Hey All,
This weekend I successfully swapped in a Ford 8.8 axle to replace my Dana 35C. I wrote a tech article about it for anyone that is interested in doing this.
-Brent Bogrees '89 Jeep Wrangler YJ 2.5L TBI ? 33x10.5 BFG MT's '94 Jeep Cherokee Sport 4.0L ? 31x10.5 BFG AT's
You have to give him credit for trying though. I don't believe that I have ever seen one welded together in the middle like that. The stock Wrangler drive shift is one of the shortest I have ever seen too, and this can create problems that removing an inch from the middle probably doesn't help with. I suspect from the side view picture of the drive shaft that the universal joint angles might be excessive now. This Wrangler might have a slip yoke eliminator in its future, especially if any sort of suspension lift is involved.
Still, nice job and nice web page. Maybe if I ever get bored, or get some spare time, or break the 35c I will do something like that.
Earle
none of your images show up for me on a Mac..... tried three different browsers
Its be the relative windows file paths
for example
should be
The pictures are fixed now, thanks for letting me know.
I've been driving the Jeep all week, and I have absolutely no vibration at all from the drive shaft. I think the drive shaft looks steeper than it really is in the pictures. I have a 2.5" lift with a
1" transfer case drop. The drive shaft angle is now smaller than it was before the swap because I was able to set the angle of the pinion before welding.A slip yoke eliminator or custom drive shaft is prolly the way to go, but when you are out in the boonies and got to drive home, you do your best. :) The drive shaft is just as straight as it was before I shortened it. I made sure to take my time with the alignment of the two pieces before welding them together. The drive shaft is just as strong as it was before if not more, plus, a shorter drive shaft has a greater cushion for error. That is how I at least rationalized cutting it.
I'll make sure and post again if I have any problems with it, but for now, things seem to be all good.
Later
-Brent Bogrees '89 Jeep Wrangler YJ 2.5L TBI ? 33x10.5 BFG MT's '94 Jeep Cherokee Sport 4.0L ? 31x10.5 BFG AT's
Hey Bill,
Well you know.. experience is something you don't get until just after you need it. :)
Judging from that website, it looks like a slip yoke eliminator would work out well with my setup, good to know.
-Brent Bogrees '89 Jeep Wrangler YJ 2.5L TBI ? 33x10.5 BFG MT's '94 Jeep Cherokee Sport 4.0L ? 31x10.5 BFG AT's
Hey Bill,
I took a picture of the driveshaft today from the side. The pinion angle looks parallel with the transfer case. I think the pictures before were from funny angles that gave an optical illusion of sorts.
-Brent Bogrees '89 Jeep Wrangler YJ 2.5L TBI ? 33x10.5 BFG MT's '94 Jeep Cherokee Sport 4.0L ? 31x10.5 BFG AT's
Brent look at the balancing weight which is readily apparent in your photo. Do you think that that weight is appropriate now given that you have lopped off an inch and a half from the middle of the shaft? For the love of God at least take the shaft to a shop with the equipment and expertise to fabricate drive shafts, and have a proper tubing welded into the middle of it.
Earle
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