Tate Myrick
Active Member
- Joined
- September 13, 1999
- Messages
- 89
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- Truckhaven
[*] Dana 44 Front Axle Swap
[*] Ford 9 and Other Rear Questions
[*] Engines
[*] Ending Note
Truckhaven
I just picked up the July issue of Four Wheeler and I noticed the article on Truckhaven. It is great to see the Explorer finally getting its deserved recognition. I remember Rick saying something about having to send the pictures to Four Wheeler and I noticed that the pictures were the same. I was wondering if any other magazine or any other sort of publication was there. Hopefully I can come out next year.
Dana 44 Front Axle Swap
However the main reason I started this post was because I noticed that Rick mentioned a Dana 44 swap on this board and I noticed in the write up of the Truckhaven trip that Rick stated that his Dana 44 is sitting in his garage. I think Rick mentioned posting the pictures when the install is complete. Rick, I was wondering if you were going to include all of the specifics. Rick, are you going to use the Fabritech kit? A recent Four Wheeler highlighted an install on a late model Bronco. I went to Fabritech's site and saw that they offer kits for Broncos, F150s, Rangers, and most importantly Explorers. Dead Link Removed Some of the kits came with large enough brackets and springs for 12 inches of lift. With new springs and/or shackles in rear you could fit some big meats. I was wondering if, Rick, you were going to go for the huge 12, or stick with about what you have now (5.5) and go for the six. Also is it still going to have 4.56 with the ARB. Did you get this axle from a yard or a company? I think everyone is going to love to see how this project turns out. Has anyone else performed this swap? I have included links to various pages with information on this swap and others, however many of these swaps have been performed on Rangers.
Ford 9 and Other Rear Questions
Another issue I was wondering about was our rear ends. I know that our rear ends are fairly strong and there are many locking and gearing options for them. After all the Ford 8.8 has been used in the Mustangs for some time and many serious draggers still use them. In the same issue of Four Wheeler that the Truckhaven write up was in, they illustrated the installation of Warn’s new full floating kit for the 8.8. I also remember reading about a unit called the "Ground Pounder" initially built for the Mustang. It is supposed to strengthen the diff by strengthening the bearing caps. It also has a large cover for more fluid and I think it is supposed to run cooler. Dead Link Removed I was looking through a Ford SVO catalog at a dealership and noticed many items (from covers to gears) that Ford offers for the 8.8. I found an online listing here. Has anyone performed any of these mods or has anyone installed a nine inch? Does anyone know what size the axles are for the 8.8 and the 9? I found out that the 9 axles have a 5x5.5 bolt pattern and the 8.8 has 5x4.5 to match the front axle. Does Torq-Lite make a 9 inch axle with a 5x4.5 pattern?
Engines
My last question and curiousity concerns engine swaps. The new Explorers offer an engine that I think many of use dream about having in our Explorers. Yes, I am talking about the 302 5.0 V8. I must say that Rangers have us beat hands down. When I was looking for information on a swap I found mainly information on swaps for Rangers. I even found a SHO Ranger prototype. (I think Ford did it.) Remember the Ford Taurus SHO. It had a 24 valve dual over head cam six. RangerSHO I also found information on putting in a 3.8 liter. I know I saw on someone’s web page that they were doing this, but they were going to super charge it. I remember the guy had a 79 Mustang. Anyways, the info is here. Of course I found various information on a V8 swap. James Duff even had a full explanation. The three sites I found are listed below.
- Dead Link Removed
they also offer their Atlas II transfer case - KaufmanProduct
- JamesDuff
I also found this Ranger site that has helpful information on everything from swaps to straight axle conversions. TheRangerStation Has anyone helped in any of these swaps, performed these swaps, or seen any of these swaps?
Ending Note
I hope that the questions in this posting are questions shared by other users of this board. I also hope that the links will be useful. For those users that have performed these swaps, let us know the complications of the installation and the final result. Thinking about final results, how are the Atlas II transfer cases working for you guys running them? Did you go with the 3.8 or the 4.3? All I can hope for now is a winning lotto ticket. Maybe a sponsor (hint), but usually you have to participate in an event and I have no idea what that would be. Have fun wheelin’ !!!!