Source for spring perches, shock mounts, U-bolts for 8.8 swap?

[dla]

Who do you recommend for weldable spring perches, shock mounts, etc. for an Explorer 8.8 swap into a Ranger? Also need U-bolts.

I'm also buying an Aussie locker for the 8.8 - who do you recommend I do business with?

 

[scotts90ranger]

for the aussie locker, go direct, I don't have the link handy but they are the best price

I went to the junk yard and grabbed U bolts and spring plates form a 4x4 F150 with an 8.8, seemed like a good solution to that problem... being in Oregon there was no rust and they looked just fine, thinking of making perches at work out of some channel or a piece of square tube

 

[99RangerKrazy]

www.ruffstuffspecialties.com

They'll take care of ya!

 

[kennykenny]

www.ruffstuffspecialties.com

They'll take care of ya!

Definately, I just used their 8.8 simple swap kit and it is real nice stuff. When ordering use RANGER as a coupon code and save 10%.

 

[Tony Raine]

www.ruffstuffspecialties.com

They'll take care of ya!

Definately, I just used their 8.8 simple swap kit and it is real nice stuff. When ordering use RANGER as a coupon code and save 10%.

+ 1 on that! its beefy.

u-bolt/plate comparison

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I am just going to use a peice of channel for the perches.

Already got U-bolts from a local hardware store, going to reuse the Explorer spring plates with the shock mounts cut off on top of the springs.

 

[dla]

Anything a little cheaper - a little less race oriented?

 

[93Ranger4x4]

you could probably get the perches from jegs if i remember right, not for sure though

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

you could probably get the perches from jegs if i remember right, not for sure though

Summit or Speedway Motors have them for under $15/pair. They are for a 3" axle tube so you will need to slightly enlarge the curved part with a grinder for the 8.8's 3.25" axle tube.

 

[iceracer60]

well if your going the budget way you could do what i did when i put my 8.8 in. i cut my old perches and shock mounts off my 7.5, lined the axle up in the frame... which wasnt too bad, just a lot of measuring to make sure it was staight, and welded the perches on. then i hung the shocks from the top mounts and swung them into place with the wheels on the axle and the frame on axle and welded the bottom mounts on. for u bolts i had them made for about $10 and i reused the ubolt plate.

 

[CJREX]

Definately, I just used their 8.8 simple swap kit and it is real nice stuff. When ordering use RANGER as a coupon code and save 10%.

Does this kit bolt the 8.8 on, or does it still require welding?

 

[Destroyer000]

some 2.5 x.25 square tube works AWESOME as spring perches.

 

[Shran]

Summit for perches, Ballistic fab for shock mounts, modded explorer plates, Autozone u-bolts.

Ruffstuff's kit is really good, but expensive. $120 for theirs vs $50ish the way I did it.

 

[kennykenny]

Does this kit bolt the 8.8 on, or does it still require welding?

Still requires welding.

 

[LittleBigFoot]

Any 4x4 shop and most frame and axle shops should be able to hook you up with perches. Mine ran 12 bucks a set. Generic mopar stuff.

For U bolts, I'm willing to bet there's a local shop that'll make them to your specs. Denver Spring, here in denver goes up to 3/4 thick. I'm only runnin 5/8 which are re-cock-u-lous.

For plates, keep it cheap and get some 3/8th or even 1/2" plate and drill them out yourself.

Remember that the 31 spline and 28 spline are different size axle tubes depending on the year. Find a plate at the junk yard even.