Rear End Swap (7.5 to 8.8)

[xxstroker_acexx]

I have an '86 Bronco II 5 speed 4x4 with a 2" body lift and 6" suspension lift 38.5" Mickey Thompson Baja Claws. We took out the old 2.9L and put in a 4.0L V6 from a '92 Ranger. Now to my question: I am swapping the original 7.5" rear end with an 8.8" from a '91 Explorer. I have made my own spring perches out of 2.5" square stock and them angled and welded in place. Now I need to hook up the drive shaft. The drive shaft was lengthened to make up for the lift I put on it and of course the u-joints worked like they should with the 7.5" rear end. I need a bastard joint to fit the 8.8 rear end and the yoke on the stock drive shaft of a bronco II/ranger. I Any idears would be appreciated.

P.S. Ive never had to do this so simple terms would be awesome.

 

[AZFX4]

get one made at a driveline shop or cut and weld 2 shafts together.

 

[xxstroker_acexx]

I dont really wanna do that cause the shaft I have has already been modded. There has to be a way to do it. I've heard of "bastard joints" that have one end small enough for the b2 yoke and big enough for the 8.8 rear end

 

[AZFX4]

There may be such a thing but I would guess it is going to vibrate like hell. The universal joint is made to spin at different speeds as it goes through rotation. If the sides arent equal in size and weight I can only imagine that it would transmit a lot of vibration.

 

[xxstroker_acexx]

What about some sort of adapter maybe. I'm all out of patience and funds as of now.

 

[disciplerocks]

I originally did what this guy did. Until I frankensteined me a whole new shaft.

http://therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46418&highlight=1210

 

[88_Eddie]

i found a driveshaft off of craiglist from an explorer for free about a year ago. it has a double cardan joint on it and an 8.8 bastard joint

otherwise, i'd have done what disciplerocks said

 

[The_Dealer]

U can take the front driveshaft out of an explorer and cut the cardon off, and use the short slip shaft off a rear explorer driveshaft. If u have an fm146/m5od/a4ld length trans it will work

If u have the shorter fm146 keep the cardon on the explorer front shaft and use the front yoke off of a 1354 and put it on the rear of r tcase and use the 8.8 flange on ity

It will be longer then the b2 shaft and is pretty much a bolt on adfair

 

[4x4junkie]

I dont really wanna do that cause the shaft I have has already been modded. There has to be a way to do it. I've heard of "bastard joints" that have one end small enough for the b2 yoke and big enough for the 8.8 rear end

Does your driveshaft have 1310-size u-joints? If so, all you need to do is replace the rear flange adapter with one from a '91-'97 Ranger. Then it'll bolt right up to the 8.8".

If your shaft has the itty-bitty 1210 joints, then you'll probably have to do what's explained in the link disciplerocks posted (or replace it with a 1310 shaft). I'm not sure there's a 1210-1310 conversion u-joint available.

I'd replace the shaft in such a case.

 

[disciplerocks]

I'm not sure there's a 1210-1310 conversion u-joint available.

There isn't. I tried taking mine to a driveline shop when I did my swap. They said all they could do is build me a whole new one. There isnt a u-joint or flange that you can just swap out. Sorry.