Sad about good MPG

[elhigh]

Subbed. I am riveted to hear how this goes.

Start a garage page for that truck, it's too interesting to leave off the lists.

Cross-pollinated parentage aside, you don't get to call it a hybrid. You should, but can't.

[cosmick]

Just got the Explorer 8.8" axle, it's HEAVY! It was all I could do to lift it into the wheelbarrow. I got it so complete that I got the anti-roll bar, the U-bolts, the brake drums, the parking brake cables, and even the old gear lube. But I didn't get the chance to swap the open differential for a Traction-Lock limited slip.

[cosmick]

So yesterday I went after a 3.08:1-geared Explorer 8.8 for my 4-cylinder non-turbo S-10, and I already have the complete 8.8 assembly from an '01 Mustang GT for my Camaro. The 2 couldn't be much more different, the Explorer version has so much extra mass. Mass no car needs. Big Daddy Dwayne Gutridge pushed his Mustang into the 6s in the quarter mile with the Mustang housing. I got the Explorer version more for the payload than anything else, and that was by far the heaviest deadlift of my life. I solemnly declare it a sin of stupidity to put it in a car. Transfer its 31-spline guts into the Ranger 8.8 before you leave the yard with 50% more mass than is useful.

[cosmick]

[Miller88]

I thought the S10 used 5x4.75 bolt pattern? Will you be running two different sets of wheels?

[cosmick]

My plan was to re-drill the axleshafts and brake drums to the GM pattern. Then I had some luck in the salvage yard, and scored a pair of the "salad-shooter" wheels from a '94 Z28. These should have enough positive offset to make up for the Explorer axle being wider. Those are 16" x 8". Then I found a pair of different-style 5-spoke 16x8s from a ZQ8 S-10, same as the '91-'92 Z28 had. They use the same center caps. Somewhat of a visual mismatch when parked, but functionally equivalent, they have far less offset. Pics soon. Right now I just pulled the drums, about to pull the shafts when the lube's all drained.

[cosmick]

Thinking this thread will be found by Googling, I keep it going. The truth about the Explorer axle is that it is hell. The axles are too hard for transfer punches, I did fine marking for pilot holes by using a new 1/2" cobalt bit in my drill, then drilling pilot holes with a new 1/4" cobalt bit. Next was using the axles to drill 1/4" pilots in the brake drums. Again, no problem. Enlarging those holes with a new 3/8" cobalt bit wasn't too bad, but then they killed a pair of 1/2", so I went looking for a drill press. Gave up and went to Harbor Freight, saw their prices, and went to Reeds Precision Machine, they sent me elsewhere. So now I can't have them until friday night. No idea what this is going to cost me. I'm also out a 5/8" bit, which isn't cheap, but it taught me that silver and deming bits are utter junk. Still, it got me to Industrial Tool and Supply, where I found a 0.609" bit, which is more correct for the lug studs having a 0.618" knurl. I was prepared to spot-weld them after using a 5/8" bit.
So all is not well. Stupid Ford using an odd-size lug circle.

[cosmick]

[cosmick]

And the overall width is 64.5", while the truck is 64.7"

[cosmick]