watkins https://cdn.ozvolvo.org/uploads/425/GA73FIW1FCMZ.jpeg
Well finally car is back in the shed... ready to fit up. Bellhousing is drilled ready to be picked up now.
have come across a Ford Explorer diff for $0 Out of a mates wreck. anyone have experience here with converting them into a 240?
Nice work! Great car and shed!
I did the 8.8 install on my 240. What I did with a mate was roughly this:
Make a jig that replicates the position of the Volvo suspension arm brackets.
Cut brackets off Volvo diff.
Cut brackets off Ford diff.
Shorten long side of Ford diff to make same as short side (using 2 x short axles).
Weld Volvo brackets to shortened Ford housing using jig you made.
Modify hand brake cables.
Tailshaft.
Find/Make rear brake caliper hoses that don't hit rear spring.
Make new hard lines to adapt Volvo to Ford.
Reinforce trailing arms
Adjustable panhard rod with spacers as will hit 8.8 rear cover.
If you do the math you will find the Explorer calipers are almost as powerful as the Volvo fronts, so the front brakes will need upgrading along with the master cylinder or you could find a less powerful caliper perhaps for the Explorer diff.
At the end of all this, you still have an old diff in an old car, so may as well replace the LSD components, put new seals in, brakes etc. Also need to decide how you will handle two different stud patterns front vs. rear in terms of wheel and offset of wheel. The 8.8 widens the rear by 20mm or so, so you can use common +36 to +40 wheels on rear but these will no longer match the front.
It's a fair mount of work and impacts a number of areas of the car, but is still a great way to get into a strong 3.73 LSD.
