Ford 8.8 in TJ Q&A (Informed persons only)

gr8twhitetj · 01-29-2008, 02:42 PM

I have an 87 Ford 8.8 from an F150 that is going into my 06 TJ this weekend. I am looking for any advice/recomendations from experience w/ this swap.

Yes I would have prefered a disc brake model but I was not lucky enough..

With that said I have a question about the brake lines. Will there be a parking brake issue with drums? Everything posted online is alway about 95 and later 8.8 swaps. It seems I should just be able to reuse all my D35 hard lines. Will this work?

I have already purchased....
MORE TJ Kit
New Flange (My axle came with a yoke for a 1330)(Try finding a 1310 yoke . although I think one from a 12bolt would work)
1310 Flange Adapter from Spicer
4.56 R+P w/ master kit
Drums
Shoes
Wheel Bearings and seals
New studs and Lugs
5 x 5-1/2 spidertrax wheel adapters (another downside to the 87 f150 past)
Wheel cylinders

I know the breather has to be moved a few inches and redrilled.
I know I will have to notch the ring gear to fit the cross pin.

The only thing I know I still need is hard lines for the brakes and am hoping the ones from my D35 will work.

Any other info, tips, trick would be appreciated.

**Divinitous** · 01-29-2008, 03:01 PM

First, Welcome to the forum.
Second, go here http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/search.php
Third, go here http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/8.8axle/8.8axle-1.htm
Fourth, send Stu some money.
Fith, become a paying member of JF if we're alot of help.

gr8twhitetj · 01-29-2008, 03:12 PM

I've been to Stu's site and search for all I can search. It's next to imposible to find anything an a drum brake 8.8.

BTW - The measurements posted on Stu's page are off. Not sure where they cam from but they seem to be off around 3" or so.

To everyone in the future the easiest way to pull measurements...
Measure you existing locations from flange to c/l (or edge) of mounts.
Subtract 5/8" (difference in width between axles)
Layout new measurments.

tcox · 01-29-2008, 03:12 PM

never done the f150 8.8 swap and i dont think many people have. that being said i am not sure you will find a real good answer as to if it can be done super easy.

i would imagine you can use your d35 parking brake cable with minor modification. as to using your hydraulic brake hard lines i would guess it would be a bester choice to just buy some strait lines and bent them up your self. how wide is your 8.8? if it is much wider than the D35 then you will have to unbend some of your lines to make it work.

in summary
-you should probably just get new hard lines
-your parking brake cables might work
-dont forget to upgrade the diff cover. it would be a shame to spend all that time and money and punch a hole in the flimsy diff cover
-measure eleventybillions times, weld once

gr8twhitetj · 01-29-2008, 03:27 PM

The f150 8.8 is the same as the explorer. It's 59-3/4" in width flange to flange. If the lines work I should just have to add a little more bend to take up the extra lenght.

I have absolutly no clue as to how the P-brake on the drums might or might not work with the TJ cables.

Diff cover will get replaced when I get the spool and alloys in. I don't plan on wheeling until then anyways.

I havn't wheeled in 6 months actully as I have replace D35 parts and pieces nonstop for the past year. Detroit + 35" boggers + 4.56 + 6 speed + D35 = lots of wasted $$$$. My D35 tubes leak so bad I have to add a full quart of fluid every 3 weeks. The housing is bent 1-1/2" on the pasanger side, I have broken shafts (x1), bent 30spline alloys (x2), sheared studs (x2), destroyed bearings, lost tires (while driving @ 65mph x1), destroyed drums (x2), and desintergrated 2 R+P sets with a 3rd currently missing 1/4 of its teeth. Like I said losts of wasted $$$. Did I mention it's a daily driver?

**Divinitous** · 01-29-2008, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gr8twhitetj

I've been to Stu's site and search for all I can search. It's next to imposible to find anything an a drum brake 8.8.

BTW - The measurements posted on Stu's page are off. Not sure where they cam from but they seem to be off around 3" or so.

To everyone in the future the easiest way to pull measurements...
Measure you existing locations from flange to c/l (or edge) of mounts.
Subtract 5/8" (difference in width between axles)
Layout new measurments.

Make sure it's you that isn't off. If I remember correct isn't the pumpkin actually 3" off center on the axel?
If you are 3" off you're going to be as upset as the guy that tried to make a high pinion 8.8 by flipping it over. Therefor ending up with 5 reverse speeds and one forward gear labeled "R".

Also, even though I dont care for chrome or tube bumpers there is a great resource on this forum.
http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?t=674123

**mdm** · 01-29-2008, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gr8twhitetj

...BTW - The measurements posted on Stu's page are off. Not sure where they cam from but they seem to be off around 3" or so...

