 door Ex will have a 3 leaf pack, and a 4 door will have a 4 leaf pack. But there are the fiberglass springs out there too. I got about 2" of lift from 4 door 91-94 springs in my old Bronco II.

if u van get the disk brake 8.8 disks are so much better than the crap stock ones on the b2

Why, exactly, are they so much better...? If I had my choice between the two, I'd take a drum brake 8.8 first... nothing wrong with drums at all, in fact you have a much better mechanical advantage with drums. People just say they suck because they don't understand them.

 

[baja2]

Mack I used 94 Explorer 4 dr rear spring pack with stock shocks re-loacated the perch to the top, and a Duff 4'' lift on front of my Baja2 I posted some pics on a thread labeled my Baja 2 I am runnig 3.75 gears stock 94 Explorer front and rear tac bout 2k RPM at 65

 

[Mack1100]

I looked at Baja 2 the other day, the truck sits up pretty good in the back with just Explorer leafs.
I decided to go to 3.73 gears because they will put my final drive ratio back to stock with 235/75/15 tires. I got a rear housing with a 3.73 limited slip out of a 4 door 92 Explorer. I took the whole front end out of the same Explorer, but the axle beams and radius rods were very rusty so I cut the front end out of a 90 Ranger also and will swap the 3.73 differential into it.
I am working through rebuilding the front and rear axle assemblies and have found that drivers side rear axle is bad and I need to know if the 95 and up rear axle from an Explorer can replace it. Does anyone know for sure or know where I can check ?

 

[Mack1100]

I was able to trade my bad rear axle for a good one at the junk yard.
What do you use for a rear drive shaft ? Do you keep the B2 shaft and change the pinion flange on the 8.8 ? Or can you use an Explorer rear drive shaft ?

 

[Shran]

Depending on length, you can sometimes use an Explorer FRONT driveshaft. I did this for my Bronco II and I had an A4LD.

One tip, the raised part of your 7.5 flange is exactly the same diameter as the one on the 8.8....so put your old driveline up to it, mark the holes, and redrill the 8.8 flange. I did that on my Ranger.