Explorer 8.8 swap on 72 f100

[Olejohnny]

Just installed the cv subframe. I have the 98 explorer reared complete with sway bar ublolts plates and leaf springs. I’ve seen where I can drill another hole to allow the factory leafs to line up. Could I use the set up I have now as a whine or assuming this will require the hangers to be relocated? What’s best/easiest option?

[Aerocoupe]

Unless your stock rear springs are shot I will caution you that you will need to remove sixteen rivets to remove the stock leaf spring perches which is a bit of work if you do not have the tools. I used a metabo type cutting disc to cut an X in them almost to the frame, then used an air chisel to cut the heads off and then used a pry bar to remove the perches. I then ground the body of the rivets flush to the frame and then punched them out. I might have been able to torch them out but I was concerned with gouging the frame as my torching skills are not that great.

I have not seen anyone use the Explorer leaf springs as all the swaps I have seen reused the F100 leaf springs or some kind of three or four link but that's not to say it hasn't been done. My only concern would be the spring rate of the Explorer springs causing the rear to be too high or too low but spacers between the axle and the spring and/or drop hangers would solve either of those problems. You would just have to get the frame level and hang a plumb bob of each side of the frame where the centerline of the axle needs to be and then locate the Explorer 8.8 leaf spring perches. Typically the centerline is based on the bolt holes for the bumper snubbers directly above the stock axle.

The only other issue might be the shock mounting but after removing the rivets to get the upper shock mounts off my truck frame I would just leave them alone. Better way would be to see if you get lucky and the ones on the Explorer axle actually line up or just cut them off and put new lower mounts on the 8.8 axle that line up with the stock mounts on the frame.

From here it would be plumbing up the brake hydraulics and figuring out how to connect the Explorer e-brake cables to the stock cable from the e-brake pedal of the F100. Again, this has already been done so you should be able to research that and find a way.

[Aerocoupe]

I knew there was someone on here that did this very swap but he reused the F100 springs like most do. What made me look for his thread was I seemed to remember that the Explorer u-bolt brackets were used. He found a shock that worked length wise and the Explorer lower shock mount on the u-bolt bracket line up with the stock F100 upper bracket mounted to the frame.

http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... plorer+8.8