explorer 8.8 in an a-body: experience needed
#830069
10/14/10 11:27 PM
10/14/10 11:27 PM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 257 albemarle, NC
dusterbd13
OP
enthusiast
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OP
enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 257
albemarle, NC
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so we've decided beyond a reasonable doubt that the 8.75 in my duster is done for. its a damn shame since its got new brakes, fresh moser axles, etc.
with that being said, I'm not spending 900 to rebuild the hogshead (cheapest i could find around here).
i however have read and heard about using the ford explorer 8.8 instead. supposedly just as strong as the 8.75.
found one local with rear disc, 3.55, locker, all the cables, lines, hardware, etc., and a 90 day warranty for 200. i cant pass that up.
what I'm looking for is a couple of things.
some guys have put them in at their normal length by just relocating the axle mounting points. this is actually what id like to do, as I'm currently running 1 inch spacers to make my bullitt wheels fit. the explorer rear is 2 inches wider than the stock small bolt 8.75 (any idea what that would be difference wise since I've got the big bolt brakes?) so i would be spot on in theory for my wheels.
the questions i have are:
1. any pictures of it done this way? I'm concerned about clearance with my TTI 3 inch exhaust.
2. what have people done with the master and proportioning system to account for the rear discs?
3. how have you been hooking up the e-brake?
4. how quiet is it?
5. what have you done to hook that funky plate to our mopar drive shafts?
6. will my drive shaft need to be shortened?
7. what am i looking at as far as the hydraulics are concerned?
8. anything I'm not thinking of?
please let me know as soon as you can, I'm planning on going down to the yard on Monday to get it before someone else does.
thanks
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Re: explorer 8.8 in an a-body: experience needed
[Re: dusterbd13]
#830072
10/15/10 12:34 AM
10/15/10 12:34 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 27,347 Today? Who Knows?
1_WILD_RT
Management Trainee
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Management Trainee
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 27,347
Today? Who Knows?
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You'll see very few helpful posts from Greg... The 8.8 is a good piece, if it has discs (yours does) it will also have the carbon fiber clutch discs in the locker, it requires synthetic gear oil but the discs last easily ten times longer than the old fiber discs did... Without tearing into the axle your kinda stuck with the drive flange & you'll need to have a driveshaft built.. There is a conventional style yoke available but the axle has a crush sleeve so to properly swap the yoke requires taking the carrier out & replacing the crush sleeve to set the pinion bearing preload... I would swap the crush sleeve for a spacer & shims so it never needs to be dealt with again.. BTW width should be 59 5/8 & the center section is offset about 2.5" to the passenger side which can cause issues with driveshaft clearance..
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Re: explorer 8.8 in an a-body: experience needed
[Re: GregCon]
#830074
10/15/10 10:01 AM
10/15/10 10:01 AM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 601 Clintwood VA
johnedod
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 601
Clintwood VA
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Sorry, no pics but a friend of mine did this swap on a 74 Duster but he has since sold it. It was an 88-89 model Explorer rearend. Like you said it was a little wider but he used the same Crager wheels with no issues. (No idea on the backspacing.) He cut the spring perches off the old rearend and welded them to the Explorer rear. He used a Wilwood master cylinder and stock proportioning valve. He used the rubber brake hose on the Duster and the metal lines going to each caliper screwed right into it. He got the Explorer driveshaft and had the flange welded to the Duster driveshaft. He didn't hook up the emergency brake, he installed a line lock and always used that. But he did say he thinks the 8.8 uses emergency brake cables so I'm sure something could be made to work. His was quiet and he really seemed happy with it but he had to sell the car to help put his daughter through college so there's no way I could get pics now. But I did see it first hand and it was a neat installation. Good luck!
Johnedod 68 Road Runner 71 Road Runner 78 Power Wagon
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Re: explorer 8.8 in an a-body: experience needed
[Re: Twostick]
#830076
10/15/10 10:53 AM
10/15/10 10:53 AM
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,749 Florida
BDW
master
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master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,749
Florida
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Unless you're doing it to get the disc brakes, I bet you end up paying way more than fixing the 8.75 New driveshaft / having 1 built is not going to be cheap. Greg's comment is starting to make sense.
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Re: explorer 8.8 in an a-body: experience needed
[Re: BDW]
#830077
10/15/10 11:07 AM
10/15/10 11:07 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,533 Indiana
Fury Fan
master
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master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,533
Indiana
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I have to agree that in this situation the 8 3/4" will be cheaper overall, once you consider all the headaches involved to swap an 8.8" - place a value on your time. If you didn't already have an 8 3/4", I'd recommend the 8.8 highly. Strong, cheap, discs, lockers, and 3.55-3.73 gears are common in them. What's not to like (unless you're a purist). Surf the 'net a bit, there are a few places that have documented an 8.8 swap. Check Dippy.org, Cbodydrydock for sure. There is a difference in width/differential offset between Ranger and Explorer axles, so research that before you buy. http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Axles.htmlhttp://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Explorer8_8.html
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Re: explorer 8.8 in an a-body: experience needed
[Re: GregCon]
#830078
10/15/10 11:22 AM
10/15/10 11:22 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,533 Indiana
Fury Fan
master
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master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,533
Indiana
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Quote:
I have a friend who is going to marry a really fat girl with no personality. I don't plan to say anything to him, but I've also made sure I have plans to be out of town that weekend.
C'mon Greg, give him a break. If you can't give him some technical help, stay outta the way.
If we all did what everybody else thought we should we'd all still be riding in black Model Ts.
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Re: explorer 8.8 in an a-body: experience needed
[Re: Dakota_Don]
#830083
10/15/10 04:22 PM
10/15/10 04:22 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,216 Under My Car
Mopar_Country
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,216
Under My Car
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I would not say I'm a purist, but I do believe in keeping a Mopar as close to all Mopar as possible. With that said I would rebuild the center section, it is doable at home in the garage. If you need a bearing pressed you could check with a local shop and probably wouldn't cost that much. You never said what is wrong with it specifically. I just built an 8 3/4 for my car for a shade over 600.00 which was a complete rebuild, everything new. I say rebuild, it's going to be right and more gratifying. Just my
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