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86 to 87 4x4 Swap

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fiftyfordfloored

86 to 87 4x4 Swap

So before I start work on the '83 or '81, I'm using the '86 for my 4x4 conversion to make use of all the spare parts I don't need. First step, renew the front axle and swap that under the 87. I figured I'd document the swap as most of the same parts apply to the '80-86 as well. The road so far...

Victim:

Donor:

1980 F100 --- 300/C6/9" - SOLD
1980 F250 --- Ranger 400/C6/D50/D60 - Parts Donor
1981 Bronco - ***/C6/9" - Current Project
1983 Bronco - 302/C6/8.8" - SOLD
1986 Bronco - 302/AOD/8.8 - Parted
1986 F250 --- 6.9idi/C6/10.25 - SOLD
1986 F250 --- 6.9idi/C6/10.25 - Parts Donor

Ferdinand

Re: 86 to 87 4x4 Swap

Good luck fiftyfordfloored!
I look forward to watching your progress!

Jamie Helmick
'85 Bronco 351W HO, C6, 4X4, Full rebuild @ 51k original miles (fire), Edelbrock air gap intake & 600 cfm carb. w/elec. choke. 4" RC lift w/35's. Check the Projects Page if you're interested.

Gary Lewis

Re: 86 to 87 4x4 Swap

Administrator

In reply to this post by fiftyfordfloored

Yep, good luck! I'm along for the ride, and it looks like it'll be a good one.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

Ford F834

Re: 86 to 87 4x4 Swap

Administrator

In reply to this post by fiftyfordfloored

I recently did this swap but did not rebuild the axle. It works fine but has noise and vibration at higher speeds. I’m interested to learn the rebuild process for future reference and I look forward to your updates... will you be transplanting the twin shocks and sway bar?

SHORT BED 4-DOOR DIESEL: 1986 F350 4x4 under construction-- 7.3 IDIT ZF5+GVOD

STRAIGHT SIX 4X4: 1981 F150 2wd to 4x4-- 300 I6 close ratio diesel T19, hydroboost brakes, Saginaw steering

BIG F: 1995 F-Superduty under construction— converting to 6.9L IDI diesel ZF5+DNE2

fiftyfordfloored

Re: 86 to 87 4x4 Swap

I'm not touching the third-member other then new inner axle seals and fluid. New joints and bushings and balljoints and the like I'm doing. Not swapping the quad shocks, and my truck already has a swaybar. I'll be using which ever one is the larger diameter but that's about it.

Steve83

Re: 86 to 87 4x4 Swap

Banned User

fiftyfordfloored wrote

...new inner axle seals and fluid.

While you have the passenger shaft out, I highly recommend swapping to a homemade spring retainer in the axle's inner groove:

It works great, and is essentially free.

This isn't free (the drill & tap cost me ~$35), but it's a good mod:

This makes alignments easier & cheaper:

fiftyfordfloored

Re: 86 to 87 4x4 Swap

Good advice, but why the home made retainer clip vs the stock one? My stocker is in good shape, but just in case it goes "ping" and is never to be seen again... I have another on order with my coil spring bolts.

Steve83

Re: 86 to 87 4x4 Swap

Banned User

fiftyfordfloored wrote

...why the home made retainer clip vs the stock one?

Because you have to get inside the diff to pull that shaft with the factory clip. But with the homemade one, the shaft pops out & back in like a modern CV shaft in a transaxle.

fiftyfordfloored

Re: 86 to 87 4x4 Swap

I thought that the stub axle was supposed to be fixed because of the spline drive the outer axle slides in and out of slightly as the passenger side travels up and down. I'd be concerned about yanking the stub out of the carrier.

Steve83

Re: 86 to 87 4x4 Swap

Banned User

It is, and that spring clip accomplishes it. It won't get pulled out while driving unless something happens that would have ripped the factory clip off, too.

fiftyfordfloored

Re: 86 to 87 4x4 Swap

So now is the perfect time to modify since everything is apart... Considering a 2 inch lift kit (nothing crazy). Any thoughts? Alignment nightmare? Does anyone have any pictures of a mostly stock truck on 31's with a 1.5-2 inch lift?

Steve83

Re: 86 to 87 4x4 Swap

Banned User

IDK why you'd lift a truck for a stock tire size - it's cheaper, easier, and rides & handles better at stock height. I run 33s with no lift.

fiftyfordfloored

Re: 86 to 87 4x4 Swap

That's true. I'm on the fence. I was thinking F250 springs because I do like to put this truck to work. That and I also like the lifted look that looks factory. If I put F250 badges on it, no one would know the difference at a glance.

PetesPonies

Re: 86 to 87 4x4 Swap

Not the way to get rid of the C-clips. There are ways to convert an 8.8 to hold an axle like a 9" does. That is safe and even race ready. Doing it the way suggested here is asking for trouble.

Pete's Ponies
Mustang RUSToration & Performance

1982 F100 Flareside
1983 Bronco

fiftyfordfloored

Re: 86 to 87 4x4 Swap

I just put in a new factory c-clip and put the axle stub back in with a new seal. I'm not really worried about the thing pulling out; my 4x4 needs are that of a daily driver to get me to work in the snow.

Steve83

Re: 86 to 87 4x4 Swap

Banned User

In reply to this post by PetesPonies

PetesPonies wrote

There are ways to convert an 8.8...

We're not talking about the 8.8" C-clips; we're talking about the 1 E-ring in the D44IFS.

PetesPonies

Re: 86 to 87 4x4 Swap

In reply to this post by fiftyfordfloored

Are you doing a 2wd to 4wd swap? I know on the earlier trucks the frame is different and this cannot be done.

Pete's Ponies
Mustang RUSToration & Performance

1982 F100 Flareside
1983 Bronco

fiftyfordfloored

Re: 86 to 87 4x4 Swap

1979 and prior it's a real pain and usually requires a frame graft/swap or a lot of welding. 1980-86 trucks just swap over, and '87-96 swap as well (bolt on). Sway bar setups change from '86-87 and so do the radius arms for some reason.

Steve83

Re: 86 to 87 4x4 Swap

Banned User

'80-96 (& '97 >8500GVWR) are essentially the same truck, so most parts swap between them.