98 TJ with Ford 8.8 Build

[jmb_973]

Heres the story of the 8.8 build i did on my tj last winter

started off with a 2000 explorer 8.8 with tow package so that means it came with 4:10 gears and a factory 31 spline posi(perfect match to my dana 30 that already had 4:10)
i installed this with the artec truss kit, and moser hybrid axle housing ends- these ends give you a ford 9in style houseing end (so a c clip eliminator but the right way) and the use of 2005-2010 ford mustang brakes with the emergency brake built into the calipers. the reason i chose to use the mustang brakes instead of the explorer ones are for the integrated emergency brake instead of having the drum style e brakes inside of the rotor that can get packed with mud from wheeling
and of course with this i had a set of custom made axles from moser
i also welded the axle tubes to the center section of the diff and unlike other 8.8 swaps i extended the axle on one side with a spacer i made on a lathe that way the pinion/driveshaft would remain in the center of the vehicle the same location as with the dana 35
also i worked the pinion angle into the brackets so im starting off with 16 degrees of pinion angle that way i dont need to adjust as much with the control arms and can keep the springs and trac bar in a happy place geometry wise
here are the pics!

 

[jmb_973]

sorry for posting so many pictures but i figure someone on here will appreciate it

 

[Chris]

Looks good! There's a bunch of guys on here who either run 8.8s or are planning on running one. They'll appreciate all the photos!

 

[jmb_973]

now for the hard part....tracking down a tj 44 front or deciding to drop a lot of money into the HP30 housing i already have sitting around

 

[Chris]

The HP30 housings actually cause caster issues from what I'm told, only because the Cherokee had a longer wheelbase, and therefore the angle of the pinion in relation to the knuckles means that to adjust caster in your favor, you actually have to start adjusting the pinion angle downwards more as oppose to upwards like with the TJ front axles. This is what I was told at least by a very knowledgeable off-road guy on the forums. He was saying he won't ever use HP Dana 30 axles in the front of a TJ. He told me the only HP axles he'll use are aftermarket ones that were specifically made for the TJs short wheelbase.

Not sure how much truth there is to that, but he's a very well known and reputable guy, so I don't think he would make up it up.

 

[jmb_973]

i never heard that but it does make some sense
i may just save a little longer and find a 44 and do it right

 

[Chris]

i never heard that but it does make some sense
i may just save a little longer and find a 44 and do it right

Yeah, I hadn't heard it before until I talked to him, but he builds off-road Jeeps for a living, so of anyone, I would trust his word. I would either save and find a TJ Dana 44 for the front, or you could always find a Currie Rockjock or G2 axle housing and build one yourself. I imagine if you look, there are deals to be had.

 

[jmb_973]

TJ D44s are an arm and a leg at the prices they are going for used id probably lean toward doing a housing like you said, plus they are beefier housings too

 

[Blank]

TJ D44s are an arm and a leg at the prices they are going for used id probably lean toward doing a housing like you said, plus they are beefier housings too

I saw one in the El Paso Texas Craigslist last night for 1800 out of a rubicon.

https://elpaso.craigslist.org/pts/d/jeep-rubicon-410-dana-44/6737536435.html


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jmb_973]

oh man thats super tempting

plus it comes with a locker

were the factory rubicon lockers air or electric? are they reliable?


wonder how much shipping from texas to NJ would cost...

 

[Blank]

air, im not to sure about reliabilty though. plus thats not mine just something i found on the interwebs.

 

[TimboSlice]

Pretty sure they were air with a bladder right?

 

[MallCrawlOnTons]

now for the hard part....tracking down a tj 44 front or deciding to drop a lot of money into the HP30 housing i already have sitting around

What the heck??
First off, awesome pics, you got good fab skills, my best friend has skills like you got.
Why buy a tj 44? Just get a junk 44 and cut it down to tj width? You got the fabrication skills

 

[Jay P]

Pretty amazing work, I only dream about having these skills.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jmb_973]

What the heck??
First off, awesome pics, you got good fab skills, my best friend has skills like you got.
Why buy a tj 44? Just get a junk 44 and cut it down to tj width? You got the fabrication skills

yeah i know and i have gone over that in my head but im thinking about after buying the proper length axle shafts, housing ends and then buying a locker and a bracket kit by the time im done ill be at around the same price of buying a bolt in tj 44...believe me i ran the numbers lol

although if i did it myseld with a junkyard 44 it would probably be much stronger because id get the strong axle ends and brackets plus i think the tj 44 tubes arent that thick either but my plan would be to sleeve the axle tubes and weld on the heavy duty brackets and add C gussets and maybe a simple truss set up

 

[MallCrawlOnTons]

So...you don’t want to buy a junk 44 and build it like you did the 8.8. But if you got a rubicon 44 you’d sleeve it, and add some new brackets and all the other hd stuff? Just get a 44 and cut it down to accept tj 44 inners.

 

[jmb_973]

So...you don’t want to buy a junk 44 and build it like you did the 8.8. But if you got a rubicon 44 you’d sleeve it, and add some new brackets and all the other hd stuff? Just get a 44 and cut it down to accept tj 44 inners.

i know i know! i just dont want to have the time lately and know i could get the tj 44 done with a few mods in a night or two

 

[S.McArthur]

Ummmm...are we really going to ignore that gorgeous 69 Camaro? More pictures please, I love those cars.
Is there a 6.2 in there? The engine cover looks like a newer 6.2 cover.

 

[MallCrawlOnTons]

i know i know! i just dont want to have the time lately and know i could get the tj 44 done with a few mods in a night or two

Makes sense. I still vote cut it down to accept tj inner shafts and have a stronger inner C, outer knuckle and lockouts!

 

[jmb_973]

Ummmm...are we really going to ignore that gorgeous 69 Camaro? More pictures please, I love those cars.
Is there a 6.2 in there? The engine cover looks like a newer 6.2 cover.

oh no you werent supposed to see that!

i tell ya what it definetly doesnt have....a 525hp ls3.....