347 RE-Power 1996 Limited AWD

[CDW6212R]

See if you can still buy the front inner fender aprons. I got them a long time ago for about $15 each from Ford. They look much better when new(pitch black).

 

[ford99_1979]

Thanks for the tip Don, I put a nice coat of black Krylon Fusion on mine which turned out great. Combine that with gap gaurds from performance accesories and it looks good as new.

So today I went to get tires, turns out they won't fit due to UCA clearance and sway bar clearance. I was aware of rubbing the front swaybar with my 265/65R17's and I also saw that it was close to the upper control arm. A few days ago I had already ordered a set of wheel spacers and thought I could at least get the tires mounted and install the spacers when they came in. I guess I was too hopeful.

Was really excited about getting tires done today, but i'll have to wait a bit longer. The guy from the tire shop was asking me questions about my truck. He liked what I had done to it. I guess you don't see or hear a 1996 Explorer like that everyday. haha

 

[CDW6212R]

Very good, and did you have the alignment done with the old tires/wheels? If the clearance is too little with the tires you want, it may take a different wheel to get it to clear. What kind of spacer did you buy, and is that going to be enough?

My spacers are 1/4", and with these aftermarket wheels, there isn't enough threads left in the back to use the spacers. These wheels are thicker at the lug nut/hub area, just a bit too much. I have longer studs in the front, so that I could use the spacers, and the wheels.

 

[ford99_1979]

No I didn't get the alignment done it seemed like a waste of time right now. All that was done was an oil change. I got spacers from http://www.wheelspacers.ca . I called them up and they make them to order right on site in Canada with quality components. Unlike those cheap eBay Chinese ones. The spacers I ordered are 1.25" thick so stud length is not an issue as they come with studs of their own. I should be safe with 1.25". I am going to put them on the rear as well. I also noticed that my drivers rear tire was rubbing the sheathing on the e-brake cable. I have tied back the cable but those goodyear duratracs have an aggressive sidewall tread making a wide tire even wider.

Just heading out to the garage to start the 4406 swap. Wish me luck. Probably be a late night.

 

[ford99_1979]

Tcase in

It was a late night as I predicted. Got the tcase in. What a beast bench pressing it in with the tank and front tank bracket in place and my magnaflow cats in the way. Had to abort first attempt. Luckily I have exhaust band clamps just forward of my cats that I loosened and slid forward so I could push my cats out of the way. 2nd attempt at bench pressing the 4406 worked

I can see why the body lift helps for this swap. Next I will get the gas tank down so I can trim the plastic shield. The plastic shield on the tank should have been cut first to clear the tail of the tcase before installing the tcase The front gas tank bracket bending went good with heat and the bracket clamped to a table then bend over with big pipe wrench. Took 10 minutes for that step. It clears first try. I also need to cut off two more tabs on the passenger side of the tcase for cat clearance.

I think it looks good after that........ famous last words.

Access to top 2 bolts of tcase

top 2 bolts removed. lots of room in there with the body lift. I also took this as an opportunity to remove the top 2 front driveshaft bolts from here.

BW4404 removed

I've seen a few of these comparison pictures of old and new, but they never get old.

Front gas tank bracket bent over. can't get a good shot on your back 3" away. haha

BW4406 in!! I used RTV and the paper gasket to seal the tcase and tranny mounting surface.

Good night.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

congrats! you dont really think that case is that big till you lay em side by side then reality kicks in! and heavy, like really! i was lucky in two ways when i did mine. i had a gutted case that i did mock up with, then when it came time to put it in, the truck was on a lift. even still, holding it with both hands and lifting up in place was not enjoyable. do me a favor. when you have it all buttoned up and take it for a drive, post up if you have vibrations or not. i cant figure out why i have a vibration in mine even with a DC front drive shaft in.

 

[ford99_1979]

Thanks! I will advise on any vibrations after test drive. My shafts were balanced with new u joints hope it's all good. Not sure if I will get much done today.

 

[CDW6212R]

Well done. I should get on mine sometime this decade.

What else do you need to trim from the BW4406, you mentioned on the right side? I trimmed the left tabs I recall posted about from Aaron's thread.

For that rubbing parking brake cable, R&R the left rearend strut rod. Move the cable to the inside of the rod while you have it out, then the rod protects the cable from the tire.

 

[ford99_1979]

Well done. I should get on mine sometime this decade.

What else do you need to trim from the BW4406, you mentioned on the right side? I trimmed the left tabs I recall posted about from Aaron's thread.

For that rubbing parking brake cable, R&R the left rearend strut rod. Move the cable to the inside of the rod while you have it out, then the rod protects the cable from the tire.

