Ford 8.8 housing swap

[Sfrank6158]

Hello I'm new here and know little about the Ford 8.8 rearends. I bought a 8.8 rearend out of an 98 Explorer for a street rod project and want to know the best was to go about getting the pinion as close to the center of the axle as possible. Is it best to attempt to find a 2 wheel drive case and swap the differential or shorten the drivers side axle housing and buy a shorter axle?
I can mount the leaf springs at any location so just getting the thing centered on the frame is my main concern.

 

[88_Eddie]

2wd case? not sure what you mean there.

if it were me, i'd probably just shorten the longer end and get a new shaft made.....that kinda thing is way above my pay grade tho

 

[Snoranger]

Cut the long side down to the length of the short side. Go to the junkyard and get another short side shaft.

FYI: One of the best ways I have ever cut an axle tube is with a HUGE tubing cutter (yes, just like the little ones used for plumbing).

http://www.rangerpowersports.com/forum/f402/my-302-swap-thread-215899-8.html#post2200167

 

[Sfrank6158]

Thank you for your answers. Not knowing anything about Ford rearends I was thinking the rear axle from a 2 wheel drive vehicle might come with the yoke centered. I also measured the two sides of the case I have in relation to centering the yoke by shortening the drivers side then getting a passengerside axle from a wrecking yard for the drivers side. That route still appears to leave the yoke be maybe 3/4" off center.
So maybe shorten the driverside case to center the yoke then have a custom axle made for the drivers side? Thank you all for your help

 

[88_Eddie]

yeah, i was thinking what snoranger said may not work. the pinion isnt quite centered in the differential. so, you'll have to do what you said and measure out from the pinion and then have a custom axle shaft made.

 

[Snoranger]

Unless you are going to offset the engine, you dont want to have the pinion exactly centered. You need one of them to be offset so that the bearings in the u-joints will roll and not flat spot the inside of the caps. That 3/4" offset may be enough.

 

[Sfrank6158]

Thanks, that is probably the route I'll go, thanks for your in put.

 

[chvlfrk]

My mod............

I have done the above described process, used 2 right side axles & centered the chunk after movin my springs to under the frame by usin 01 Explorer front spring mounts..........I gained 9" of tire clearance per side and the pics speak for themselves:

 

[Sfrank6158]

Nice Ride! Thanks for the information. I sent you an email with a few other questions. Thanks again.