Solid Axle Swap BS Thread

either way it hurts the wallet

 

I prefer to call that an "investment in sanity"

 

Got the axle shafts together. Hopefully have it done next week.

 

How much can one notch/dent the oil pan before I hit something? Trying to decide if I can get a little more up travel by notching the pan.

Pictures from bayareataco build and concerned about the long notch across the front. Mines probably about the same from self clearancing lol.

 

A decent amount, the limiting factor is the oil pickup tube. Checkout my build and buried in there you can see what I did.

 

haha! I like that. Yea man...it's all about keeping one's sanity. Life's too short.

Those ruff stuff housings are so bad ass. I really like them.

 

Got one hub done and bent the drill bit on the 3rd hole of the 2nd hub so called it a day. Got both knuckles on and should have it done next week when Im off again

 

Well decided I’m just gonna bite the bullet and getting full hydro from PSC. Don’t really want to go cheap on steering products. Gonna order it all in the week or so.

 

@malburg114 if you notch your oil pan, you will want to put studs in the block instead of using the oil pan bolts. Those bolts are super weak and will break right off, and you will probably warp the pan welding it, the studs will let you torque that pan down tight. I got my studs from Ace hardware, but if you have any halfway decent hardware stores near you should be able to find metric studs that work.

 

I decided not to notch the oil pan and am just going to lower the bump stops. The amount I would notch would let the steering get into the frame and would only be for maybe 1/4".

 

the brand name is not as important but they do sell quality parts. It is money well spent.

 

The only thing to worry about is the oil pickup tube which can be cut and modified as well. I used a modified 3.0 oil pan with a modified 3.0 oil pickup and the stock 3.4 baffle. It was worth it for me. Let me try and find some pics.

 

Finally got the front air locker working.

Have to say....damn, selectable lockers are way cool. I've always had auto lockers front/rear and thought that selectable lockers were a total waste of money. But being able to select between open/locked differential with the flip of a switch is sper convenient. Rear axle still has an auto locker and will likely stay that way for a very long time 'cause I don't see myself spending money on another air locker anytime soon lol

 

jelly. would love for my front to be selectable. steering goes from school bus status in 2wd to train status when I'm in 4wd, hubs locked lol

 

lol

I hear you man. Auto lockers up front can work but you don't realize how big of pain they really are until you go selectable

Only reason why I have selectable is because the locker came with the axle already installed, so I got a deal on it. These things are too much money brand new when add the price of the unit, labor, air source if you don't have one already, etc.

 

I've said it before and i'll say it again. having the rear locked makes steering worse over having the front locked in. Selectable lockers front and rear and only use em when you need them.

 

Agreed

 

For a few years I had the rear differential open while the front was locked. It worked surprisingly well.

But having an auto locker in the rear axle is not too bad if you have the option of disengaging the rear driveline (atlas, dana 300, etc.).

 

I have that option but honestly the truck is worthless with out the rear pushing on anything other than flat ground. Also it's way less stress on your entire drive train to be off road in 4wd open open.

 

Absolutely true, especially on the front axle. Wanna keep stress out of that one! Truth is that lockers are not needed all the time. But when you need them you need them for sure.