Swapping In A Junkyard 8.8" Rear Axle In Our Cheap Jeep Cherokee - Trucks! S10, E9

We're getting our Project Cheep Cherokee ready for the trails and since it needs some better legs to stand on, we're adding a lift kit and swapping in our new junkyard 8.8 inch rear axle. Then up front, we'll upgrade our differential and get our XJ riding on much bigger wheels and tires.
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PARTS USED IN THIS EPISODE:
Airaid: Replacement air filter.
All Star Auto Salvage: Used rear 8.8 axle housing, used front axle shafts, battery box.
Auto Body Color & Supply Co. Single stage Acrylic enamel PPG paint and catalyst.
Auto Body Toolmart: Five ton Mighty Pull frame puller, hook and chain sets, floor anchor pots, Mo-Clamps.
Bushwacker: Five inch "cutout" flares for 84-96 Jeep XJ two door models.
Cherry Bomb: 2 1/4" Cherry Bomb Glasspack muffler.
Hypertech: Max Energy E-CON economy Power Programmer.
JD Squared Inc.: Model 3 tubing bender.
Lincoln Electric: Lincoln Mig welder and equipment.
Midas: Machining rotor surfaces.
O'Reilly Auto Parts: Leaf spring perches, u-bolts, driveshaft flange, brake cleaner.
Quadratec: 15 x 8, 5 x 4.5, 4 inch B/S, Silver Cragar 399 series.
Quadratec: 48 inch hi-lift jack, handle keeper, bumper mount.
Quadratec: Accel Super Tune Up kit, upgraded fuel pump.
Quadratec: Bestop Trailmax high back denim seats.
Quadratec: Ected differential for Dana 30, ring and pinion gears, Overhaul kit.
Quadratec: Mile Marker PE8000 winch and winch mount adapter plate.
Quadratec: Skyjacker three inch value Flex Lift system with front coil springs, Nitro shocks and rear leaf spring replacements, polyurethane one inch spacers.
Quadratec: Spidertrax wheel spacers.
Quadratec: Steel front fenders both drivers and passenger side, manual mirrors for both sides, side marker lens for both sides, parking lamps for both sides, front header panel.
Summit Racing: 33x12.50R15 BFG Mud-Terrain KM.

[@howtobebasic2122]

0:20 LOL the announcer guy doesn't know what to say XD

[@aaronguerrette]

Appreciate the nostalgia trip as always

[@oumadmike1]

Seeing that cherry bomb brought me back to the early 90's and paging through the jeg's catalogs... i hope i hear it rev on the straight 6!

[@julianceballos8795]

Awesome to see you guys on youtube. I remember you guys from power block on spike. Keep it up.

[@sweettooth80]

I miss working at a shop. Just hard to find one with good management

[@sweettooth80]

@The Truth about Africa hurts ok? What does that have to do with being in a shop

[@1unkn0wn]

Good episode. Id suggest replacing the hollow XJ steering with ZJ parts or upgrading to aftermarket.

[@MissionRestomod]

“Viola” Lol, he means voila!

[@baggerrider8073]

Too funny! I think that can happen when reading cue cards. Let’s blame the video editor for not catching this because Kevin is a fabricator, not an English teacher!

[@basshead.]

@@baggerrider8073 French teacher*

[@kevinhornbuckle]

He plays the viola and was just reminding himself to practice after work.

[@billkerksiek208]

whats the time stamp on that, i wanna see

[@1unkn0wn]

@@billkerksiek208 7:20

[@em6132]

So, can we talk gearing on those axles? You guys are running 33s on an XJ, so what.... 4.56 gears? 4.10s at least. Also, does swapping to a Ford 8.8 not require a Slip Yoke Eliminator and double cardan shaft to avoid crazy vibrations? Little details I would love to know!

[@osrr6422]

Wow original BFG KM1s... wish you could still get those.

[@johnbehneman1546]

A TOTALLY AWSOME BUILD!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!

[@elund408]

the announcer "When we get back" always sounds like he is trying to squeeze out a large dry one.

[@danhambrick6331]

Nice.I have the 8.8 stripped down I just have to rebuild the traclok and weld on the brackets.....

