I have found a 8.8 rear axle in a local junk yard and I was wondering if going with the 8.8 what modifications do you have to do to get it to fit correctly. I have a 52 F-1 and the 8.8 is out of a 94 Ford Explorer. I want to go with this rear axle because i am using an aftermarket IFS from TCI with the 5x4 lug pattern. Any advise would be great.

Adam

 

Get the U-bolts and tie plates, you can also use the e-brake cables as well as the e-brake pedal which can be bolted to your kick panel area with a little modification for a bracket. I also used the drive shaft and modified the yoke that went into my C-4. You will need new spring pads I doubt that the ones on the axle will line-up with your current springs, you may be able to cut the current ones off and reuse them.

 

If the diff. has the mounts on the back side of it for the sway bar to bolt there, they can be cut off and used as new spring mounts. There the perfect width.The old ones have to come off anyway.You will need to make shock mounts and weld onto the diff. aswell.If you get the exploders spring mount pad, the piece the u bolts go though.You can cut the shock mount off that and with a little grinding make a real nice shock mount.There is a pic in my gallery but its not a close up.

 

With the rear axle only being 59' and the oriiginal being 61' is there any problems regarding length that I need to be concerned about.

 

I dont have the box on yet.I am running wider tires and there still room.I dont know the measurement but there is lots of space between box and tires.

 

Depends on your wheel and tire combo. But we are only talking about 1" on each side, and since most aftermarket RWD wheels have a negative offset, you shouldn't have any problems. But it is something to keep in mind as you shop for tires and wheels.

 

Take a look in my gallery, thats a 94 explorer 8.8 I installed in my setup. All of the above information is correct. Lakota

 

Yep thats how I did it.

 

When I got my explorer 8.8 rearend I matched up with the gear ratio of the rearend which was with the trans and motor I am using with it. I kept the sway bar in the rear and moved the shock mounts to the front. Been working on it for the last day or two. I need to make a bracket for the parking brake cable. I,m using posie leaf springs from Speedway. I have pictures in my gallery.

 

Thanks for the info guys. What made yall go with the 8.8 instead of a 9 inch?

 

$65.00 from the local Pull-A-Parts complete. Could have even got one with disc brakes same price. But they were already gone!