Has anybody used two short explorer axles in a explorer housing with explorer brakes?.

I wanted to keep using 31 spline axles and the larger bearings so i used the explorer housing and Hiltsys' mount.

By my measurements my rear is 2.5 inches approx shorter on each side. Question is what size spacers were necessary to use camaro wheels. I actually am doing this for a third gen. I can't find a post of anyone doing this.

 

some one should do a sticky for a 8.8 .

 

The Explorer rear axle has the pinion offset to the passenger side 2-1/16" so if you make the axles even you will end up shifting the housing to the drivers side causing the tq arm to be too close if not hit the rear floor.

 

i think he wants to cut the drivers side down and use 2 passenger side axles and center the pinion in the rear.
op, if you have the original housing and the explorer housing you can take a measurement from pinion to axle flange and the difference is the spacer width.

 

I know this old but just a update. I originally had a 82 camaro for my 8.8 explorer project with two short axles and stock explorer brakes, was going to use my Prostars and cut the bump stops and made tubular control arms.

Well the car is sold and the engine and drive train stayed with me. I bought a clean, rust free, 1996 Camaro with only 122000 Kms. So the problem came that I had a way too short rear end because I am not tubbing a rust free car... so..

I cut the axle tubes off the 8.8 that I had the 10 bolt brackets welded to and chucked them to the side. Left about 5 inches on each side and using a spare explorer 8.8 I had I cut the tubes off that and started from scratch.

New Panhard box was made, I already had Moser lower torque arm relocation brackets so I made some extensions to weld it to the axles and still have to make my shock mounts and the pass spring perch.

Reason I kept the old 8.8 center is because I already had it welded with a Hiltsy (thanks again) mount and didn't want to go through that again, plus I already had explorer brakes, new not used, and I wanted to say on a budget and get cheap axles from a explorer. One was given to me, I need to buy another for $40 bux.

So the new rear will have its tubes welded on tonight, cuts were made with a plumbing industrial tubing cutter, butt welded with a stick welder. New overall length is almost 62 inches, axle flange to axle flange plus .5 inch for rotors... My current rims have the wrong backspacing but will work in my favor with the shorter rear end... may need a spacer. For the Track I plan on using 6 inch backspacing Chev Blazer 4x4 rims with drag radials.


I'll post pics of the finished product... this is a great solution for those who don't want a mini-tub and want wider rims or use spacer... I recommend custom rims... as I will have in the future..

 

Let's see some pics!!!

 

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old 383 stroker
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First pic is the shortened 8.8 with two short axles

 

Ive done several. Running two short side axles , mini tubbed , 15x10 3.5 bs wheels, offset lca's tucking 275/60/15 drag radials

 

I have several pics

 

few more

 

Contact me if you want to know anything else.

 

what year car are you going to use it in?

 

Cant....I looked at both your 8.8 builds for some time, I love the look of the dished wheel but I'm not cutting anything. If I do another it's gonna be a short-short rear with the 3.5 bs custom rims.

Gonna use it in my 1996 Camaro. We just got the tubes welded on tonight and unless it's a optical illusion it looks like it has a slight bend. I'll have to get another axle shaft for the other side to determine if it's square.

 

you can do it by just removing the bump stops and bfh everything.

 

Well butt welding the tubes failed, two of the sides are off towards the front of the car by 3/16 of a inch. I don't know what to do now, i suppose I can cut them off and try to find a DOM tube to slide in it... so bummed right now...

Cant... not cutting bump stops or using a hammer on anything... i think lol. Meanwhile if i put a carb in i'll have to cut the cowl... **thinking**

 

Really hated to do it, I cut the axle tubes off again. Going to use ranger axle tubes as sleeves. This should keep everything straight this time and prevent warping due to the heat. I don't have a trueing kit here so I have to use what I have. It's just so cold here now with snow that going to a junk yard for tubes is out of the question till we get warmer weather.

 

Not really an accurate method but you could try using the axles to get the tubes aligned. The splines have clearance so the axle will have some movement when installed in the carrier but I still think that's a better method than just aligning the axle tubes.

 

thanks for the advice Hiltsy, but we did that, welded the tubes with the axles in.

 

You need 10 bolt tubes? I could cut some off and sell/ship them to you, but shipping would be pricey. I've got a pile of killed 10 bolts.lol