housew

alright, so my d35 is about toast. I actually wore it out before i snapped it which is suprizing, but im absolutly not rebuilding that pos. Want to put the 8.8 in. The hardest part of this whole process is finding the corect 8.8.

info I know
1) I can get them in 3.55, 3.73, or 4.10. Ill go 4.10 and switch the front
2) explorers are 1.25" narrower with a slightly offset pumpkin (no biggie)
3)95+ have 31 spline shafts and disk brakes.
4)some come with limited slip, I want to avoid that so i can slap an aussie in there

Biggest question is if there is a difference between v6 and v8 explorers. All the junkyard have different stock numbers and prices for the v6 and v8 axles. they are both 8.8s. so i would think they would be the same.

I found a 4.10 out of a 96 v6 for $125, and a 4.10 out of a 98 v6 for $350, the choice is obvious, just want to make sure there isn't a difference.

Mike1998XJ

Might have to paste links into your browser.

FORD 8.8 REAR AXLE SWAP INFO
http://members.***.net/rough-riders/...8/ford8_8.html
http://www.bc4x4.com/tech/2003/xj88/
http://www.4x4wire.com/jeep/tech/axle/ford8_8/
http://xjfanatic.com/ford88.php
http://www.jedi.com/obiwan/jeep/ford88.html

Rmart30

Get the one out of the V6 and grin all the way home with the $ you saved....... there is no difference in V6 and V8 rearends.

Autonomous

Agreed! Even better, the V6 rearend has probably seen far less thrashing than the v8 rearend.

OverlandZJ

How are you guys IDing these 8.8's as a 4:10 ratio? I looked at a diff tag and couldnt see mention of ratio.

housew

great news, i would think the junkyards would figgure it out and charge more for their v6 rears, Im all about taking advantage of their ignorance though.

as far as axle ratio, the ford rears have codes, I haven't checked out the links posted above yet, but im sure one of them has an explanation of the codes and what gears / limited slip or open is in them.

i'm collecting the other peices i need now then ill pick up the axle hopefully in a couple weeks.

Brian

from what I read (because I am shopping for one with 4:10 gears)
is if its 4:10s it will say either 410 or 4L10 or something like that.

the L stands for limited slip which you dont want because it's carrier is different and if you want to just keep the 4:10's and put an aussie in it like me than the 6 cylinder open diff is best.

I just read that the v8 model has a bigger cross pin, and also has a bracket that needs to be cut off of the axle or something.

t1320t

I did a diff swap in my '92 Mustang...installed a 31 spline diff out of an Explorer Sport Trac. The cross pin in the 31 spline setup is larger in diameter than the 28 spline setup.

1988cherokee

The big difference between V6 and V8 explorers will be that all the V8s are limited slip and 31 spline axles. The previous post about the codes is correct on the diff tag the first numbers tell you the ratio and if its a posi or not IE 410 open rear 4L10 posi. From my experience if you want the 410s look for a 4cyl ranger late 90s into the 2000s or try to find a V8 explorer with the factory tow package

Rmart30

I found more 4.10 8.8's when looking than any other..... if you want to put in a LB locker get one with a open carrier......... you cant put in a LB in a LS carrier.

All the rangers I have ever seen have a 7.5" rear, not a 8.8 and no rangers had disk brakes........one of the biggest pluses of the swap is the disk brakes on 96 up explorers...
The ranger drums are much smaller than explorer drums and the overall width is narrower than the explorer axles.... The explorer axle is already 5/8" narrower on each side than a stock XJ rear and the rangers will be more than that.....
here is a excellent write up about 8.8 and their kin....
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech...plorer8_8.html

housew

so v6 and v8 are not the same for 95 and up explorers? The main thing I care about is the strength. The second thing being disks which i will get with anything newer than 95.

I was under the impression that all explorers 95+ were 31 spline, disk brake, and slightly narrower than an xj, if this is true good.

I'm kind of doubting v6 explorers have a smaller cross pin and 28 spline axles. i'd like to know because aussie doesn't make a locker for 28 spline 8.8s and I doubt they would have missed that big of a chunk-o-market. I know 28 splined versions existed, I just hope / think it wasn't in the model and year range i plan to harvest from.

also found a 89 xj with an open d44 about two hours from my house for $300, attempting to just pick that up so the 8.8 idea is on the back burner untill i figure out if i'm getting it or not

Rmart30

a bolt in 44 would be easier than a 8.8... the plus of a 8.8 is that it already has disk brakes for no additional cost...... I would not install a 8.8 that didnt have disk brakes. Drum or disk axles were the same price when i bought mine.

housew

so my plan remains the same:

attempt to buy the 89 with the d44 in it, if it falls through get a v6 95+ 8.8 because they are hundreds of dollars less at the local JY then v8 axles even though they are the same.

Brian

cool I just found my 8.8 with 4:10 gears and disks from a 2000 explorer.
cant wait to get it home today and start building it up for the swap.
only cost me 150$
so siked!
there where so many of them around when I was looking the past week.!
forget the D44 get the 8.8 if you can weld and stuff.
the 8.8 is stronger than the D44 and has disk brakes man!!!

My375hp302

Just don't forget your going to have to mod your brakes for those rear disks to work. A dual disk master cylinder is different and the proportioning valve is differernt too. I believe you will also have some work to do with the E-brake cables.