Solid Axle Swap BS Thread

It's like you are all speaking another language in here - where's the "key"

 

full hydro steering is what we are talking about..

 

all the welding plate/boxing frame/etc..

 

oh that stuff.. yeah you weld on 3/16 or in my case 1/4 plate steel to help reinforce the frame where you will have mounts and steering attached to the frame. the factory frame is only 10guage and thats not all that thick of metal to have a gear box bolted directly to..

 

Hydro assist for me

Everyone is talking about plating the stock frame, aka polishing a turd. When you put big tires on a flimsy frame that wasn't designed for it, problems arise (shocking). While it may be easier for some to buy pre-cut plates and weld them on, the more permanent solution to the problem is cutting the stock frame out and building a new section of frame out of thicker material.

 

yes but 2 layers of thinner material "laminated" together are stronger then one layer of the same material in the same thickness

 

This is true, but im not going to rebuild my frame just add lots to it..

 

Hydro assist for me as well. I'm putting together a kit that will cost me about 120 bucks. My frame is boxed by the previous owner with 1/4 plate and its still flexy

 

full hydro steering will put less steering stress on the frame so it's kinda a different world for me..

 

Even with a 2x3 frame I'd still plate around the steering box area just for added insurance.

 

x2, I did the same 2x3 .188 wall and plated both sides with 1/4" where the steering box mounts.

 

1/4" is plenty. I will probably do 3/16".

 

just so im clear you guys are doing this 2x3 frame replacement mainly for the gear box right??

 

No, because it's cleaner, easier to do then using the old frame. Plus I don't have to cut any off the sides or bottom to clear coilovers or the panhard/drag link.

 

OK thanks. guess thats something ill have to figure out when i get there but in my head right now ill be fine just plating the side and bottom with 1/4" and building a new cross member.

 

This i had my frame cut out and rebuilt in 3 hours ready to go. I would hate to cut and grind all the brackets off on the stock frame.

 

It is stronger. Also, it's 100x easier to not spend 3 or 4 hours grinding the stock brackets off. Did that on my last truck and....NEVER AGAIN. Grinding sucks!!

 

Plazma cutter/ 7" wild cat grinder/ air chisel no fear here. im gonna do it the hard way and that way it gives me something to do down the road.

 

I had an oxy-acetylene torch and a 4 1/2" grinder. Was down to the frame in about an hour from the first cut

 

ive done lots of sas's im not worried about the time it takes to clean up a frame and im just not seeing the need to replace it.
Edit: in my case i dont see the need