BII Solid Axle ?'s

[jeepxj2007]

It has been a while since I have been on here. I was originally going to be getting a Ranger awhile back, but I couldn't give up my jeep thing so I bought a wrangler. It is my daily driver, nothing to extravagant, but definately not just a pavement pounder, except for the fact I'm tired of beating on it and having to repair it right away to drive it daily.
My friend was going to take a very clean bodied BII to the scrap yard. It has 145,000 miles on a 2.9 or .8 L, whatever the V-6 is, I forget offhand, and the automatic transmission.It has pushbutton fourwheel drive and the autohubs. Actually this bronco has no rust at all because it came from down south a little bit where they don't use salt like up here. I bought am going to pay off the rest of the 500 and tow it home tomorrow because it needs the flexplate fixed...for the 3rd time...what should I watch out for there? I have some locktite 271 and a torque wrench which I am going to use which was never used in any of the repairs before.
I am also getting a jeep dana 30 out of the deal and 4 jeep yj leaf packs. I plan on doing a solid axle swap into the bronco and doing a spring over front and rear, if it isn't already for a trail rig, and gutting the inside of carpet, building a safari rack and doors, and some nice bumpers withe recovery points and going for at least 33" tires. What else am I forgetting?
My main question is, what all will I need for the solid axle swap, I can figure out the brakes pretty easy, and I can weld pretty good, and I have a good welder. I can make my own brackets, but what about the steering...what will I need for tierods/pitman arm? what about the driveshaft? Thank-you for any suggestions and input!

 

[BlackBII]

Cool find on the BII!

And the motor... Is it a 2.8 or a 2.9? 2.8 is carbed, 2.9 is fuel injected

Things to look out for, the Auto Tranny... Sucks! They're not reliable
The push button 4 wheel drive, the actuator motors are known for having issues, but I've had one work flawlessly for over a year now, and I had one take a dump, depends on it's condition

Check here:
Clicky

 

[jeepxj2007]

I figured the auto was junk. It shifts well and works fine right now. I thought about getting a tranny cooler for her because I don't want the big tires to kill her right away. I believe it is the 2.9 then because she is fuel injected, where would I find gears for the rear axle to make them 4.10? The jeep dana 30 that I have has 4.10's in it, would it be gutsy enough with that gearing to turn the 33"s?

 

[rickcdewitt]

The jeep dana 30 that I have has 4.10's in it, would it be gutsy enough with that gearing to turn the 33"s?

not really for wheeling or hauling,but it will work.thats what i run and it was hard on the clutch until i swapped in a 4.0l.you should look in 4cyl 4x4 rangers for a 4.10 gear set.or think about welding new perches on the donor axle and swapping it into your truck

 

[jeepxj2007]

if I found a ranger axle, out of a 4 cylinder manual, would that have 4.10s? then I would only have to make it fit, except would that axle hold up to the tires, what about 32"s I am pretty easy on the skinny pedal, I just want to make a decent rail rig for trails (nothing super extravagant, some low spots, some ruts, a little of everything but nothing even close to the Rubicon trail by any means), some mud, and sand dunes. What should I do about the tranny? It works...just wheel it or replace it with a manual?

 

[Speedwagon]

if I found a ranger axle, out of a 4 cylinder manual, would that have 4.10s? then I would only have to make it fit, except would that axle hold up to the tires, what about 32"s I am pretty easy on the skinny pedal, I just want to make a decent rail rig for trails (nothing super extravagant, some low spots, some ruts, a little of everything but nothing even close to the Rubicon trail by any means), some mud, and sand dunes. What should I do about the tranny? It works...just wheel it or replace it with a manual?

My 4cyl 4x4 has 3.73s in it, so not all have 4.10s. You'll have to check the axle codes to verify, and the owners manual has a listing of what code means what axle.

 

[Hahnsb2]

If it has pushbutton 4x4 it's a 2.9. I'd remove that A4LD tranny and throw it in the nearest dumpster and replace it with a M5OD 5 speed. Dont forget about a D35 swap from a 90+ RBV, from the sounds of it, you don't really need a solid axle. It's all bolt in except the driveshaft and it's plenty strong.

 

[rickcdewitt]

if I found a ranger axle, out of a 4 cylinder manual, would that have 4.10s? then I would only have to make it fit, except would that axle hold up to the tires, what about 32"s I am pretty easy on the skinny pedal, I just want to make a decent rail rig for trails (nothing super extravagant, some low spots, some ruts, a little of everything but nothing even close to the Rubicon trail by any means), some mud, and sand dunes. What should I do about the tranny? It works...just wheel it or replace it with a manual?

no its just a lot more likely to have 4.10's.it says right on the diff tag on the left side.you should read other guys d30 swap threads for ideas on steering linkage,etc.it would be easier to swap in the d35 ttb and it would handle 32's fine,but if you think you have the resources to do the swap go for it.it will have better clearance underneath and it would be easy to swap in a larger axle later if you started breaking stuff

32's will be just fine,keep your tranny while you search for a manual and the stuff needed to swap(look at all the swap threads for info).when it blows out or you get tired of a rubber band swap it out.

 

[jeepxj2007]

Alright, i took pics, I will post them up tonight, there is no rot, just some surface rust at the rear fenders, but I am going to trim those...these are my plans for the next week.

1. Fix the flexplate!
2. Clean the engine compartment so everything isn't greasy/ugly
3. Gut the interior, leaving dash, door panels, and seats, possibly herculine the interior
4. Trim The fenders
5 Build front and rear bumpers with a stinger on front


These are the next steps, I am going to get this axle really really cheap, that is the only reason I am going solid instead of the ttb, I was planning on cutting off all the ford suspension on their now on the front and fabbing up some brackets to use jeep yj leave springs...is that possible? I have a nice miller mig welder and I can weld decent, and this is only going to see trail use, no road usage at all.
For the rear could I flip the shackle bracket to raise the rear a few inches and put a small lift block in like 1"?