F150/Bronco TTB

[rdc]

I have never been able to get a straight answer on this. Can I swap a Dana 44 TTB from a Bronco or F150 into my Explorer? I'm planning an engine swap, and I'd like some stronger drivetrain components, I was even thinking about a Dana 44HD TTB or a Dana 50 TTB. Can the fullsize TTB's be swapped in and how much work is it? I'd like to swap in a fullsize TTB, then cut-and-turn for 4" of lift and run 35's under fiberglass.

David - No one of consequence.

[Mike_HKmtrsprts]

I know Jerry Penhall from Penhall Fabrication did it, Im sure it was alot of work but I would call him, I think on his he just switched beams only not the transfer case. 949-650-3035

If you must burn our flag...
please wrap yourself in it first

[rdc]

I don't want the transfercase - just the TTB axle assembly.


David - No one of consequence.

[Jerry Zaiden]

The diff. is much larger on the f-150/Bronco. It will hit the crossmember when you bottom out. If you are going to build beams wider just use the Dana 35 Beams. I have seen Jerry Penhall's Ranger he did put fullsize beams on it, call him and ask him what had to be done to do this. 949-650-3035

[rdc]

That's the thing though - I don't want just the extra width, I also want the stronger diffy. I'm going to run this behind a built 4.9L I6, so strength is an issue, and I'm a little uneasy about how well the d35 will handle it. I had heard that Currie used to offer a narrowed D44 TTB for use under a Ranger, I don't see why I couldn't do something simliar without narrowing it.

David - No one of consequence.

[DMSRACE]

I have a 4x4 ranger with the Dana 35. I have been pre-running races for 4 years in that thing. NO problems what so ever, and I have stuffed the sh!@ out of it a few times. I do no not think you need the bigger one, to much $ for what you are really getting.


Kevin

Racer

[jeff]

I have to ask why you want to build up the I6? Just wanna be different? I'm trying to think of a benefit to replacing whatever you've got with an I6... but I can't. I'm not dogging your intentions, I'm just curious what is driving you to swap an I6 instead of using a built V6 or V8.

Aloha

[Chris_Wilson]

Depends if you also use low range to crawl around thru big rocks.
The D44 is stronger and I had one in my Ranger. Kurt at Race Design
did it. It cleared the frame and crossmember. We took a full size D44
and narrowed it a few inches so it was only 4" over width. 33x12.5
tires fit great inside Autofab glass. Call Kurt for construction details.
Here be a picture.

[Chris_Wilson]

Here's another pic of a built D44 but in a full size.
This one has 18" front travel and is a bulletproof
suspension. The drive axles can still break at
the u-joints but I'm having billet parts made to fix that.

[Chris_Wilson]

One last pic.

[John_Bitting]

Chris who built your frontend??

[heavy8]

John,
Not sure if chris had his font end built at Race Design but, I would give them a call. They have alot of experience, experience, experience with beam font ends, and there prices are resonable. They also build great bullet proof crossover steering. They are located in El cajon but well worth the drive.

[Chris_Wilson]

Curt LeDuc on the 8 truck, Kurt Schottenmelm (Race Design) on the Ranger.
Spirit build up a bad arse TTB 4WD also.

[John_Bitting]

This may be naive but who is spirt?

[Chris_Wilson]

Ditto on Race Design. Kurt really knows is stuff on these. They work great in the dirt,
I don't know why more prerunners don't use a TTB 4wd setup. It's fun to drive fast and
it's nice to be able to go anywhere and stop anywhere and not be stuck.

[jarreptolson]

Just my opinion but i would call up camburg and get some of their extended beams(1600) and then get currie to set up some custom axles, rather than getting them cut and extended. A lot easier than going threw the trouble of setting up a dana44 to clear your truck. I dont know how much your I6 is pushing but the dana 35 is a strong unit if you upgrade to some aftermarket hubs and whatnot. Dont try and reinvent the wheel here the dana 35 is a proven piece of machinery so i would stick with it, it doesnt sound like you would be spinning much more HP's than a beefed up 4.0L. So KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid), just my 2cents.

[Chris_Wilson]

Who is Spirit? Are you new? Steve Spirkoff. Been around forever, done lots of
factory deals, RoughRiders, etc. Remember the Spirit tractor trailer that served as
one of the BFG pits for years? Mostly he builds and digs old Chevy hot rods now.
But he still does plenty of desert truck stuff. He still does the LASD Ranger.
He has a great race prep record. He does a lot of TTB 4wd conversions on vans.
He built the latest fleet of CART safety trucks. And his kid Jeremy knows a thing or two
about designing/building/racing trucks too. Jeremy is tied for first place in the BITD
stock full in a truck of his own creation. The pictures of the trucks that have been
thru Steve's hands reads like a who's who of offroad racing.

[John_Bitting]

Just did not know if it was the same place.. I read the article on Jeremy on Off-Road.com. He is really fast in that truck..

[Jerry Zaiden]

Jason is going to put a V8 in his Explorer. He is going to keep the Dana 35 beams, they will work fine. They are also way lighter. As for the Axles we are not having Currie build them, their axles are nice but not even close to what we are doing. The axle we are having built are $1200 and are a complete new design. We have a larger slip joint, Jason's Explorer get over 20" of travel. I think he limits it to 18-20. I will have more pics of it on the Camburg site soon.

Here is a pic I posted a few weeks ago.

Dana 35 I-beam 4" wider.

http://www.camburg.com/images/4x4rangerbeam.jpg

[rdc]

Why the I6? Mostly to be different, and the nice flat torque curve for slow going on the rocks. I don't just rockcrawl, and after carefully considering my needs, a built TTB is what I need.

