Solid Axle Swap BS Thread

2nd gen, but I'm at 42.5" eye to eye on the lower links. Built the truck to go fast, but it crawls beautifully. Upper links are shorter. I want to say 36" if I remember correctly. Running 18" coilovers on the axle. cycles a little over 24" of travel, bumped and strapped at 22". Kept the stock wheelbase of ~127" and am sitting at about 1" of lift over a stock truck. Forward link mounts are above the bottom of the frame rails, so no hang-up points and good driveshaft protection. Kept the forward mounts close to being in-line with the carrier bearing to help minimize slip yoke plunge, so you may have a very different length if going on that as a priority on an access cab 1st gen.

 

Thanks. I’m limited to 2.5x14 shocks but I’ll put some angle to get a little more travel. Driveshaft plunge is a little concern which is why I’m leaning towards a longer link as I’m not going to run a carrier bearing/2piece shaft. The rear wheel base will be shortened to use a bed off a 4door/ so the tire will be right behind the cab.

do you hit them a lot? Are they crazy bent?

 

Tire right behind the cab will help a lot. I've only had the truck running on these links for about 6 months, with two wheeling trips. I've barely touched the links. I think it's a combo of the mounting points tucked up inside the frame, and the low ride height.
I'll have to take a better picture of it currently, but this build photo shows how high up and protected the lower links are. May have to zoom in. Would pretty much have to slide across a tall rock right down the center of the truck to hit them. They're 2.0x1/4 DOM. If I run into bending issues, I'll swap them out for 7075, since I don't want to add even more weight, sleeving the 2" DOM.

Edit: I'm hovering right around 5000 lbs fully loaded with gear and fuel, which isn't bad for a fully caged truck, but its easy to let weight get away from you. That would also play a big part in how easily you can bend your links. And guesses on your finished weight?

 

Truck is somewhat under its own power again, be it FWD only at this point.

2nd week of April I’ll try to get the exhaust redone. Right now it’s “running” with a chopped up Y-Pipe.

 

What size tires are you running? Also wheel backspacing? Any rubbing? I'm in the middle of clearancing for tires now on my build.

 

43”. Wheels are Dirty Life Enigma, 4.53 BS, -12 offset, with 1.25” spacers. Flexed out no rubbing, but this was legitimately the 1st time out of the garage. So no trail experience yet.

 

I’m guessing around 5k loaded ready to race. I’ll have to play with some link mounts once the axle gets here and see what I like. Thanks

 

Since we were talking about radiators... @02hilux were those hose part numbers for the 18.75" core radiator?

 

I can’t confirm but I used it on Denso 221-3136 with the 20” core height.
I’ll look at my lower in a bit and see if it will fit the 18”

 

@Chadr7858

Might work?

 

Dayco C71765 or Gates 22120 hose is the ticket for the 2.4l 18.75" core radiator. No more ghetto splice job.

 

Glad 22120 worked

 

Thanks for the help!

 

Are most of ya doing the swap deleting the abs? Seems like an unnecessary unit at this point.

 

I delete mine years before swap for a first gen

 

I just "disabled" mine. The lines are still in place, but it does not function.

 

Mine is completely deleted. I'll be running new lines for brakes this weekend.

 

Yeah remove it and the extra lines. Then use that space to put in a small air locker compressor or power distro block.

 

i did

 

Thanks for the input.
Been grinding away for a few days, I get a few hours in on this thing a day.
Changing the oil pan and drilling and cutting for shackle hangers tomorrow.
Touched the welding machine a little today, a bit to much wind, but, i feel ok about the welds.