Ford 8.8" to Dana 35 install differences??

Re: Ford 8.8\" to Dana 35 install differences??

I had my drive shaft shortened by about 1 1/2" when I swapped to the 8.8 I think I would go with a 2" crop if I did it again. I didnt listen to the expert advice from my drive line expert, thought it would be to short with all of the rear travel. but anywhere between about 1 1/2 and 2" will probably be where youll settle. You will be able to drive home with the stock shaft, provided you have the bolt on yoke. Its a very tough yoke set up, i broke a main leaf spring on a steep hill last night and it caused the axle to wrap so badly that it binded the drive shaft and pinion yoke and shattered one of the bearing cases in the pinion yoke on an almost new spicer U joint, no dammage to the yoke though, I guarentee that same incident would have destroyed the D35s weak yoke,( I used to have carry at least 2 spare D35 yokes). I cant remember what post i saw it on but someone had mentioned that the 8.8 gives up 1. 75 inches of clearance to the D35, I carefully measured before the swap and immediately after, with no other mods performed but the swap and I lost only 1" of ground clearance.

Jeff
89 Wrangler
If at first you dont succeed, your replacement will try and try again.

Re: Ford 8.8\" to Dana 35 install differences??

Arron,
If you can, measure your maximum clearance at the low point of the differntial before and after the install. Id like to see your results. The E brake is very easy to hook up, the brake lines arent really hard either, they just arent an over the counter configuration. If you are the only person with access to your Jeep you will probably be Ok to keep the front drive line hooked up(provided you trust yourself not to pull abone head move and shift into 4WD). If there are any concernes that it may be able to be accidentally shifted into 4 WD(your fault,somebody elses fault,nobodys fault) I would disconnect. My freinds son borrowed(without permission) his YJ in between front and rear gear changes, and totaly destroyed the NP 231(busted case, etc) when he through it 4 WD and climbed a sand dune( I had figured the slip provided by sand would have been more forgiving) but then again that what his teenagers version of what happened. One other thing you need to do to the 8.8 diff. If you are planning any moderately tough rock trails, you need to get under the diff with a grinder and grind off the edges of the lower portion of the diff cover. The rolled edge of the cover hangs down about 1/4 inch below the housing and is a rock magnet. Once ground flush with the housing there is nothing to catch. Attached is a picture of the diff after a day in the rocks, and I spaced out and didnt grind the cover,(spent a couple hours sanding and paiting it but didnt grind it flush, great priorities).

Jeff
89 Wrangler
If at first you dont succeed, your replacement will try and try again.

Re: Ford 8.8\" to Dana 35 install differences??

Freak,
I took pictures of different compnonents today, so I have been trying to get them out to everyone who had asked. And build a project schedule, and budget for work at the same time. Well here are the pictures of the E brake set up for your conversion, I need to build better bracketry, but you can see how simple it is using existing brackets.

Jeff
89 Wrangler
If at first you dont succeed, your replacement will try and try again.

Re: Ford 8.8\" to Dana 35 install differences??

Freak,
Your gonna love your 8.8 swap, Look at that yoke set up, youll have to work hard to break that Yoke. Before you say anything, I know the pinion angle is all screwed up. I broke a main leaf spring friday night and Im using a set I put together from a few old sets I had in my storage, so I could go wheelin yesterday. They worked for the day but are pretty tweaked now. On Friday night when the leaf failed, The pinion rotated upward to a critical point where the Yokes bound up, and they grenaded a new spicer U joint, no damage at all to the yoke though. New spring packs being made this week.

Jeff
89 Wrangler
If at first you dont succeed, your replacement will try and try again.

Re: Ford 8.8\" to Dana 35 install differences??

It was a piece of cake swap, took about 6 hours after the gears and detroit were in. That included fabricating a new shock set up to allow for the use of 33" long R9000s. the only thing that is weird with the swap is that diff housing is about an inch off center towards the passenger side, it has been no problem though. The disc brakes a great bonus in the swap. Ive had no problems to date, Ive had it out on some pretty tough short runs,everything seems solid. Ive posted some pictures on attachments in some of the earlier posts, here is one more of the shock set up.

Jeff
89 Wrangler
If at first you dont succeed, your replacement will try and try again.

Re: Ford 8.8\" to Dana 35 install differences??

Heres another shot from the rear

Jeff
89 Wrangler
If at first you dont succeed, your replacement will try and try again.