B2 on the Rubicon Trail!

[jkufen]

Yeah just gotta see how money comes here in the next month or so right now the B2 is in the shop. Thanks for the offer I'll let you know if I can make it happen or not.

 

[4x4junkie]

Ok Ill check around at some of the local pick and pulls and see if I can find the m50d trans. I am assuming the 4.0 rangers between 90-97 also have the d35 front end too?

Yep.

D35s can also be found in some 3.0L trucks, and all '91-'92 trucks regardless of motor.
Beware of the "hybrid" D28/35 in some '93-'97 non-4.0L trucks though, you don't want one of those (pretty much all '93-'97 2.3 trucks have the hybrid axle).

Info to I.D. them here:
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/4wd_Front_Axles.html

Here's a '93 Ex for $800 OBO http://charleston.craigslist.org/cto/3653021684.html
Doesn't say 2WD or 4x4 ... (a 2WD would still yield the beefy 8.8" rear, 4.0L engine, dash and other swap stuff), but you might get lucky and it be 4x4.

www.car-part.com yields a few complete D35s available in SC for $200 if the above Ex is a bust. Some of the results say "$Call" so it's possible you could find one cheaper than that, not sure (though that could also mean they want a ridiculous amount for it too).
Also, 8.8" disc brake rears for as little as $100 (many are 3.27:1, but that don't matter if you're swapping 5.13s in).

 

[bobbywalter]

i say this allot because its true. 4x4 junkie has constructed an easy to follow and repeat build that will do well in most environments, especially out west and is the benchmark for a b2 in my eyes.

i would hop in it and run it anywhere within its maximum capacities.

drive it to alaska or florida or the northeast from his home in cali without a second thought.


sure you might burn up a winch or two to go on many of the hi end trails, but those are not the intention for a daily drivable machine like that.

running the con in it would be easy though. i dont know what the soupbowl looks like these days but i bet it will make it look easy.

yeah....i had to repost that just to be sure

 

[4x4junkie]

yeah....i had to repost that just to be sure

Wow, I guess I somehow missed that one. (thread was rockin' pretty quick for a bit)

Appreciate that Bobby. You're absolutely correct, it is more of a practical-built do-it-all rig for some campin' & wheelin' on the go (some of the nerds out there these days like to call it "overlanding" but I don't think much of the term myself... To me it's just camping & wheeling lol). It's all about finding a trail and doin a bit of exploring, be it in the rocks of the high-Sierras, or even something easier like out in Death Valley. The TTB gives it a much nicer ride without it beating you all up (DV is known for some pretty nasty washboard roads).

:icon_cheers:


I haven't been past the Soup Bowl since '03, so it's probably changed a lot (by now they've probably either fenced it off, or dynamited the whole thing given the way things have been going up there the last couple years ).
I still wouldn't mind getting up there again though, even if it's just to witness all the destruction that's taken place (I understand a Subaru Brat can do the Little Sluice now )

 

[jkufen]

Well 4x4junkie your rig is exactly what I want to end up with by next summer. Everything down to the dual battery box in the floorboard of the truck. I have found the local pick and pull that advertises decent prices for parts. 4x4 junkie I see that you used jeep coils but what else did you use to lift your truck 5". I would look it up on your page but I'm in class today and my cell doesn't so too well searching.

 

[jkufen]

Well 4x4junkie your rig is exactly what I want to end up with by next summer. Everything down to the dual battery box in the floorboard of the truck. I have found the local pick and pull that advertises decent prices for parts. 4x4 junkie I see that you used jeep coils but what else did you use to lift your truck 5". I would look it up on your page but I'm in class today and my cell doesn't so too well searching.

Disregard I got to your page!

 

[jkufen]

The frame brackets are fabbed out of 3/16" CR plate steel.

Read more: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/702959/1990-ford-bronco-ii/page-2/#ixzz2QXE5y8Cp

How did you know where the mount the radius arm bracket? Did you just put the arm on the axle and where it lined up on the frame thats where your put it? Or is there a more technical way to figure it out?

 

[jkufen]

looks like your radius arm bracket is push back up against the trans member. That is the trans bracket right?

 

[4.0B2]

I love the "overland" based builds. More of the idea I'm going for also. Mine is set up similar to yours without being refined yet... I hope to get mine out soon and get the rough places polished up and maybe have a rig as refined as yours. I Have to DD mine first and foremost. The TTB is nice for that.

 

[jkufen]

hey 4x4junkie how well is your B2 on the road? I mean is it something if I wanted to drive to my parents house (60 miles away) would I be able to drive the b2? Just wondering how well the low gears do on the highway.

 

[4.0B2]

Personally I made a Radius arm mount that is also my trans crossmember
this is the rough idea... this was before it was welded fully and cleaned up

 

[jkufen]

So I am assuming that your radius arm is a thread piece of pipe that was screwed over the end of the bolt in the picture? How long were your radius arms. I like the idea you have 4.0B2 its simple and within my range of skills. How did you connect it to the axle? Also was it hard to get an alignment done afterwards? My bushings on my passenger radius arm are gone and now my alignment is off pretty bad.

 

[4x4junkie]

How did you know where the mount the radius arm bracket? Did you just put the arm on the axle and where it lined up on the frame thats where your put it? Or is there a more technical way to figure it out?

That's basically what I did, yeah.

What I did was put the axle beams as far forward as I could while maintaining about ½ - ¾ inch clearance between the axle shaft and the driverside beam's pivot bolt (nut facing front of vehicle), and then marked the RA bracket holes for drilling. This actually puts the axle about 1" further forward than it was originally, which not only puts the tires a little further from the firewall for clearance, but improves the steering ackermann geometry a bit as well.

It drives great on the road. Gears are almost dead-on perfect for the 2.9L (5.29 would probably be ideal, but no such animal for a Ford lol).

 

[4.0B2]

My arms use the stock front piece with a piece of Tubing welded in it that's longer than stock. Welded in the tubing is weld in bungs that are threaded to accept the flex joints. Look in my build thread(see signature) and you'll find a lot of pics of the d35 swap with extended arms, f250 shock towers, Superrunner steering, etc.

I to pushed the axle forward about 1" to 1.5"

 

[jkufen]

My arms use the stock front piece with a piece of Tubing welded in it that's longer than stock. Welded in the tubing is weld in bungs that are threaded to accept the flex joints. Look in my build thread(see signature) and you'll find a lot of pics of the d35 swap with extended arms, f250 shock towers, Superrunner steering, etc.

I to pushed the axle forward about 1" to 1.5"

Yeah I just started on your build thread and realized there is a 134 pages lol but I'll get through it and learn a little bit more.

 

[jkufen]

Yeah I am all about moving the axle forward a little so i wont have to trim as much fender on the cab side to run 35's.

 

[4.0B2]

Yeah I just started on your build thread and realized there is a 134 pages lol but I'll get through it and learn a little bit more.

The d35 swap ain't that long tho. A lot of the pages are post whoring and small stuff.. start on page 121 for the front axle swap and build. The rest is good but I can save you time lol. There is a little before that, but nothing I don't think you won't see later in the thread also

 

[jkufen]

The d35 swap ain't that long tho. A lot of the pages are post whoring and small stuff.. start on page 121 for the front axle swap and build. The rest is good but I can save you time lol. There is a little before that, but nothing I don't think you won't see later in the thread also

Thanks bud! :icon_thumby: