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8.8, what should I do?


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A couple bits of advice/tricks to welding the tubes to the cast housing. If you can, try to pre-heat the metal. Use either a high silica mild steel wire or 312L Stainless wire if you can, they are more forgiving and less prone to cracking when the weld cools and the tube and cast housing retract at different rates. Lastly, and it's harder to do with something so big, is finding a way to control the weld cooling. If you use the first two tips, this one shouldn't matter as much, but just be aware that welding mill steel on to cast can be a bit of a pain in the rear.

Ya I've seen some videos about that. Thanks for the help

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  • 3 weeks later...

Just got the ruff stuff simple swap lot and I got the spring perches all measured out but do I do the same with the shock mounts? Should they just be level with the bottom of the tube? Thanks

 

My setup, depends on shock length, full droop (with wheels and tires) then - 1" that's where I'd weld them.

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Just got the ruff stuff simple swap lot and I got the spring perches all measured out but do I do the same with the shock mounts? Should they just be level with the bottom of the tube? Thanks

 

My setup, depends on shock length, full droop (with wheels and tires) then - 1" that's where I'd weld them.

 

^That. Let the axle hang on the springs and fully extend the shocks.  Then set the mount position so that it is not quite at max extension with the axle at full droop (like his - 1 inch example).

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Is there anyway to set it up all before hand? like not having to take out the dana 35 id like to paint it when its out of the truck and i don't have my new lift yet so it will be awhile before i actually put it in. How long would it take to pull a 35 and put it back in?

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The hardware kit would be used to replace the adjusters and springs on the e-brake, if it were mine I would put all new brakes on it. At least check you adjuster to make sure it is not froze up. The cables can be had cheaper at your local parts store. I used ZJ cables and I paid like 16 or 17 dollars apiece at advance auto

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So i got my spring perches spaced out to the correct length. from outside to outside my springs are like 44.75 apart. so thats how far apart i put my new perches from the outside to the outside. Then I put my perch angle level with the housing at 0 degrees. I'm going to use shims to set pinion angle. Does this all sound correct? I'm trying to set all this up without pulling the dana 35, so thats why i want to use shims. Are they ok to use? thanks y'all

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For the time it takes to weld the perches on, I'd just wait until you're ready to swap the 8.8 in. I guess I really don't see any problems with shims, but they'd just be more parts that just don't absolutely need to be in there is all. You wouldn't have to measure out your spring spacing either. Just drop it in, measure hub to spring to center it, set the angle, and then weldy-weldy.

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For the time it takes to weld the perches on, I'd just wait until you're ready to swap the 8.8 in. I guess I really don't see any problems with shims, but they'd just be more parts that just don't absolutely need to be in there is all. You wouldn't have to measure out your spring spacing either. Just drop it in, measure hub to spring to center it, set the angle, and then weldy-weldy.

I just want to do the swap myself and I dot have anyone that can bring a welder to me. So I think I'll just do shims if they are ok

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I'd love to get a welder but I don't have the money and I want to do the actual swap on a weekend cause I need to be able to drive to school. How long would I take to pull out the d35 and put in the 8.8 to set spring perches and shocks and then put the d35 back in? Would I be able to do that in a weekend?

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I'd love to get a welder but I don't have the money and I want to do the actual swap on a weekend cause I need to be able to drive to school. How long would I take to pull out the d35 and put in the 8.8 to set spring perches and shocks and then put the d35 back in? Would I be able to do that in a weekend?

 

Sounds like a few hours of work to me. Something else to keep in mind is that I wouldn't reuse the u-bolts if you plan on taking the 35 out and then putting it back in. Either way, if time, space, or a welder is an issue, then use steel shims like Pete said.

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I'd love to get a welder but I don't have the money and I want to do the actual swap on a weekend cause I need to be able to drive to school. How long would I take to pull out the d35 and put in the 8.8 to set spring perches and shocks and then put the d35 back in? Would I be able to do that in a weekend?

Sounds like a few hours of work to me. Something else to keep in mind is that I wouldn't reuse the u-bolts if you plan on taking the 35 out and then putting it back in. Either way, if time, space, or a welder is an issue, then use steel shims like Pete said.
Cool thanks and I got the ruff stuff swap so I got all new u bolts
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And so because I'm shimming the pinion angle and get the spring perches welded on at 0 deg. Should I get the spring perches welded on around 3 degrees? I know it's gonna be somewhere around there and a little more but not sure. Is it worth guessing a bit or just doing it all with shims?

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