Tweet
I've done a handful of them now. Unless you have a plasma cutter, be prepared to burn though a couple hours and a bunch of cutoff wheels removing the perches and brackets.
As stated above, if you are not concerned about the pinion being offset 2.5-3 inches, you can relocate the spring perches and bolt it in. It will be nearly the same width as your 68 rearend. Lowered cars will definately smack the trans tunnel with the DS.
If you want to center the pinion and cheat a little, although not the "correct" way, you can cut 4" off the short tube and 7" off the long tube and swap sides.
If you want a 65-66 width, grab an extra short side axle and shorten the long tube 3".
Things to remember. The tubes are 3.5" diameter. Most spring perches are 3" or less. In stock form, the axle perches are not sitting parallel to the car. If you set your pinion angle off the perches when it's out of the car, you'll end up way off. So, either set up the 8.8 exactly like the 8" or set the angle in the car.
When you get the rearend, grab all the parking brake cables and brackets up to the front. It's a simple system and is easily adapted to the 67-68 parking brake pedal.
If you are using your existing DS, you will need to either find a pinion yoke like the one on your 8" along with the correct u-joint. These can be found on F -series trucks. Vise versa if you want to use the Explorer driveshaft flange. I have read but not confirmed that a Ranger flange will work too. Or do like above and have yours modified.
As stated above, if you are not concerned about the pinion being offset 2.5-3 inches, you can relocate the spring perches and bolt it in. It will be nearly the same width as your 68 rearend. Lowered cars will definately smack the trans tunnel with the DS.
If you want to center the pinion and cheat a little, although not the "correct" way, you can cut 4" off the short tube and 7" off the long tube and swap sides.
If you want a 65-66 width, grab an extra short side axle and shorten the long tube 3".
Things to remember. The tubes are 3.5" diameter. Most spring perches are 3" or less. In stock form, the axle perches are not sitting parallel to the car. If you set your pinion angle off the perches when it's out of the car, you'll end up way off. So, either set up the 8.8 exactly like the 8" or set the angle in the car.
When you get the rearend, grab all the parking brake cables and brackets up to the front. It's a simple system and is easily adapted to the 67-68 parking brake pedal.
If you are using your existing DS, you will need to either find a pinion yoke like the one on your 8" along with the correct u-joint. These can be found on F -series trucks. Vise versa if you want to use the Explorer driveshaft flange. I have read but not confirmed that a Ranger flange will work too. Or do like above and have yours modified.
Comment