[@44hawk28]

When you put the cable clamp on the emergency brake cable. You put it on upside down. You never put the saddle of a cable clamp on the dead end of the cable. An old standard in the application of cable clamps. You never saddle a dead horse. Reverse that so that it doesn't come apart.

[@Auguste88]

Best narration on You Tube!

[@zacharymartini9472]

Watching this again 3 years later again it's crazy to see how rare the 2 doors are know

[@CarlosJimenez-lw4wx]

Just found your channel watching every single vid

[@jaminova_1969]

I'm jelly. i want my Jeep XJ !

[@justjsse8917]

Man yall make this look so easy 😂

[@Callelle6251]

There's really not a whole lot of budget about this budget build. I guess it can be considered cheap after the sponsors throw all their parts at them.

[@DooberD33]

Look I own a jeep it’s all a budget build then ford axles are literally everywhere at a junk yard same with genders and parts for dirt cheap no more than 500$ for body panels and axles

[@curtisb9424]

they also use car lifts that cost thousands of dollars and a lot of professional mechanic hours..

[@jeremysmith6905]

Last Cherokee I said was a budget build ended up costing over $8k in parts alone!

[@frankdehne1949]

Those are my favorite set of stock steel Jeep Wheels everytime I come across a cheap set I pick them up

[@franky6181]

Pulled an 8.8 from the junkyard for $170. Snagged it by myself with just hand tools. Tossed that grenade d35. Surprisingly enough i also own those seats. The sun turns them into a scolding hot frying pan in about 2 minutes though.

[@kzoomin]

Nice I paid 275 for mine shipped 2001 8.8 31 spline lsd disc brakes matched gearing. I'll run the lsd until I regear with lockers and larger tires.

[@franky6181]

@@kzoomin thats a great deal. Im running LSD as well, I'm planning on running lsd rear and locked front. End goal is to v8 swap and lsd has better mannerisms for that imo

[@randycane5894]

I got my 8.8 for free lol

[@kzoomin]

@@franky6181 from my understanding lsd works up till about 32s 33s past that not 100% effective?

[@kzoomin]

@@randycane5894 lucky dude, I was also lucky to pick up a hp d30 from a 99xj upgrading to 1tons. The jeep community is awesome.

[@GreatLakes247]

13:47 love the lug nuts being backward. No clue why you would ever need to do that....

[@SSbigblock454]

As cheap as new rotors are anymore I don't even bother with machining the old ones. All you're doing is asking for pulsating brake problems.

[@testosteroneinc.3800]

It was more about a paid ad, not saving money.

[@whatareyoudoingyouidiot342]

Most modern brake rotors are so thin these days they're not made to be machined. They're basically disposable now.

[@coreycarter8469]

Yes

[@dave1135]

I haven't machined a set of rotors since 2002. New ones are so cheap

[@bmstylee]

@@dave1135 depends on what you drive. For a Jeep buy new ones. Those Brembos on a Hellcat or a ZL1 etc maybe turning is something to look at.

[@vee950]

That Accell tune up kit gives more spark but won't last long i did that to my 4.0 my last 30 or 40k they should do 62mm throttle body 24lbs injectors/intake

[@evanjohnson4137]

The short videos on Facebook keep bringing me back 😂

[@drubradley8821]

You forgot to mention adding hub-centric rings that fills the gap between the rim and the wheel spacer adapter so your lug nuts are not taking the full load of the bumps in the road way and popping one of your wheels off going down the highway... @ 16:37.. clearly an issue... still a fun video though...

[@ditzydoo4378]

Narrator: " I'm talk'in about Shite I don't understand"!?!? LMAO (❁´◡`❁)

[@Alex2552RuS]

WHAT DID THE FRONT AXLE SHAFTS COME OUT OF

[@clifflee5404]

Have Tommy grow out his mullet again lol. It wasn't quite a mullet but I remember his hair being considerably longer in his earlier years.

[@bigredracer7848]

I need differential is not bulletproof you need to come up with something a little stronger even at six cylinder makes enough torque to shred it

[@Walter26walter]

Love the build but want locker did they use? Can't seem to find it online.