Thanks a lot. I'm going to call you out to get yours done soon.

I trimmed tabs on both sides of the case while it was on the work bench flat. I didn't realize or factor how much the case is "clocked" over when in its finally position. So in other words I trimmed tabs off that were not necessary and left the one that was. The one in question is right where my exhaust runs. Thankfully a quick cut with the reciprocating saw with get me the clearance I need for the exhaust then Bolt the band clamps back on and I can check that off the list. The. Get the tank down further to hack away at the plastic shield with a 90* die grinder and cut wheel. Thankfully I ran my tank empty before I started.

I really like your idea on the parking brake re-routing. Have to give it a try.

I would like to go work on it now, but i am looking after the kiddies as my wife is out. Might get to work on it late tonight after hockey. Depends how many beer I have....:bdrunk:

 

[ford99_1979]

Posted a new thread in the transmission, transfer case forum here . For those who are monitoring this thread, I need some guidance with my shift linkage.

 

[ford99_1979]

Goodyear Duratracs

 

[ford99_1979]

BW4406 Completed

Had a little set back with the linkage. Found out I had to get a different shift linkage. Once I got it today I was able to finish and finally put my interior back once and for all. Hooked up the indicator lights and they work too. Test drive went great, low range works, got into and out of low range from neutral and fully stopped.

Here is inner boot installed. I re-curved the inner boot to contour the explorer trans tunnel. Drilled into the sheetmetal and tapped M6 x 1.00 threads. Once I had all four holes drilled and tapped I put a ring of foam tape just inside the perimeter to seal it up. Also drilled a large hole for the transfer case shift indicator wires in the cover plate on the trans tunnel. It has the wire loom covering.

Outter boot on. trimmed some of the plastic base so it sits tighter to the console. I'm happy with how it turned out. Due to the fact I have a body lift and the shifter sits lower in the cab, I trimmed about 3/4" off the shift knob so it didn't crush the rubber boot too much.

Next Tuesday is tire time.

 

[Limited02]

Looking very nice! Can't wait to see it with the new tires

 

[ahodges]

Any report on vibrations from that front drive shaft? I read on here on other threads that the F150 front d-shaft causes some vibrations on the highway due to it not having a double cardan u-joint at the T-case. I went with a stock explorer front d-shaft and used an adapter to make it hook to the 4406. The adapter adds about an extra inch of length which helps out a lot. I've put over 2,000 miles on mine now and no vibrations.. Just a thought if you end up having problems.

If you're worried about strength of the double cardan and/ or the stock front d-shaft, rest assured its up to the task.. I'm putting out around 400 crank hp and have done 4x4 racing lauches with no problems.. knock on wood..

 

[vroomzoomboom]

nice job brad. that looks really good!

 

[ford99_1979]

Thanks guys ! No vibrations to report yet. I havn't had any chance for highway speeds yet. I will report back in a few days or if something else comes up. I had some concerns of my leg hitting that shifter while driving and its really not bad at all. I have enjoyed on a few occasions of laying rubber, especially when I know new tires are going on next week.

ahodges - I will keep that in mind if vibrations become an issue. I have read a number of vibration issues regarding 4406 swaps and that concerned me. I had taken both driveshafts to a driveline shop to be balanced with new U-joints. Hoping that is good enough and I never have to go back to the driveline shop. I wonder how many people who have had vibration problems didn't get the shafts balanced? That is a rhetorical question, doesn't matter.

 

[delexploder]

Wow you guys (ford99 1979 ahodges vroomzoomboom cdw6212r turtle boominxplorer ect) are my heroes im trying to catch up with mine but I just got the wife a 99 mounty and already started playing with it and my buddy's wife just blew up her 03 sohc and he's working out west so I gotta take care of that but at least I can get a little fix watching you guys

 

[vroomzoomboom]

as for vibration, i still have it in mine, even after getting a new(er) driveshaft made, and blanaced.

however, i am also wondering if the run out on it is too much.

 

[ford99_1979]

So Tim, just to confirm you had a old shaft rebuilt with double cardan on the tcase end and balanced and it still vibrates?

By run out you mean the slip joint is extended too much?

Driveline shop should know how to make a shaft the right length. If I remember correctley the measurement from the tcase flange to the u-joint saddle mount was about 33.625". Actually it was 33.5" measuring to the bottom of the tcase flange and 33.75" to the top of the tcase flange.

 

[delexploder]

Stupid question but are the front yoke and t case flange on the same plane? Perpendicular and parallel? Cause that can cause problems