I bet you're right. Rear stabilizer, disc brakes, and underslung leaf springs. Ranger would put the leafs on top, and I don't think rear discs came on those...

 

yep exploders had discs from 95-01 and a few 02 & 03 models as well (but mostly IRS after 01)

it's the widest 8.8 available with small pattern ford axles. looks like i'll be able to make the parking brake set up work too which is sweet.

but, caveat emptor the disc rears cant take c clip eliminators on the stock axles. it wont fit under the drum parking brake assy

you probably wont spit an axle since the caliper will hold it in place if shears at the splines, but I doubt it'd pass tech if you were actually going fast at a legit track

this is just a lil cruiser so it'll be fine IMO

 

wow speaking of sketchy. the PO was running spacers under the unilug cragars (big no-no) with about 6 threads of engagement

​​​​​​

 

Some insight on the 8.8. I put one under my '39 Chevy and here is a few problems that I had. First, removing the retainer pin to remove the axles. The pin is held in place by a small (6 MM I think) bolt. Use a little heat and the bolt will back out nicely. A new bolt is in the Help section at Auto Zone complete with thread lock. Second is the emergency brakes...good luck! The e-brake is a top hat design with brake shoes and is activated by a lever and, of course, independent of the disc system. Aftermarket shoes are cheap and I could not get them to work. The OEM Ford ones will work..sort of. I've talked to others who also have trouble getting the e-bake to work reliably.

 

That's...impressive. I just learned after all these years you indeed CAN run unilug wheels with spacers. I would have lost that bet unless there was a mileage caveat. Hahaha!

I've never liked shank style lug nuts - BUT at least he had the proper offset washers for them.

 

You can find those rear ends in Ford Explorers, Mercury Mountaineers, and these bad boys, usually with a 3.55 or 3.73 posi.....

Oh, and as 33Willys pointed out, the park brakes do in fact suck on them! They also for some reason like to eat spider gears, but I'm not sure why?

 

wow interesting notes about the ebrake. i'll give it the ol college try and throw the towel in before it gets expensive. Thanks for the heads up on that!

 

TruckDoug, how much shorter is the 8.8 compared to the 10 bolt? Also, I was thinking the exploders had a solid axle till 04, just not. I haven't seen to many in the you pull it yards lately, or I just haven't been looking for them, but I usually think about the 8.8 with disc brakes.

Stampede.

 

So now we're suddenly going to have a rash of missing mail trucks... or at least mail trucks with missing rear axles when the supply of solid axle Explorers starts to run dry. Hahaha!!!

 

 

the stock squarebody rear is 64" and the explorer is 59.5" I have considered going back for another complete axle and making a long axle out of two long side tubes and shafts. I'll have to see how it fits in there first. I'm concerned with how close the leafs on the square will be to the brake hoses and calipers since the spring perch width is about 3" wider overall on the square.

 

Love the budget builds! If you did get another rear and took the long side axle, you could then take the two short sides you have and narrow the second one and sell it that way. Seems most people these days are getting the explorer rears and cut the long side.

 

hah! I didnt even think of that.

looking at it now, it looks like the axle tube is swedged in there and then plugged with some sort of friction weld...it's in there really good! it might be easier to splice in a section than it is to swap the whole tube.

but I pulled the spring pads and moved them outboard. it might still work at stock width.

​​​​​​

 

I had one narrowed (for a project that didn't come to fruition). The guys at the shop said it was easier to simply remove a section mid-tube rather than try to remove the tube from the pumpkin. The same might hold true in reverse (splicing-in a section of tube).

If you search Youtube for "narrowed ford 8.8" there are quite a few videos detailing the narrowing process.

 

yeah thats what I suspected. But I think I'm in the clear. I'll have to reroute the brake soft lines from the calipers to their hard points but other than that I think it's all gonna fit.

this is a 15x10 small ford pattern from stockton wheel, similar to the wheel vintiques style 62. it has a lot of positive offset unfortunately, so I have plan for that

​​​​​​

 

 

timing is everything, but don't wait forever! life is incredibly short.

 

Something we 100% agree on. Cool build.

Andrew

 

Hi Andrew, GTO v2 is looking to be killer. I have learned to take constructive criticism a little better. I hope you'll accept my apologies for being rude to you before.

 

Thanks for the compliment.

As they say, "water under the bridge!"

No apologies needed...I may owe you one. I tend to be direct and come off strong.

Keep up the good work. I am looking forward to more progress on this truck.
There is a really nice one that is running around town. Looks to be all original with faded paint. It would make a great candidate for a swap.

Andrew