If you are finding Stu's measurements are off by 3" you are doing something wrong. I found the measurements for one set of brackets was off a bit, less than 1/2" if I remember correctly. I don't have my notes with me and the memory is dedicated to other things right now. Stu's measurements are close enough that a lot of people have laid out the brackets using them and bolted the axle right up.

gr8twhitetj · 01-29-2008, 03:35 PM

Yeah,
An 8.8 is 5/8" shorter per side than a D35
This means the outer flange is 5/8" closer to C/L than a D35.
Therefore all you have to due is subtract 5/8" from current D35 locations as measure from the inside of the flange to the mounts then transfer them to the 8.8 measuring from the inside of the flange. Simple math.

In Stu's article itreferences a 53 3/8" 8.8? Even when you convert to a 53 3/8" 8.8 the only measurement that is right is the spring perches. The rest are still off approx. 5/8".

**Wheelin98TJ** · 01-29-2008, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gr8twhitetj

The f150 8.8 is the same as the explorer. It's 59-3/4" in width flange to flange...

The F-150 8.8 is NOT the same width.

The F150 8.8 is about 65" WMS-WMS.

gr8twhitetj · 01-29-2008, 03:38 PM

Has anyone done this swap and relocated the shock mounts from the bottom of the tube to the center or topish center of the tubes? My shock mounts get beat up pretty bad and I am thinking of moving them a little higher.

gr8twhitetj · 01-29-2008, 03:42 PM

not sure where you got that 65" number but is wrong. My 8.8 is 59-3/4" measured. Run the tag and it comes up as a 7ish 8.8 3.55 from an F150. Seeing how ford didn't make the 8.8 for the f150 for more than a few months in 97, and for very few models I assumed it to be an 87. New F150 axles may be 65" but in 1987-1996 the 8.8 under the Broncos and f150's was 59-3/4"

**Divinitous** · 01-29-2008, 03:43 PM

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/just-got-my-8-8-my-tj-few-questions-511082/?highlight=shock+mounts

Post #6. Give the guy a PM possibly.

Also read my second comment in my first post. Really, it works wonders.

**Wheelin98TJ** · 01-29-2008, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gr8twhitetj

Has anyone done this swap and relocated the shock mounts from the bottom of the tube to the center or topish center of the tubes? My shock mounts get beat up pretty bad and I am thinking of moving them a little higher.

You can do that, but you are decreasing the distance between your shock mounts so you'll either have to get shorter shocks or longer bumpstops to prevent the shocks from bottoming out.

I think a better option is to put the shock mounts on the backside of the lower control arm mounts.

You won't lose much clearance since the lower brackets have to be there anyways. You won't lose distance between the shock mounts either. It also seems to improve the ride a little.

Chris_ · 01-29-2008, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gr8twhitetj

I've been to Stu's site and search for all I can search. It's next to imposible to find anything an a drum brake 8.8.

BTW - The measurements posted on Stu's page are off. Not sure where they cam from but they seem to be off around 3" or so.

To everyone in the future the easiest way to pull measurements...
Measure you existing locations from flange to c/l (or edge) of mounts.
Subtract 5/8" (difference in width between axles)
Layout new measurments.

A couple of us got together and did two 8.8s. We used a D35 housing as a guide. We found the center of the D35, then measured to the center of the spring pads (I think it was 19.5" to both from center). We found the center of the 8.8, then used the same D35 spring pad measurement for the spring pads and tacked them on. From there, we measured everything from the center of the spring pads using the bolt hole locations (because the two of us had different bracket kits, and it seemed more accurate to use the bolt hole location).

As far as your brakes, one of the guys that was with me when we did the brackets used a drum 8.8 and I recall him saying it was plug and play with the original hardware (maybe he'll see this and post up), but that's for an Explorer 8.8, not an F-150. Personally, I'd dump that thing and get one from an Explorer with discs. Do you plan to carry two spare tires? And I may be mistaken, but aren't F150 8.8s like 65" wide? That thing's going to look funny, and even more so with wheel spacers on it. If you don't see people doing it, there's probably a good reason for it.

**Wheelin98TJ** · 01-29-2008, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gr8twhitetj

not sure where you got that 65" number but is wrong. My 8.8 is 59-3/4" measured. Run the tag and it comes up as a 7ish 8.8 3.55 from an F150. Seeing how ford didn't make the 8.8 for the f150 for more than a few months in 97, and for very few models I assumed it to be an 87. New F150 axles may be 65" but in 1987-1996 the 8.8 under the Broncos and f150's was 59-3/4"

You have an Explorer 8.8 then from a 91-94 model.

The tag is wrong or it was moved from another axle. I've seen plenty of Ford tags that were wrong.

A Bronco/F-150 axle is NOT the same width as an Explorer axle.

Bronco/F-150 = fullsize. Explorer/Ranger = not full size.