[@tphvictims5101]

It’s BEAUTIFUL 😍

[@phat-motoxer9022]

I had Midas do a complete brake job on my son's wheelchair van. I did the whole thing, caliper, rotors, bearings and anything that looked bad. 11 times back to the shop and I ended up redoing it my self....$1200 not well spent

[@ericwheat9540]

What do you do with all these vehicles you build?

[@colt45d]

looking to do a lift on my 01 xj how does everyone like the sky jacker lift that are running them only wont a 3 in. as well. looking for a combo between road and trail.

[@rickyrestituyo8940]

dont ever scratch that seat again

[@bigmikex2333]

Tack,tack,tack is hack,hack,hack! If you cannot weld 3/16 to body sheet metal you should not be welding a roll bar plate.

[@samthelegoman3990]

Y’all be complaining about the machined rotors but they did keep to the idea of a cheap jeep. It wouldn’t have been right to throw expensive new ones on it

[@Iwhoiam999]

1k locker? Yeah sure. $75 rotor that keeps you safe? Nah

[@mccartneystuart]

Ford explorer front axle shafts swap over to a pre 97 jeep d30 front axle?

[@BE_SYNYSTER]

Looks like a Chrysler 8.25 rear to me, why would you swap in an 8.8? The 8.25 can run 35's all day if you dont beat the snot out of it.

[@davidmilovanovich9415]

Can a 8.5 10 bolt ring gear interchangeable with a 8.0 10 bolt ring gear on my 09 Chevy Colorado LT xcab 2WD 5 speed manual

[@csipawpaw7921]

Wheel spacers are not legal in Australia and some other countries as they have been connected with accidents! See worst 4x4 mods. Basically spacers require constant "checking" , About 500 miles after installation to confirm they are on properly and then every oil change or 3000 miles, which most people forget or are to lazy to do. Or they trust tire shops with employees who may not know how to check and maintain them. In addition there are cheep ones on the market that are just unsafe period.

[@jmilko917]

How hard was it to get that back bolt out of the leaf springs?

[@crashtke]

You may find driving the tow rig to the trail cheaper on gas than driving the Cherokee XJ 😂

[@THatChevyguy91]

I had a mile marker manual hub conversion kit on my old Cherokee. On 35s with 4:10s I was suprised to get 18mph

[@andrewr.66]

One time I had a drum on the brake lathe and the other person working with me said to use the rotor feed and it was horrible

[@obran003]

what was the gear and spline count of the salvage rear axle? Did you have to shorten the driver's side axle housing and double up on the passenger side shorter axle? I am researching the explorer 8.8 salvage option for my mustang so this is something i will have to tackle.

[@ProjectXJ]

The 8.8 pinion is 2.5" closer to the passenger side than a stock XJ axle, but it doesn't cause any problems. 95+ is 31 spline and has disk brakes. Gear ratios came in 3.55, 3.73 and 4.10.

[@axlegrind4212]

weld thin tubes... straight enough

[@Formerlywarmer]

What model phord did u pull the 8.8 from? Explorer?

[@alfonsoortizavila4373]

@7:38 "Viola", jajaja.

[@badboy-ry3ur]

Plz send how to make fiber root and door? Plzzzz

[@thomasgurga4062]

Lol I don’t think they know a thing about building a budget Cherokee.

[@d.b.o.c.6852]

Let’s see your build

[@THEEVERYTHINGTHINGCHANNEL]

@@d.b.o.c.6852 he has a point, new body panels, a $3000 frame puller, etc isn’t something that people can just go throw money down on.

[@edzimdahl1158]

Quite sad actually how all the pn shows have become nothing but mostly sponsor advertising

[@jovanyespitia6241]

Were did they get the driveshaft adapters

[@MerpSquirrel]

What did your announcer not understand? XJ? Or why an 8.8 is good :). Either way you guys need get him into a jeep!

[@THExWASP]

the announcer is on something, i swear

[@edzimdahl1158]

Not a cheap jeep at all,,, any 1 thing you've done cost more than have totally invested in my 98zj,,, tho when you're not paying a penny,, just throwing sponsors crap at it ,,,

[@ronaldbordeaux919]

Where did Engine Power go???

