Explorer 8.8 Swap

Topic: Explorer 8.8 Swap (Read 2874 times) previous topic - next topic

Explorer 8.8 Swap

March 16, 2011, 08:33:14 PM

One of my auto teachers has a spare 8.8 limited-slip diff out of an Explorer that he is going to give me. I was wondering what the specs are on sizing and such. I cant find online anywhere that'll tell me how wide my 7.5" out of my '83 T-Bird and how wide said Explorer rear end is. I do not know the year yet.

Explorer 8.8 Swap

Reply #1 – March 16, 2011, 08:44:47 PM

Explorer rear ends have a funky offset to them. It will put your drive shaft in the wrong spot. All the internals will work in any car 8.8 though.

Explorer 8.8 Swap

Reply #2 – March 17, 2011, 02:23:49 AM

nothing in the sticky's above your thread?
these are the storage houses of info this topic and probably you question.,not sure if it has explorer info tough

Explorer 8.8 Swap

Reply #3 – March 17, 2011, 03:08:48 AM

It won't directly bolt in, and it will be too wide at any rate.
You can use the ring and pinion if you locate an 8.8 from say, a TC, or a newer stang...the '93 and old Stang 8.8 rears will be a bit on the narrow end, but you can run different wheels to make up for it.

Explorer 8.8 Swap

Reply #4 – March 17, 2011, 09:31:28 AM

The Explorer rear should be a 31 spline differential. Is there a metal tag still attached to the cover of the rear end? If so post up the numbers and it will be pretty obvious the rear gear ratio and if it is an open or locked rear end which is typically referred to as Trac-Lok (posi-trac is a GM term so we don't use that here). You can use the differential and gears out of the Explorer rear end and put them into a 8.8 housing that will fit the car. Superior sells 31 spline axles pretty cheap so this would be a really strong rear end for drag radials or slicks. I would suggest that you have someone with experience set the gears up. Typically if you bring them the rear end out of the car (please clean it up with some oven cleaner, engine degreaser, or high pressure wash it or all three if its really bad), gears, and a rebuild kit it can run from $100 to $250 depending on who you know or where you take it. The last one I had built (in the Coupe) the guy was a VoTech instructor that did this on the side. He completely rebuilt the rear end with new gears and a rebuild kit (I supplied both) with the rear in the car for $150 labor. Some guys that road race and drag race had used him in the past and were very happy with his work. Its been four years and no problems so I would say he knew what he was doing.

Here is where I bought my rebuilt kit as I found it to be one of the most complete and it was highly recommended by the guys and gals on the Corral:

http://www.ratechmfg.com/ford.htm

but you order the kit here:

http://ratech.stores.yahoo.net/fo8inki1.html

I would strongly suggest you get the delux installation kit (P/N 3008K) for $110 but it has everything to completely rebuild an 8.8. Whatever kit you get I would opt for the smart sleeve design which adds an additional $7 to the kit. For the delux kit is changes it to a P/N 6005K for $117.

I would stay away from the brakes if they are disc brakes as I believe the Explorers use a separate brake drum for the e-brake.

Darren

Explorer 8.8 Swap

Reply #5 – April 01, 2011, 02:20:34 AM

Its all good my teacher and I found the rear end out of an '88 Turbo Coupe so hopefully I'm set

Explorer 8.8 Swap

Reply #6 – April 01, 2011, 06:58:53 PM

hope it turns out good. take the cover off and inspect it to make sure its ok. and put new fulids in while you have it off

Explorer 8.8 Swap

Reply #7 – April 05, 2011, 06:22:15 PM

After you insect it the gears pull the axles and replace the axle bearings and seals. I would also suggest you get a rebuild kit for the trac-loc as it will come with new clutches and a bottle of additive for the gear oil.

Darren