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Jeep Cherokee Ford 8.8 Rear Axle Swap - Project Ain't It Grander

Part 4: Swapping a Ford 8.8 rear axle
By Willie Worthy
Photography by Willie Worthy
Jeep Cherokee Ford 88 Axle Axle Parts
Here is all the "stuff" off... 
   
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Jeep Cherokee Ford 88 Axle Axle Parts
Here is all the "stuff" off the ZJ that we discarded in favor of the Ford 8.8 and T&T Customs suspension pieces.
Jeep Cherokee Ford 88 Axle Ford 88 Rear End
This is what the Ford 8.8... 
   
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Jeep Cherokee Ford 88 Axle Ford 88 Rear End
This is what the Ford 8.8 rearend looked like after it was taken from the donor Explorer.
Jeep Cherokee Ford 88 Axle Set Pinion Angle
With all the original brackets... 
   
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Jeep Cherokee Ford 88 Axle Set Pinion Angle
With all the original brackets removed and a light coat of primer on the 8.8, we set the pinion angle at 15 degrees. The coil buckets, as well as the truss, which will also serve as the platform for the upper control-arm mounts, were then set level. Note the skidplate on the bottom of the housing and the welding where the axletubes join the housing.
Jeep Cherokee Ford 88 Axle Differential
Motive Gear made an acceptable... 
   
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Jeep Cherokee Ford 88 Axle Differential
Motive Gear made an acceptable pattern without a whole lot of setup problems when bolted onto our Eaton electric locker. The wires you see will go through the differential cover.
Jeep Cherokee Ford 88 Axle Suspension
This is actually the first-generation... 
   
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Jeep Cherokee Ford 88 Axle Suspension
This is actually the first-generation suspension that we ended up making modifications to. Note the angle the springs are on due to the rearend being set back for tire clearance in the fenderwell. We corrected this the second time around with some offset coil buckets.

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