[@Eightball2516]

All that work is easy when you have all the tools and equipment available to you

[@fkwidit8552]

Dern can I send y’all my Jeep to fix up like this

[@yourfavoritelawnguy2722]

Oh man you can tell how old this is, because people dont turn rotors anymore, not a good idea at all

[@frankdehne1949]

I watch this years ago and almost forgot that was dumb as hell leaving the factory sway bar with those upgraded Leafs I have homemade Leaf packs and do not even feel the difference when ditched my sway bar on the highway but off-road it made a hell of a difference

[@davidmilovanovich9415]

I would like to see a engine swap from a 2.9 5 speed To a 5.3 on a Chevy Colorado LT xcab

[@jovanyespitia6241]

did they re gear?

[@stevebraun8217]

What brand are those seats? -Thanx

[@جاسممحمد-ف6ط7ت]

السلام عليكم عمل جميل استمتعنا معك في هذا الفديو نتمنى لك التوفيق استمر بنشر كل ما هو مفيد

[@cuh720]

So basically I need to learn how to weld

[@MrAcuta73]

Yeah...LOL...my "cheap" junkyard 8.8 build is pushing $2.3k. Ok, I'm trussing, adding in chromoly shafts w/c-clip elimination, Detroit tru-track, welded tubes, anti-wrap perch kit, traction bars, possibly a panhard bar, larger disc brakes, 5.13 gears....too much shit for a "cheap" build. Amusingly, for my Ranger, the Exploder axle + Yukon shaft kit = 2" wider than stock "8.8". My full "cheap" Overlander build based on my 2003 Ranger FX4 will cost about....$18,000. Probably a bit more once I'm done being picky.

[@billkerksiek208]

Are you actually breaking all that stuff or do you just like writing checks?

[@ProjectXJ]

My swap cost me $583 with a truss, spare shafts, new brakes, diff cover etc. Detroit locker cost me $325. $908 total for a trussed locked 8.8 to replace my dana 35. Well worth the money.

[@MrAcuta73]

@@billkerksiek208 Intention is NOT to break anything and increase the payload and max tongue weight on the truck. I go to some pretty nasty places, often by myself. Spinning a tube or breaking a shaft would be serious trouble, not just hard ribbing from people with me.

[@mikefriesen3846]

Viola. Lmfao

[@backyardbuilttrucks1]

Gas is cheap in midwest .

[@Stackali]

this was in 2008. gas was more expensive then and wages were lower as well.

[@Wingsnthings23]

They keep talking about money like it's coming out of their personal pockets

[@fgialcgorge7392]

$800 elocker is definitely budget huh?😂😂 You can pull a limited slip out of a Dana 30 volvo rear for pennies and it bolts right into the Jeep front. That's my setup.

[@whatsyourstyle]

What vehicle did you get they from

[@fgialcgorge7392]

@@whatsyourstyle either a 740 or 940, one of the bigger old ones with a tow package. Just walk the Volvo row and check diff tags. Tow package is a good place to start.

[@whatsyourstyle]

@@fgialcgorge7392 thanks

[@fgialcgorge7392]

@@whatsyourstyle no problem.

[@THatChevyguy91]

So dose it lock up good ? Considering doing this cheaper then a lunch box locker definitely cheaper then a Detroit true tack

[@GentlemanJD]

So much for a budget build imagine that

[@thomaspeterson4849]

Really should have mentioned checking rotors with a mic before and after cutting them. While a good shop will check, it’s good to know that it’s an important thing. Watching that brought back memories 👍

[@BIGTRUCK7.3]

Does anyone know what type of axle shafts they replace the factory ones with?

[@thescottvaden]

Hey idk if you even care a year later lol but the axles they used are out of a late 90s Grand Cherokee It is a common upgrade done on XJs.

[@RaymondSigalaVideos]

I liked when they did real world projects

[@petersonoliveira8496]

Boa tarde carro 1972 Chevy Pu vai amém bom

[@Gearsandoil]

The narrator sounds like a hanna barbera cartoon character trying to sound tougher than a angry pole cat in a dumspter fight. Find him a job on cartoon channel.

