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I've been busy.....
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 8:50 pm
by DZK007
I asked what ye'all thought about my explorer style rear diffy swap and I think it turned out better than expected.
I dropped the springs down under the frame using two sets of frame mounts from an explorer. The spring packs are almost stock and a pair of custom mounted Rancho RS9000 shocks work pretty well keeping the 8.8 diffy doing what it should.
I used a cheap set of James Duff traction bars for the bar link and hardware but I had to make custom mounting brackets. Not too hard with a torch and drill press.... man I love free iron!!!
This truck is real capable even with the 235-15" tires. I can't wait till I get some 33's for it.
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 9:18 pm
by DZK007
The front of the spring.
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 9:22 pm
by DZK007
Traction Bars. Gotta have em!!!
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 9:25 pm
by DZK007
Shackle end. I used a pair of mounts from a '96 at this end of the spring with the stock BII shackles.
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 9:29 pm
by DZK007
The front....
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 9:35 pm
by DZK007
While I had it apart I replaced the seats also.
Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2005 8:09 am
by DBrown
did you realy need the traction bars?
how did it do with out them?
most of the time traction bars limit the axle.
do you have any flex shots?
It has lots of flex
Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2005 8:15 pm
by DZK007
The traction bars pivot from the front perch bolt of the spring and don't limit the travel a bit - just keep the diffy from wrapping the springs up and destroying the driveshaft. I jump it quite often (at least 10 times just today) and it lands real nice.
I'll see if I can get a couple flex shots soon but I don't have a digital camera.
Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 10:13 pm
by ranger5.0
Nice work
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 1:28 am
by OCD4B2
Good job I like how it turned out. By the way, the size of those tires is pimp
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 12:50 am
by no v8? why drive?
can you get a pic of the front mount of the traction bar? The b2 I bought blew a rear end for the same reason and I dont want it to happen agian.
Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 3:36 pm
by DZK007
can you get a pic of the front mount of the traction bar? The b2 I bought blew a rear end for the same reason and I dont want it to happen agian.
The mount I made is just some 1/8 wall angle iron with a hole in each face and bolted down with the spring eye bolt. Try to keep the spring eye hole as close to the angle wall as possible so the pivot point is as close to the spring's as is convenient.
Mine look pretty hack but they work......
Good job I like how it turned out. By the way, the size of those tires is pimp
I'm saving for some 32's and 4:56 gears. I'll run these till then....
I wish I had a digital camera but right now I'm at the mercy of my soon to be ex-brother-in-law......
Posted: Sun May 08, 2005 12:18 am
by offroadohio
Hows the stability of it?
Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 7:47 pm
by ranger5.0
I kept eating u-joints cause of the axle wrap with the lift blocks. Sure could of used one of those.
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 9:08 pm
by DZK007
Hows the stability of it?
It runs real stable offroad but without swaybars it is a pig on the road. I'm going to get the front bar back on so I can run it on the highway to go to some trail runs and things without having to trailer it.
I kept eating u-joints cause of the axle wrap with the lift blocks. Sure could of used one of those.
Yup! My last broken driveshaft is what pushed me to do this one.......