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86 BII D.D. to Rock Crawler.. Need help

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jkufen

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I am from TheRangerStation forum and they all suggested I come post here as well to get some more advice but I am wanting to start here soon building my 1986 Bronco II from a daily driver to a rock crawler.

This is what I started with:

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This is what I got now:

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So right now I am looking at the D44 SAS for the front and the 9" rear end for the rear. I have seen some of the other B2s have stretched the wheel base out to 98" so I might try and tackle that while I am swapping the axles. I also want to do a dual t-case to get the lower gears. I will likely keep the 2.9 and the FM145 transmission just do a rebuild on both while I got them out. I just have some questions about the axles and the t-cases.

As far as the axles, I believe to get the straight axle dana 44 I need to look for a 70-79 Ford F-150/Bronco? And the TTB dana 44 is F-150/Bronco that is later than that? Is one better than the other? Anyone know of any good write ups on the d44 sas in a early model bronco II/ranger? I have briefly searched but the ones I found really didnt get specific on the list of parts they need for the install and the modifications need to install it.

Second, Do the transfer cases have to be different to work together? I have heard of people mating the 1350 and the 1354 but could you mate a 1350 and a 1350? Would you still get the same affect?

This is going to be my first build so I am going to be asking a lot of questions and the most detailed write ups are appreciated. I am having to pull a lot of my resources to get this build complete but hopefully it will be successful and 2015 I will be wheeling either The Rubicon Trail or MOAB! Be easy on me fellows this is my first build so I will ask a lot of dumb questions.
 
#2 · (Edited)
When they told you to come here for info I believe they ment to come here and search the forum for info. Tons of info here on b2/rangers/explorers, all done up in any way you can imagin. Some on one tons some on d44's some on jeep axles, 4 linked 3 linked leaf sprung you name it its been covered here. Take a look around youll probably find everything you need

As for the d44 years look for a 78/79, Im sure the other years are fine but these are they years I know to look for when it comes to bronco/f150 swaps and many other projects. Also were putting a jeep axle under my buddies b2 via leaf spring and thats a simple swap but Id reccomend bigger axles he just happened to get cheap jeep axles
 
#3 ·
just go through the ford section writeups. We are not here to spoon feed you information. Most people here have years of experience and look at you and how you want to take a 44 from a 78/79 f150 and put it in your b2 and wonder what you are confused about because its almost bolt on. Either search or go through the builds. pretty simple stuff
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
mantooth said:
how you want to take a 44 from a 78/79 f150 and put it in your b2 and wonder what you are confused about because its almost bolt on.
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Wow almost bolt on after speaking with some other people they had me under the impression there is very little bolt on and more custom fab work. I am glad you said that makes me a little more comfortable with the build.
 
#5 · (Edited)
Its not actually bolt on, of course there is fabrication that could/should/will need to be done. But You can really cheap out and do things easy and it wont be hard at all. Of course there are ways to do this with a world of custom work. Putting this swap together is a 'custom lift' so the possibilities are endless. Readthrew the few ford pages you will see a ton of stuff. This swap can be as easy or as hard as you want it to be. But you say you want a rock crawler, when you cut corners and cheap out places you may see it in performance. What are your exact plans for this?
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
As far as the build I want to do a d44 front end and a 9" rear end. dual transfer cases, not sure how much lift I will need but I want to run 37"s with the front and rear locked. I am going to rebuild my factory 2.9 and the factory FM145 and use them. I havent determined what gears I want to run because I want to be able to drive it on the street. Not necessary a daily driver or anything but just a cruise to the beach or around town. I gotta take my b2 down to the frame and rebuild it back up. I have some weak spots in the firewall and in the front clip of rust. Plus I want to build a center carrier in the floor of the truck to house two if not three batteries. Itll help keep the weight centered plus give me the extra power for lights and winch. There are a few other things I want to do as well as far as bumpers and roof baskets etc. My toughest part is going to be for me is the modifications to the drive train because 1) I have never done it before and 2) I do not have the fab skills to do it so I have to count on my buddy to help me out. The downfall to that is he is more of an expert in low riders not 4wds so it will be an experience for both of us. :)
 
#7 ·
Remove ttb, trim crossmember, bolt up 78/79 coil buckets, bolt up 78/79 shock towers, bolt up radius arm brackets, put coils on, put radius arms on, connect steering, put tires on, go wheel.
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
mantooth said:
Remove ttb, trim crossmember, bolt up 78/79 coil buckets, bolt up 78/79 shock towers, bolt up radius arm brackets, put coils on, put radius arms on, connect steering, put tires on, go wheel.
Click to expand...
I really wasn't aware that it would be that easy of a swap. The other people I have talked to said that I would have to custom make brackets etc for the axle swap and all of the build threads that I searched through never got specific on what brackets they used and how they attached it. That's why I came here because I was under the impression it would require custom fab work. But thanks for the help.
 
#12 ·
No it's not as easy as man tooth describes it. He left out the crucial piece, trac bar bracket. When I did my sas I used duff coil buckets and their trac bar bracket. It was all bolt on and easy enough. I'm not sure if it fit an 86, but mine is a 91. All in all the swap was easy. The only thing I had to fab was my steering, but I chose to run duff stuff instead of fabbing trac bar and radius arms up. It all depends how much work you want to do/ are capable of doing.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Yeah I found the coil buckets and the shock towers from James duff on the James duff site and they run about $300. The radius arms were $600. That is probably a little more than what I would like to spend on them. I know I could build my own for a lot cheaper. My buddy builds similar items for his low rider. I just have to see what funds look like when the time comes.
 
#14 ·
brinker88 said:
As for your doubler,use your 1350 you have now and locate another 1350 and swap in the 6 gear planetary from a 1354E for lower gears.
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The BW1350 and 1354 all have the same gear ratio, but the 6 gear is a bit more stout and has a better shiftfork/collar design. Not all 1354s have 6 gear planetary setup either, so if you do the swap look for 93+ RBVs.
 
#16 ·
Don't keep the FM145. :shaking:
 
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#19 ·
jkufen said:
You don't think it's any good?
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I know it's not any good. They get sloppy and like to suck the cluster gears into its self and :nuke:
 
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