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General Articles - Product Reviews


Complete Ford 8.8 Install Kit For TJ Wrangler

Article written by Suave

Date Added: 01/10/2010

Swapping out a Ford 8.8 Rear end seems like a huge undertaking, but with this Install kit from kNOw Where 2Jeep, it takes the guess work out of trying to piece together a kit from scratch.

After the Tellico mountains claimed yet another victim, specifically our Trussed/Super D35, it was time for something new. This time we took many months trying to locate all of the specific parts needed for a Ford 8.8 swap into a 2000 TJ.
What you need for an 8.8 install: The first order of business is to track down an axle for the swap. You need to find one out of a ?95 or later Ford Explorer. These have disc brakes, 31 spline shafts, and some have limited slip carriers. They also come in various gear ratios, 3.73:1 and 4:10:1, so you may be able to get out of changing the Ring and Pinion gears to match your Jeep.

Of course you are going to need brackets to weld onto the new axle. A few different companies make bracket kits (Rubicon Express, M.O.R.E. and Teraflex), but the problem is they are made for either a D35 or a D44. With the larger tube diameter on the 8.8?, these will need to be ground down some to fit properly.

You may be lucky and get calipers with your axle. If you do then great, but you will need brake line adapters for those calipers. Ooops those don?t come with the bracket kit, so you?re going to have to head over to Currie Enterprises for their brake kit with hoses, banjo bolts, clips, etc.. to make the Ford calipers work on your Jeep.

But wait, what about the emergency brake cables? Sorry, those are also a separate item. Luckily you can order them from a '95 ZJ and they will fit the 8.8, but again they?re not included with your other two kits already ordered.

Oh, didn?t we mention you need to convert the flange style attachment on the 8.8? to the regular yoke like the Jeep has. Guess you?d better place yet another separate order. Don?t forget the 12mm x 1.75 thread 12 point flange bolts.

With everything in mind we were feeling a little overwhelmed at what we were getting ourselves into. Then along came Eric at kNOw Where 2Jeep. He had a kit that included dang near everything we needed in one place, for less money than buying the parts separately.

What the kit includes, and individual prices if purchased separately:

*Solid Axle Ford 8.8 Diff Cover $124.74
*Currie Disc Brake Hose Kit $36.95
*Dana Spicer Driveshaft Flange Adapter (Fits 1310 u-joint) $21.80
*Crown Jeep ZJ Emergency Brake Cables $44.40
*Laser Cut 3/16" steel coil spring cups
*Laser Cut 3/16" steel sway bar and track bar mounts
*Laser Cut 3/16" shock mounts
*Laser Cut 3/16" steel control arm mounts $319.95 (Rubicon Express)

Total for all the individual parts: $547.84

The new and improved kit from kNow Where 2Jeep: $455.00.

You save almost $100 not to mention the amount of time you save not having to track down all the individual pieces. We were so impressed we just had to have one.

Stay tuned for the installation on our TJ. But until then we just couldn't wait to get the word out about the great kits available from Eric. He also has complete kits for Ford 8.8 conversions to a YJ and a CJ.

**** Update from Manufacturer Now included: Four 12mm x 1.75 thread 12-point flange bolts with each kit. The prices for all the 8.8 kits are coming down $30, so the TJ kit will be $425, XJ $305, and YJ $265. Ground shipping, including truck freight, is $5 flat rate on all orders to the contiguous 48 states. TJ kit is $430 to your door!

Final Thoughts

This was definitely one of our better finds over the past few years. As you will see in a future article our D35 to Ford 8.8 install was seemingly flawless with this perfect piece of workmanship and all of the parts associated with this kit.

Purchase / Vendor Info

Vendor Name: kNOw Where 2Jeep
Address: 10 Marianne Drive
Suite 101
York, PA 17406
Phone: (717) 739-8029
Contact Person: Eric Wirkus
E-Mail Address:
Website: www.knowwhere2jeep.com
 

Our Thank You's!

Thanks to Eric for allowing us the opportunity to take a look at his product and show it to all of you.
 


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