LUVTruck.com

i was reading some "How to" articles on s10's and i came across this one about rear ends....it seems like it would work a-ok on a LUV without too much fabrication and mods, but i am far from knowing what i am talking about.

http://s-series.org/Sections-article65-p1.html

basically wondering how hard it would be to fit this rear end under a luv???


thanks

well it should be just like putting it in an s10. the luv and s10 spring widths are the same, so the exploder rearend should be just as easy as the s10.

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"but its that gut feeling of you're drawn to what feels right for yourself and what you're passionate about..."

3" wider on each side. Drum and disc brakes depending on year explorer.

http://24.16.249.197/axleswap/index.htm

Some of them make up on the extra width with the offset on the wheels.

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75 Luv, 350 V8, TH350, Camaro rearend. New 1975 Luv Step side. Stock for now.
Grandmaster of the "Shade Tree" way.. I can't see the yard for all the cars. Come on down and we will sit on the porch and watch the grass grow.

that is the same one i looked at....

alrighty.....the gears in the explorer rear ends is just about what i want..and i am sure that i can find a place to change it to a 6 lug to match. mainly just keeping my options open..so i can jump on a deal if i come across one

thanks
anthony

try a ranger ass end my lil brother in colorado DESTROYED his and slapped a ranger ass in his exploder and it fit fine 8.8 i belive mustang,pinto, maverick, mustbang II and others if im not mistaken
i know his ring was in seven peices in the pumpkin.

yeah baby 69 posts haha

Very cool! I have been running a 98 Exploder rear under my Nova, the whole thing was less than $800 bucks (I had it narrowed, and moved the spring perches) and it has 3.73's a posi, 31 spline axles and I run tens on it, and sub 1.6 short times with no problem. This is the new ford 9" - and it is catching on fast. If anyone is swapping one in a LUV let me know, I have lots of info on these rears. The 95 and later years have disc brakes, that act as axle retention in the event you break an axle. In 2001 they went to an independent 8.8 rear. There is a very handy low buck narrowing trick to narrow the rear about 3". Very solid rearend IMO

D

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LUV Truck Desserter!
76 Daily driver (SOLD)
73 LUV (rusting away at the moment)
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63 Nova
74 Camaro

Mustang II, Mavs & other small Ford products of that era had 7.5 or 8" rears. No 8.8s back then. There was a Ford car back then that had a narrow 9" but its imposible to find one from what I hear.

Derek whats involved with changing the 8.8 to both short sided axles and tubes? I remember you telling me someting about it a while back. Did you do it your self or have it done at a shop? Im still fighting the stupid nissan rear end, now that I have finally figured out what I have the drive line shop is trying tell me they dont make the u-joint I need anymore to replace the one I broke.

Well you just get an extra passenger side axle Mike over at viking just gave me one (from 91-01 explerer) and I had Wayne at gear connection narrow the driver side tube ($150), which will require a new bearing (about $15 bucks) and then Mike at reaction chassis welded the new spring perches on ($175) and setup the pinion angle, and welded on brake hose brackets. All in all I think I have about $750 in it with new brakes, fluid, cut the rotors, new studs, and all labor and the cost of the rear. Not bad considering a 9" is about $1500 to 1700 complete with new axles narrow, bearings, gears, locker, etc.....

Derek

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LUV Truck Desserter!
76 Daily driver (SOLD)
73 LUV (rusting away at the moment)
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63 Nova
74 Camaro

Now that is some good info I could use. I have been wondering about who to have do stuff like that when I get ready. Every one I have talked to around here says take it to Chuck Lahorg and I didnt want to. I am trying to remember the width of the 8.8 isnt it like 57 inches and then 3 inches narrower when you change the axles?

I want to say the stock length (drum to drum or rotor to rotor) is 59.5", with the poor mans narrow it is about 57" wide, not quite 3" shorter, more like 2.5 or 2.750. Now can that fit under a LUV? im not sure! I would think it would be tight. Mike over at reaction can do all the work for you actualy, and he is very helpful with chassis setup. He even shows up out at the track and will help debug any traction problems too, good guy. My 8.8 was the first one he has done.

Later
D

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LUV Truck Desserter!
76 Daily driver (SOLD)
73 LUV (rusting away at the moment)
---------------------------------------------
63 Nova
74 Camaro

If I remember correctly after crawling under my truck numerous with a tape measure and a can of carb cleaner to keep the black weirdos off me, the measurement from drum to drum on my worthless nissan rear end is 57 inches. My truck has the stock mag looking wheels on it Im exactly sure of the tire size right off hand but the tires only stick out past the wheel opening a little bit. Im sure if I sat down and did a little but of calculating I could get different wheels with the right back spacing and still fit a pretty half way decent tire. Im on way to pick peel in a little while gotta see if I cant get a $9.99 fender LOL.

wow 9.99! Get me one ok? lol Let me know if they have any LUV front end stuff... Im headed to the track with my son to piss off the tech guy some more (hopefully Paul will be teching, he is always "distracted" when my et's pop up on the board lol

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LUV Truck Desserter!
76 Daily driver (SOLD)
73 LUV (rusting away at the moment)
---------------------------------------------
63 Nova
74 Camaro

LOL. I heard pick and peel is having a sale this weekend any hood,fender, door and bumper is like 10 bucks.