[SecretFBIGuy]

howdy howdy, I have a question about the legendary 8.8 swap, is it necessary to shorten? I don't have welding experience to do it myself and it would be rather expensive to pay a shop to do it where I live, probably more than the rear end is worth to do it. (crazy suckers wanted 150 bucks at the local garage to swap a muffler!? Doing the rear end is gonna be bonkers) also while your here is a mustang 8.8 rear end the same as the explorers? mustangs are much more abundant than explorers where I live.

 

[dime-dozen]

the attraction to doing the explorer is its almost a bolt in.
leaf spring mounts are close enough.
still need to rig up em brakes and redrill axles and rotors tho
the rear will be offset and closer to 4x4 width,so wheels will be an issue.

 

[Mostizzle]

If you want to be able to use 2wd S10 wheels the rear end needs to be narrowed and the axle will have to be re-drilled to the S10 pattern. If not, you're stuck using the Exploder wheels or something aftermarket. That, and the wheels will stick out. Fox body Mustang rear ends are control arm/coil sprung so it would have to be stripped of all its fixtures and reconfigured to mount to leafs.

 

[big gear head]

FOX Mustang rear end is 59 1/2 inches wide and has 4 lug axles. The axle tubes are actually closer to the same diameter as the S10, but the Explorer axle tubes are stronger. The Mustang has 28 spline axles and the Explorer has 31 spline axles. SN95 and later Mustang rear ends are wider than the FOX.

 

[oldeerslayer]

Isn't the normal method for putting an 8.8 in a 2wd to cut 2-7/8" off the longer tube and weld it up to the same length as the shorter one and just pick up another short axle? Plus drilling for the Chevy pattern if you don't want to use Ford wheels. If you have it out before installing I'd think any local welding shop could cut and weld it. You would need to move the spring perchs to center the differential, I would think.
Drilling is simply a matter of having a good drill press.
The hub diameter is 70.6 mm, just a hair bigger than the S10, so you might need to open up your wheels a hair. Chevy used both 70.3 and 70.5mm depending on the year. I think the switch was around 95 or 96.

 

[big gear head]

The axle tube needs to be welded using a housing fixture so that the housing stays straight, and drilling the axles in a drill press would be asking for vibrations. A machine shop needs to do that. Moser will drill axles for you.

 

[Rhotpursuit]

Isn't the normal method for putting an 8.8 in a 2wd to cut 2-7/8" off the longer tube and weld it up to the same length as the shorter one and just pick up another short axle? Plus drilling for the Chevy pattern if you don't want to use Ford wheels. If you have it out before installing I'd think any local welding shop could cut and weld it. You would need to move the spring perchs to center the differential, I would think.
Drilling is simply a matter of having a good drill press.
The hub diameter is 70.6 mm, just a hair bigger than the S10, so you might need to open up your wheels a hair. Chevy used both 70.3 and 70.5mm depending on the year. I think the switch was around 95 or 96.

Hubs went a bit smaller in '98.

 

[98Sonosls]

Everything above + most years of C4/C5/C6 corvette wheels fit perfectly on 8.8 explorer stock width provided you obtain new axles or redrill existing.

 

[superj]

and the 4 lug axles ended in 88 or 89. after that they went to 5 lug.

 

[Mostizzle]

That's incorrect. Only late Fox body Cobras and Saleens were 5 lug.

 

[manbearpig]

That's incorrect. Only late Fox body Cobras and Saleens were 5 lug.

NUH UH. You furget the SVO!

 

[Mostizzle]

Word. Shame on me because I'm a fan too.