Solid Axle Swap BS Thread

X2

 

I'm starting to feel like I might actually start my swap. I have the following sitting at the house and have a line on shop space to work in.

- 94 Ford D60 (Already cleaned the mounts off)
- 14 Bolt out of a 2000 GM Express Van
- Hutchinson Beadlocks
- Pitbull Rocker Radials, 41.5
- Just ordered all the heims for the 3 link and steering up front

The plan is to leave the chevy 63's out back for the time being and knock out the front 3 link. That's the quickest way to get me back rolling again, hopefully in time for Rock Therapy in October. I'll finish putting together my shopping list over the weekend and then set about setting my cc on fire.

 

Get the gearing and lockers done while the axles are out and easy to deal with. Hope you make it to RT. Planing on being there for a full 9 days

 

That's the plan. Now that I have both axles in hand I'm going to start making calls on the full rebuild package plus gears and lockers. Try to knock it all out in one swoop.

 

Oh really? Not as easy as it seems to shave those axles correctly. But you are more than welcome to try with the angle grinder and stick welder you used for your SAS

 

Since I did an arb I went with thin factory 5.38 gears. Cam with pinion bearings and set up kit. Dana/Spicer is still making them. Just a thought.

 

I think you are up to a great start. Nice parts list. But of course I am biased toward 1ton builds

How do the early 90' ball joint D60s rate against other ones? I think I read somewhere that the early 2000's ball joint are the more desirable ones, but I really have no idea. just curious more than anything else.

 

I'll keep that in mind bud. The plan is to run ARB's front and back. Looks like ECG has the gear kit.

 

No idea, I just know that I can make it work and it didn't cost a fortune. I paid $450 for it, so I'm off to a good start.

 

A stick welder is actually the correct application for that!

Shaving the lip off takes 1min with a sawzall! The builder you paid made it sound harder than it is!!

 

I'm running a 92 Ford D60 from the what I've seen is people desire the newer super 60 because the balljoints are bigger and the C's are way bigger, as is the axle tubes. If anyone starts making lower gears for the dodge AAM axle that's where it's at. Way better option for a SAS. If I could get 5.38's and a arb for it I'd bail my Dana and run the AAM

 

I got my 08 SD dana60 for $300

 

That's what my buddy paid for his snow fighter king pin 60

 

Ahhh...so that's what the differences are. Interesting. BTW, for some reason I thought you were running a kingpin D60.

Also interesting to learn about the AAM axles.

Oh....I have seen those 05+ D60s and those things are absolute monsters. The ball joints, Inner C's, knuckles and axle tubes are bigger than any other D60. Plus they come with 35spline axles from factory all around. Only negative is the unit bearings and very short driver side axle tube.

 

No one likes a show off! Dick

 

Man, I don't know where people find those kingpin axles so cheap. I looked for almost a year and couldn't not find anything cheaper than a grand...plus shipping.

 

They get them from their brothers, uncles, cousin.

 

Monkeys can mig, just saying. Stick ftw.

 

I normally score deals locally off CL, junkyards or car-part. It takes some patience and being able to buy with cash right when things come up but deals are out there. Especially in the rust belt where you can get parts off of a vehicle that is a rusty pile.

 

Haha, yea, the same guy that also did a SAS for a $1,000 and a case of beer