Solid Axle Swap BS Thread

Found a chevy 60/14 bolt. Front has chromo's (not sure if 35 spline or not), 5.13's, grizzly locker, high steer, warn hubs. Rear has 5.13's, detroit, disk brakes. $2k and he's only an hour away

Opinions?

 

I'll take them. Lol

Good find I'd say all you.

 

One tons sound like a good deal to me.

 

Taking a page out of gear heads book and in-boarding the front springs. 29" center to center. It doesnt look like it on my crappy pic, but the shackle hangars are sitting dead center on the frame rails. The rear mounts on the other hand are going to be a PITA.

 

How are you going to do the perch on the third?

 

Im using ruff stuffs fj40/60 soa kit that has half a perch. Half gets welded to the third and the other to the tube. They use bolts instead of u bolts on that side as well. Its all half assed tacked to the axle right now, once i get the rear mounts done and the pinion set ill snap a pic.

Here's what i used: http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/FJ-DIFCUT.html

 

@slander
Why are shackles in front of axle? It seems if you hit a bump/rock the axle would want to go back to flex but with shackles in front of axle you are forcing the axle forward into the bump/rock even further to begin to flex, probably bending more leaf springs and giving worse ride quality? I know some of the older jeeps did this too, but never understood why.

Have a link to where I can read up on this?

 

@SnowroxKT
Shackles forward gives you: better front axle wrap control, the axle wont be trying to walk out from under the truck on a climb, no need for a long slip drive shaft, the springs are mounted in a more "natural way" with the shackle end higher than the fixed end, you can get the ride height lower, i have read some arguments that it will climb better due to the axle being forced into an obstacle and up and over it, something a bit different, don't have to tub the firewall for larger tires as they go forward when flexed, and less brake dive.

As for inverting a shackle, you can do that in reverse with a rear shackle, I'm running boomerang shackles to prevent inverting while going forward. I am also going to add a spare main leaf to my spare parts list as well.
Here's a good post on the pros and cons.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/toyota-truck-4runner/153057-who-runs-front-shackles-front.html

Leaf sprung landcruisers are setup this way along with leaf sprung superdutys.

 

Interesting... This is from Pirate. Thanks for the link.

 

Yea there are pros and cons to evreything. Worst comes to worst i cut it off and replace it with something else!

I wheeled my sprung under yj for 5yrs and never came close to inverting a spring. I think this is more internet hype IMO.

 

Probably true. It seems a few on pirate have been fine with it.

 

The chevy d60s do not seem as expensive as the Fords....so it could be a good deal depending on whether it has 35 splines or not. Also, I would ditch the warn hubs. What steering arms does it have? Stock knuckles? (people say the Chevy's are stronger than the Fords anyway...)

 

I popped the covers and they were stock cucv's so the dude got lied to when he bout them. I tried to buy anyways but he was a little sour and decided to keep

 

sas kit has shipped. 16 packages totaling 681 pounds

 

just quoting you because i like your sig and sat here way to long looking at it laughing

 

haha i get a lot of people liking it so i think i'll keep this one for a while. i usually rotate out with some funny gifs.

 

i think its very very fitting

 

Chad doing the install?

 

i dont think he has time. nothing against him but him being in cola and without a shop doesn't allow it that easy. I think he might come up and help my buddy up here do it. he's got a full welding and fab shop with everything we'd ever need but my buddy here is the busiest person i've ever seen (7am - 10pm every night). so we'll see. I still need to order all the miscellaneous stuff that i need, like spindles, bushings, hubs, etc.

 

You'll love it! Make sure to clearance the inside of the knuckle balls.