Explorer 8.8 Swap U-Bolts

[85_Ranger4x4]

ah... there's lots of people that use lift blocks. sure they are not "ideal" but they work... i've seen them BEAT ON hard and not break. i'm not scared of them...

Every Ford 4x4 truck rolls off the line with them and rarely give problems. Just don't get crazy with height (I wouldn't go any bigger than what you have now)

I got my bolts at a farm supply store, the old fashioned kind that has everything. I happened apoun a '97 F-150 that somebody had swiped the axle out of at U-Pull-It and left the spring plates sitting on the springs... Just goes to show that sometimes even a blind pig finds an acorn.

The bolts are in the bottom drawer of my toolbox and the plates are in the toolbox of my F-150 pending beadblasting and paint... so I have no results for you that way.

 

[kryptonitecb]

I'm also a full time student so I know the feeling, making around the same, VA benefits help alot though so thanks everyone for helping me put parts under my truck It took me 2 months to finally get 37's under mine. Luckily the truck I bought already had the suspension lift and ruffstuff spring plates. I have friends with landcruisers that find the most obscure roads in the middle of an urban area with rocks. So for me blocks are a no no...and I like to show them that a tonka toy ranger can follow them

 

[4.0B2]

full time student and work min wage... part time...
i know how it feels. but i deal and don't complain... lol

 

[Vexy]

full time student and work min wage... part time...
i know how it feels. but i deal and don't complain... lol

I don't get into my financial standings unless somebody talks down on the mods on my truck, and says I should have done "so and so" because it is better.
But Kryptonitecb's post didn't seem too disrespectful, he was just trying to help from the looks of it.

 

[kryptonitecb]

I do mean to be helpful, I come off a bit harsh sometimes. I have to give all of the credit to 86 slo-vo. He did the work to make my truck the way it is and I just bought it. I've only done wheels/tires and an 8.8 disk swap. So I didn't go through the troubles some of ya'll did to get your trucks the way they are.

Its just from other peoples stories, and information gathering that I've come to learn about the problems with using blocks. Stock trucks do come with block lifts, jeeps also come with D30 axles, doesn't mean either of them are good.

 

[scotts90ranger]

the main blocks that have issues are the ALUMINUM ones, they suck, I had some 3" steel blocks floating around and needed the extra height on mine so that's what I used. The other killer of blocks are big blocks (like engines)...

 

[Napabandit]

I was also one of those full time students, working for peanuts, trying to occupy some of my free time with hobbies. My advice is to get to know the junk yards, others who are working on similar projects, and the local shops. You would be surprised how many parts are available for cheap, trade, or even for free. It takes a little longer sometimes, but in the end, you have a network of resources that can't be beat. I was so poor at one point when I needed to replace u-joints. I couldn't afford them (or beer either, and we all know how important beer money is). The local shop had just had an OSHA inspection that they failed. They had several citations. I was studying Safety at college. I traded a written hazard communication program and some safety training for new u-joints, serpentine belt, and a bunch of other parts. There are ways to get the right parts for cheap if you are patient and develop a network.

 

[Vexy]

Thanks. I might look into F150 bolts+plates, assuming the plates will work fine with my ranger leafs?

 

[legoms013]

Thanks. I might look into F150 bolts+plates, assuming the plates will work fine with my ranger leafs?

Just look for the ones that were used on models with the 31 spline 8.8 and they will.

 

[brinker88]

I made my own since I have a u-bolt bender at work. Mine ended up being 11 1/2" long with a 3" block and 3/4"taller axle seats. I also took the time to upgrade to 5/8" ubolts instead of using the stock 7/16" size that was in it.

Size you should need is 5/8x3.25xwhatever length you need. I take it you stacked blocks when you did your lift if you need longer u-bolts.

Like Legoms said above, use the u-bolt plate out of an 80-96 F150 or 250 (A dana 60 axle has 3.25 axle tubes as well). The explorer axle plates have shock mounts on them if you plan on keeping it spring under, you dont have to weld shock tabs on.

Just a tip, but I needed an extra inch of lift on my build so I found out that 78-96 2wd F150s have a 3"tall x 2.5" wide block in the rear. That's an inch taller than the stock block on a ranger.

 

[Vexy]

Okay, I just went out and too some measurements. I just about froze to the ground, but anyways...I got 13"x3", with the threads starting 9.5" from the bottom(The curved side). This is for a Rough Country 4" suspension lift, with blocks. Just in case anybody was dying to know, haha.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Plates from a 97-2003 F150 with the 8.8 will work just dandy as well.

 

[Vexy]

Does the F150 use 5/8" U bolts? If not, I guess I can just drill the holes on the plate bigger.

 

[kryptonitecb]

I don't have much knowledge about ford's but didn't some bronco's also have 8.8's? If so you may take a stab at them. This might be painfully wrong but would u-bolts from a chevy or dodge fit?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

All depends on axle tube diameter!