FORD 8.8 setup for JEEP TJ

[Slade]

Just finished this for a fellow that is upgrading his broken TJ Dana 35.








TOTAL cost to the owner as it sits... roughly $700

$350 for the axle bracket kit
http://www.rubiconexpress.com/BuilderPar...art=RE9969

$350 for the axle and welding. Axle is complete with Good brakes, all brake lines (inc. e-brake cable), Yoke adapter, driveshaft yoke, necassary fluid.


Doesnt really make a Super 35 or TJ Dana 44 seem worth the expense.

[mferrari]

Nice. What about sway bar brackets though?

I finished up an 8.8 for a customer. We used the Mad4wd brackets and I was not too impressed by them. Took a little fab work for them to work. M.O.R.E. brackets are great though.

[Slade]

The owner isnt gona run the sway bar for now. I told him I would weld them on if he changed his mind.


I was pretty happy with the fit. all needed a little touch from the grinder to fit snug.

[RamAford]

Looks pretty good. Ive always wanted to go with a 44 front and 9" rear for my jeep when my wonderfull 30/35 finally craps out.

[mferrari]

Quote:On 2009-09-05 19:10, Slade wrote:
The owner isnt gona run the sway bar for now. I told him I would weld them on if he changed his mind.


I was pretty happy with the fit. all needed a little touch from the grinder to fit snug.

Yeah I think the RE brackets are made for a 44, the 8.8 has bigger tubes so they needed alittle weight reduction to fit.

Looks good though, good work!

[Slade]

Quote:On 2009-09-05 20:08, RamAford wrote:
Looks pretty good. Ive always wanted to go with a 44 front and 9" rear for my jeep when my wonderfull 30/35 finally craps out.

Thats what Im going to run in my TJ next. I have a 76-77 F100/150 Dana 44 (Best 1/2 ton Dana 44 you can get IMO) and a 78 Bronco 9". I plan on getting the axles ready in the next week or two.

Gona keep them full width and run leafs in the front too.

[RamAford]

Sounds like a great plan for ya. Post up some pics when you get around to doing the 44/9.

there is a guy i talked to last week who had an 8.8 with disk brakes for $100. he was just needing the $$$. i should have bought it when i had the chance

[Slade]

Ill get some pics for ya.

$100 is a pretty fair deal for an 8.8 with discs. what gears where in it?

I paid $220 for the one in my TJ. I specifically wanted 4.10's though and got the donor driveshaft with it. If I did it over again, I would have picked one with an open carrier instead of the LSD. Only reason is to make installing a lunchbox locker cheaper and easier.

I picked this one up BLIND for $50 with the spring packs. (scrap yard axle, it was to be crushed the next day) It just hapened to have the same gears that the guy allready has in his TJ and has a LSD. it worked out well.

[97TJAC]

this may be a noob question
but what year/vehicle should one look for a ford 8.8

also what are the benefits of this axle compared to a dana44

also the bolt pattern is it the same or does that need changed?

[Slade]

96 and newer Explorers have the disc brakes.

The 44 and 8.8 are comparable in strength.(8.8 has the edge though)

The biggest advantage is cost compared to swaping in a TJ Dana 44. TJ 44's sell for $1000 most of the time, if you can even find one. (no disc brakes, no posi) The 8.8 is readily available with your choice of gears (3.55, 3.73, 4.10), Posi/open, and disc brakes. You can buy an 8.8 for $200-$250 all day long and pick and choose what you want. If your resourcefull, you can find them for next to nothing. The cost of the brackets is really the biggest factor in final cost.

They are only about 1" narrower and share the same lug pattern (5 on 4.5")