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Post by j3schwa on Apr 8, 2008 20:58:46 GMT -5
Anyone have any advice for swapping a rear? I have the factory 8.7 inch and I am finally getting around to replacing it with a custom 9". The problem I am having is twofold. First the u-joint is of course not the right size but no one at either the local Ford dealer or parts house can seem to tell me what one I need to hook it up to the pinion yoke. The yoke is a 1330 BTW. Second, the factory axle tube narrows as it goes towards the flange allowing the u bolts to "fit" over the tube and attach the axle to the springs via the shock plate. My new rear does not do this and is about 1/4 of an inch or so larger than the u bolt I bought. I can easily get a u bolt that is 3 and 3/4 of an inch wide over the stock 3 and 1/2 one but therein lies the problem. The holes in the shock plate would not longer be far enough apart. I am worried about drilling them out to work or trying to bend in the new u joint to fit due to strenght issue. Any help would be welcomed. James
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Post by monty on Apr 21, 2008 21:45:22 GMT -5
go get some shock plates from a ford explorer. go ahead and grab the u bolts too. i got the whole rear axle .8.8 31 spline axles 3.73 traction lock. its about 1.5 inches wider than the granada. cut the explorer spring pads off and weld new ones in the correct location, a cheap strong axle for a granada.
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Post by j3schwa on Apr 23, 2008 20:09:17 GMT -5
Do you think the shock plates will work on the 9 I bought? I have the right size u bolts. I made the mistake of buying stock replacement instead of being specific on the rear I was installing. I now have u bolts for a 9" with a 3" diameter axle tube. They fit perfect. I can easily get the shock plates from an explorer if it means I do not have to try and widen the holes of my stock ones. Are the Explorer shock plates staggered like a GMV?
Thanks for the tip! James
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Post by hipogranada on Apr 24, 2008 11:46:24 GMT -5
We've speculated about the Explorer axle more than once. Glad to hear someone's done it. I've thought it would be an excellent swap. They're common, strong, have good ratios and the '95+ have disc brakes that would adapt easily to the GMV's stock E-brake. If you can post some pics that would be awesome. go get some shock plates from a ford explorer. go ahead and grab the u bolts too. i got the whole rear axle .8.8 31 spline axles 3.73 traction lock. its about 1.5 inches wider than the granada. cut the explorer spring pads off and weld new ones in the correct location, a cheap strong axle for a granada.
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Post by monty on Apr 25, 2008 20:30:25 GMT -5
Ok heres the deal, the shock plates should work with your 9inch, my explorer 8.8 has the big axle tubes, ranger axle tubes are smaller like the granada 8 inch. take one of your u bolts to the junk yard and check it out.my shock plates work fine on the granada, i took two plates from one side of the explorer and turned one around backwards to mount the staggerd shocks from the granada, problem is i cant rememember which side i used from the explorer, its been 2 years. if i remember correctly it was the passenger side. it will be obvious to you when you go look under an explorer. also another trick is the axle on the pass. side is 2 inches shorter than the drivers side, you can get a short side axle and narrow the housing 2 inches on the drivers side put the short axle in and vola cheap narrowed axle.
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Post by j3schwa on Jun 26, 2008 20:59:34 GMT -5
To all,
I just wanted to say thanks for all the advice. I have put the rear in with no problems. Turns out that the larger U bolts still fit the factory shock plates. I was even able to keep the stock brake lines and replacement rear hose. The vent does not line up but a dab of JB weld and it does not move. I have some photos that I would like to post but do not know how. Would love some quick advice on how to do it. The only issue is the new driveshaft needs to be balanced. I took it back out Tuesday with plans to bring it to Ft. Worth somewhere. Say Tom....do you or Gary know of a place in the DFW area that can do it? I am taking the kids over to grandma's this weekend for the week. (Ft. Worth) Thanks again guys and gals! James
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Post by hipogranada on Jun 27, 2008 9:27:10 GMT -5
Google search turned up this, James - Fort Worth Driveshaft 3970 W. Vickery Blvd. Fort Worth, TX 76107 (817) 738-5912 (817) 738-5919 www.jobobservice.comTo all, I just wanted to say thanks for all the advice. I have put the rear in with no problems. Turns out that the larger U bolts still fit the factory shock plates. I was even able to keep the stock brake lines and replacement rear hose. The vent does not line up but a dab of JB weld and it does not move. I have some photos that I would like to post but do not know how. Would love some quick advice on how to do it. The only issue is the new driveshaft needs to be balanced. I took it back out Tuesday with plans to bring it to Ft. Worth somewhere. Say Tom....do you or Gary know of a place in the DFW area that can do it? I am taking the kids over to grandma's this weekend for the week. (Ft. Worth) Thanks again guys and gals! James
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Post by j3schwa on Jun 28, 2008 5:50:52 GMT -5
Thanks Gary. I will look them up Monday.