Jerry - Those beams are hellacious. I don't doubt the strength of the D35 in high-range 4x4, but what about when I'm takin' it slow on the rocks? I intend to do that sometimes too. Do you think the D35 can handle a built 300 (4.9L) even in low range? I'm thinking of using the Dana 20 t-case, since I don't need the extreme low of an Atlas II.

David - No one of consequence.

[Kritter]

Jerry. Are you changing to a larger slip joint due to binding? I figure if you widen each side 4" you cant just put in a 4" longer shaft because it jsut doesn't work that way, but if you lengthen the yoke it would give more lee-way and you could run a shorter shaft without binding problems...is that the idea, Jason's?



Waiting for a response on that PM. I will call you tomorrow if no response.

Kris

"Revenge is best served cold"

[Jerry Zaiden]

For a crawler, just put in a streight axle. That would be you cheepest strongest way to do it. Call off-road Unlimited. They do this kind of work.

[Ryno]

Jerry-

Sorry to say this...But I wouldn't refer anyone to ORU. They are a bunch of schiesters if you ask me, and a bunch of people I know. I say this based on a couple things...15K jobs, with a pro comp kit, a chrome diff cover, and tires and wheels. Come on now....Want a straight axle? Sure, they'll do it for 10k. That is insane!! I understand everyone has to make money, but being rude with customers, overcharging, and putting on crappy components on a 40k suburban? Sorry, I've got better people to spend the $$$ with. If you want a solid axle, try Strictly Performance in Newbury Park. Very knowledgeable, very upfront.

Ryno

Build it like a Rhino, and Leave it be.

[rdc]

I thought about a liveaxle front end, but I looked at my needs, and I don't crawl much at all, but I want the capability. I seriously assessed what I like to do off-road, and a properly set up TTB is my best choice.

David - No one of consequence.

[sirhk100]

Bislam,
Is there room in the engine compartment for a I6? I've always understood your idea of building it kinda overkill so that you don't have to worry when the time comes to mash the peddle through the rough but now you've lost me on the I6. Those motors are great and torquey as hell but do you really want that over a built V6 or small block V8?

'99YZ400,
'92 Ford Exploder lifted work in progress,
lifted golf cart

[rdc]

I've looked into this - It will fit, with some work. I'm willing to do the work, so it's not a big deal. I really wanted to build up the 4.0, but unless an AOD adapter comes out soon, that's not happening. I need a strong 4-speed auto to put behind it. A 302 was the original plan, but the I6 would, imho, be much cooler, as well as serve quite well.

[EDIT] Oh yeah - Khris, over at explorerforum.com there's a thread about this under conversions - check it out. <P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by BislamJoe on 11/29/01 11:36 AM (server time).</FONT></P>

[DougM]

If you want a solid axle AND an I-6 the only way to go is ditch the X for a Jeep Cherokee or Grand Cherokee. That I-6 is probably the best and torquiest I-6 around, (besides the new GM Trailblazer) not to mention all the aftermarket parts and HESCO stroker kits to bump it up to 300hp/ 4.6L.
Stock that I6 has 190hp. easy to work on and easily upgraded

my .03

[sirhk100]

Bislam,
Doug is making a good point!! I know you're in love with your Explorer but a Cherokee would definately be a way to go. Slap a Dana 44 full width front and back under it mounted to some coilovers up front with lengthened control arms. Get a set of race pack leafs in the back with some reservoir shocks and you're ready to haul ass!!! Cut the fenders or get some glass and you'll be set. I saw some AWESOME straight axle Toyotas at Glamis last week on Coilover front ends that were hauling ass everywhere!!

Doug,
Have you ever seen a BRIGHT yellow Cherokee that used to Run around Poway. That was my friends but he sold it a while back. He'd swapped in a Dana 44 with ARBs front and rear, 4.56 gears, and a Tomken extreme travel kit. That thing cruised through the Rubicon better then our CJ7.

'99YZ400,
'92 Ford Exploder lifted work in progress,
lifted golf cart

[rdc]

Thing is - I don't want a live axle. Thought about it, decided against it. I want a TTB. For the engine, if I can mate a strong 4-speed auto to my 4.0L, I'll not bother with an engine swap.

David - No one of consequence.

[jarreptolson]

Advanced adapters sells an adapter to fit an AOD to a 4.0 and you can keep your original transfercase and driveshafts.

[rdc]

They do now? I know that there were rumors of one, but no one ever found it for sure. Knowing that, I might just rebuild and supercharge the 4.0, then mount an AOD and Dana 20 (the BW 1354 isn't strong enough, imho)

David - No one of consequence.

[Ryno]

Khris-

I remember seeing that Cherokee everywhere. I lived in Poway for 10 years. Do you remember a blue one with 32" swampers? I don't remember who owned the Cherokee though.

Ryno

Build it like a Rhino, and Leave it be.

[DougM]

Khris, dont remember a yellow Cherokee but doesnt mean anything, I miss alot of things..
I see a ton of prerunners/ wannabes in Poway all the time.
My friend Robert probably has one of the best working prerunners up there, a Yellow Toyota with Ranger I-beams and full glass/cage etc. very nice truck and works nicely.

[sirhk100]

This guys Cherokee was definately not for prerunning, it was more at home in the rocks then on the pavement. The slower the better!!! The crazy part is he let it go for $8000 and I think he had $10K into + the price of the vehicle.

'99YZ400,
'92 Ford Exploder lifted work in progress,
lifted golf cart