Explorer 8.8 swap in 89 d50

89coltgt · Post by **89coltgt** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 1:58 am

I am swapping an explorer 8.8 into my 89 d50, this swap has been done in the past, but there is not much info out there that I have seen. The leaf spring perches are spaced apart the same as the mitsu rear, but the 8.8 is a bit wider. I machined new holes in the lower shock brackets and did some clearancing on the sides to allow a socket to fit. Anyhoo, here are some pics:

8.8 housing sitting in truck:

Modded lower shock mount vs stock:

89coltgt · Post by **89coltgt** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 2:20 pm

I installed my rotors and calipers. I mounted the prop valve on the spare tire crossmember so I could access it easier with the truck on the ground.

89coltgt · Post by **89coltgt** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 2:21 pm

Got the rear wheels/tires mounted up to see how much the tires stick out with the 8.8, it is not as much as I thought, keep in mind I am only running a 235 tire on there. Plans are to narrow the rear so I can tuck a 255 or larger tire in there. Fwiw, I ordered long lug nuts from Summit, they are a bit long, but they will work for now

I didn't mount the center caps yet either.

2.3strokdtalon · Post by **2.3strokdtalon** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 9:12 pm

Looks great! With a wheel that has a little bit more back spacing you could easily tuck a 255 tire in there. At least thats what it looks like from the pics.

89coltgt · Post by **89coltgt** » Thu Mar 11, 2010 7:33 am

2.3strokdtalon wrote:Looks great! With a wheel that has a little bit more back spacing you could easily tuck a 255 tire in there. At least thats what it looks like from the pics.

Yep, my wheels are 15X8 with a 5.5" backspacing. If you can find say a 6.5" backspacing, a 255 tire would tuck in a bit better. I personally like the slightly wider stance, but I would really like a 255 tire better.

89coltgt · Post by **89coltgt** » Thu Mar 11, 2010 7:55 pm

I made more progress on the truck today, ended up dropping the fuel tank and changed up a few things. I ended up moving the prop valve and made a bracket to mount it in the stock prop valve location and made up some brake lines. This is my first time making them, never had to on any other vehicles in the past. I may make a new line that goes to the rubber hose and put a loop in it, that one is pretty ridgid.

knuckshaft · Post by **knuckshaft** » Sun Mar 21, 2010 12:07 pm

still looks awesome I can't wait
to start my rearend swap