Topic: Anyone running SUA 8.8?

[rcrovo1]

Hey folks,
want to put a ford 8.8 under my jeep but had a few questions. First of all my jeep is a 95 2.5 with a 4 inch RE standard lift (SUA). running stock driveshafts with a tc drop. I have read some of the articles about installing the rear and came across one that said the stock driveshaft would have to be shortened about 1.5" to work. can anyone confirm this? if this is true do you think a 1" mml and moving the tc back up would alleviate the problem? if not can you think of anyway to make the stock driveshaft work? also did anyone reuse the stock spring perches that came on the axle and just move them? i know there are some who have already done this swap and i appreciate all the help you guys can offer.
thanks
robert

[might4banger]

I am running an 8.8 sua with a RE 4" std. lift... but I have a SYE and CV shaft and the MORE spring perches. I ran a stock staft with an 8.8 and no lift... had other probs and went to the current set up.

All I can say is measure twice and cut once! Watch the pinion angle as well... I used a local drive shaft shop for the cv shaft and yoke adapter to the 8.8 mounting flange.

[rcrovo1]

you say you ran it with no lift and the stock shaft...and this worked fine? what problems did you have that made you go sye and cv ds? if the stock shaft worked with no lift i dont see why it wouldnt work with the 4'' lift and tc drop. guess ill have to try and see what happens.

[might4banger]

Probs... I broke a bump stop off and fully compressed the rear suspension... broke the mainshaft in the transfer case.

I think you will have some serious angles to deal with if you run a RE 4" lift and a stock DS.

[jagular7]

When you swap in a different rear axle and plan to use the stock rear shaft, you do have to take into account the difference in the location of the rear ds joint. That's because the rear ds has a given length. It slips in/out off the end of the tcase output shaft. The slip itself is 3-4" long. The more length in contact through the slip teeth, the more surface area contact, the less potential for vibrations and breakage.

When I did my 8.8 in my TJ, I moved it as far back as possible. You can't get a finger between its diff cover and the gas tank, but there is a gap. Then when I added my stock rear ds, I added the flange necessary to bolt to the pinion flange of the 8.8. Installing it, I looked at the amount of travel on the output shaft of the tcase from the slip. I had just over an 1" which was little more than stock spacing. So I accepted it.

[BlackYJ]

I am running my 8.8 SUA with about 3" of lift and I had no problem with the stock driveshaft.  One of the sites listed the differences between the D35 and 8.8 and the pinions are almost the same length

[rcrovo1]

Thanks for the input...still thinking about it. kinda like the idea of an xj dana 44 for the swap to keep everything "Jeep" but i know the 8.8 is overall the stronger of the two. both seem to require about the same amount of work. glad to hear that i shouldnt have a problem with the driveshaft though.
bobby