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Post by j3schwa on Aug 15, 2008 18:47:11 GMT -5
s535.photobucket.com/albums/ee358/j3schwa/I just started to try photo bucket. I am not sure how to post photos. Anyone share the secret I am missing? I did paste the link of some pictures on the rear I installed in my Granada. Thanks for any and all help.
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Post by hipogranada on Aug 16, 2008 12:33:30 GMT -5
s535.photobucket.com/albums/ee358/j3schwa/I just started to try photo bucket. I am not sure how to post photos. Anyone share the secret I am missing? I did paste the link of some pictures on the rear I installed in my Granada. Thanks for any and all help. In the couple rows of icons above the text box when you're composing a message, 4th from left on the bottom is the insert-image shortcut. It inserts the HTML tags you need. Between the (IMG) tags just paste in the URL of your image.
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Post by j3schwa on Aug 16, 2008 15:39:05 GMT -5
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Post by hipogranada on Aug 16, 2008 18:09:44 GMT -5
Checking to see if I did this right. I fixed the code on the one you put in. Hit "quote" as if you're going to reply and you can see exactly how the code is laid out. Works like this when you insert the pic. When you click the image icon above the text box, it puts this in - (img)(/img). But where I have parentheses, there should be [brackets]. The forward slash in the second tag means "end" in the code. (IMG)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/baldopeacock/pintopelt2.jpg/(/IMG) Again, where I have parentheses, it should be [brackets]. I tried to make an example you could see by using the parentheses instead. Easiest way to see it, look at the text and the tags, code, etc in the reply box. If you copy the link, hit the image icon, and insert the link between the tags, it should work.
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Post by sixty9santa on Aug 30, 2008 12:41:36 GMT -5
So swapping the stock differential for a 8.8 off of a 1996 Ford Explorer would be as simple as welding on new spring plates and new shock plates? No need to shorten an axle/side at all to work with a Granada?
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Post by hipogranada on Aug 30, 2008 12:50:06 GMT -5
You'd be relocating (welding) the leaf spring perches on the axle housing. The shock plates bolt on under the spring pack. When I had my '95 Explorer I did some casual measuring comparing that rear end to what's under the Granada, easy since they were side by side in the garage. The pumpkin on the 8.8 is offset - but the pinion is not, it's centered. Never mind the offset pumpkin, the pinion's centered between the brakes, relative length of the axles shouldn't mean a thing. The driveshaft's going to meet up straight with the pinion yoke (mods required to driveshaft). This should be a pretty easy swap. Because the Explorer's emergency brake setup is just a mini-drum setup inside the hub of the brake rotors, the Granada e-brake cable should adapt pretty easily. The extra length of the assembly is an advantage. Most guys who run big tires/wheels on their Granadas end up using spacer plates to get clearance on the INSIDE of the tire. This extra width is just about right, ends the need for the spacers. Whoever has done this, I'd like to hear more. Beauty of the Explorer 8.8 is that most of them are Traction Loc and the gear ratios are usually ideal, anywhere from 3.25 to 3.75. Lots of them in the boneyards, brake parts are dirt cheap for them too. So swapping the stock differential for a 8.8 off of a 1996 Ford Explorer would be as simple as welding on new spring plates and new shock plates? No need to shorten an axle/side at all to work with a Granada?
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Post by sixty9santa on Aug 30, 2008 14:09:21 GMT -5
Hi Gary and thanks for the very prompt response! So now all I have to do is get my hands on a 96 Explorer differential and get to work. I wonder how I will need to modify the drive shaft? I'm guessing a bit shorter and a new yoke is in order
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