[@fgialcgorge7392]

When does this get cheap?! Also, why the hell are they always giggling like 12 yearold girls talking to their crush?

[@triggerwarning2439]

Does the offset of the 8.8 work on the jeeps?

[@nsmturbo5902]

You have to cut off the old spring perches and weld new ones on. As long as you center it from side to side and set your pinion angle your good to go. The offset pinion doesn't matter, it's not that extreme and the u-joints will be fine.

[@triggerwarning2439]

@@nsmturbo5902 thats the obvious but what about the 4 inch center difference? The offset from a explorer 8.8 lsd usually needs one side cut down to match the other like I had to do for my maverick

[@nsmturbo5902]

@@triggerwarning2439 it will be fine... I ran a full width explorer rear in a S10 for years before finally chopping it down 3 inches.

[@matthewmurray5168]

@@nsmturbo5902 what do you do for the brake line on the 8.8? Another video said replace the driver side brake line with another passenger side one and then you can use the hard line from your old axle? I have a 8.25 now btw

[@Wingsnthings23]

Did he say "viola"?

[@SuperUnknown1967]

Good subject matter, the hosts delivery of the awful script, ruins it though.

[@crannyscustoms]

Machining rotors is a scam. Its cheaper and better to just buy new ones.

[@jackson6948]

Came to them run down, beat up and barely alive. Pfffft! That thing would've handled 20+ more years of abuse in the condition it was in when they got it.

[@juanf4739]

A winch is a tool that needs to work when you need it . I don’t understand why people cheap out on China made winches. You are also financing the enemy and exporting American jobs.

[@coreycarter8469]

Machined rotors what a bad idea

[@johnhosler6636]

Your doing it wrong... the front solid axle and inline goes in a ranger ,⁸ I scrapped enough vehicles to tell you all ,the cherokee rips itself apart everytime you flex it, If you got a nice xj keep it that way in 20 years they will be worth 10 times what you paid, you flex a c channel ladder frame it springs back and your doors still open...

[@jordanl2785]

pls get rid of the rear sway bar, it does nothing

[@ProjectXJ]

I got rid of mine.... well I took it off but its still sitting on the side of my house. lol

[@sunroofsimon]

Awesome page! I got my 2020 GT500 9 months ago. Just started a page myself. I admire the work you guys do. Keep it up👍 give me a follow 😊

[@dualsportrider3221]

Old vid I know. Wow not so competent xj build. Xj crush in roll up front at wind shield. Skyjacker suxs. Xjs aren't spring under but I like the animation. Throw rotors away their cheap. 8.8 install kits are cheap for last 10y +. Auburn e locker is the biggest pos on our planet. And its a posi till locked so not for front diffs wo locking hubs. Opinion only, 37s too big they kill xj zj yj tj. D30 is only barely good for 35s. 33s if u run it hard.

[@TTANA]

I swear you guys want this thing to look ugly at least put the white Letters Out. Geezz

[@johnmirbach2338]

😁✌🖖👌👍😎

[@AT_motors]

Seriously? Spend the 3 mins and measure your driveline angles. Don't bend a wire and eyeball it. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills

[@areyousureyouenteredyourna85]

Thank you! This is the first time in MONTHS that I have seen a comment mentioning pills that doesn't blindly love the medical industry and belittle their victims. Quite the opposite, your comment implies what I have known through experience since first grade, the pills CAUSE the crazy, not cure it. Between that, and the cool cars and mini bikes on your channel, you have definitely earned my subscription.

[@ProjectXJ]

honestly, it doesn't have to be perfect. What they did will work just fine. Especially if you stay under 200 MPH. :)

[@bartgoins1782]

Great videos, but your announcer with his fake "tough guy" voice is a real put off.

[@popwarhomie]

Quality of this video is terrible. Arm movements are all pixelated.

[@007more7]

Way to much talking

[@Silent_Ivan]

Oof

[@mikealdag7309]

way to much talk

[@basshead.]

1st

[@onemangang2545]

God no not spacers order you some offset rims. Get rid of those spacers