ford 8.8 with CCE 4 link Pinion angle

[danielruhe]

Hi everyone,
I am having a 8.8 from a ford bronco shortened to mgb width and will be installing it with the classic conversions engineering 4 link rear suspension.  My question is how did you guys determine/set up the pinion angle for the rear end?  Also did you guys cut and re-weld the existing brackets from the stock rear end to the new ford ones? I am not sure how to go about this so any help would be appreciated.

[GJSZ51]

I hope I am not speakng out of turn here as I am new to the site. I have, however, cut down and installed several 8.8 ford differentials in various applications. I will typically set them up at 4 degrees. It is most important to install with the suspension fully loaded, front and rear. My engines are usually installed at 4 degrees negative (down) and pinion angle 4 degrees positive (up). When cutting the driveshaft down, I like to allow 3/4" yoke spacing to allow for suspension travel. I always remove existing perches and weld in new ones. It allows me to install without angle shims and allows placement of the differential exactly where I want it.

I will probably use an Explorer 8.8 in my MGB build

Please note: others may use a different set up. This is what has worked best for me

[ex-tyke]

As Gary has mentioned, it's imperative that the RA pinion angle is matched to your engine power angle (mine is somewhere between 2-1/2 to 3 degrees, but your engine installation may be different).

Also did you guys cut and re-weld the existing brackets from the stock rear end to the new ford ones?

That's how I did mine - cut off the MGB spring mounts and welded to the 8.8 - the 8.8 housing dia is larger than the Salisbury so brkt's need to be ground to fit- with pinion angle set, weld so that bottom plates are level to ground under load.
You'll also discover that the upper link brackets straddle the axle housing and the nodular rear diff housing so modification to the link brackets are necessary to allow welding (stick weld with hi nickel rod to be compatible with the housing).

[danielruhe]

Thank you very much for the info Graham, that's exactly what i was looking for.  Now one more question is how did you center the axle when you installed the suspension?

[ex-tyke]

.....how did you center the axle when you installed the suspension?

Centering the axle can be done by shimming /spacing the forward lower links. The typical MGB axle bias is about 3/8" and therefore one needs to shim the lower links in one direction with 3/16" spacers. Been a few years since I did mine, but IIRC two of Bill's original aluminum spacers (one per side) have to be machined down to remove 3/16 and allow addition of spacers. Photo of my current lower link spacing attached.
Needless to say, the centering should be done before welding the upper link brkts to the axle.

[MGBV8]

Measure that bias first.  Looks like Graham moved it over a bit to the right.  Mine actually is a smidge too far to the right, need to go left about half that much.

[ex-tyke]

Carl, that shot is an optical illusion (photo taken upside-down) - the axle is actually shifted to the left.

[MGBV8]

Yours, too, then.  Most of the ones I read about on the MGExp seemed to be shifted opposite of mine.

[ex-tyke]

Most of the ones I read about on the MGExp seemed to be shifted opposite of mine

Only ones in the Southern Hemisphere.