034x4 Solid Axle Swap Thread
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Join Date: Mar 2005
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Solid Axle Swap Progress Thread
Ok well i figured since my truck is pretty far along I'd make a post summarizing what all I have done and all of the specs of the build. Hope this helps some people so they don't have to read the whole thing.
2003 Ford Ranger Edge 4x4 Black
3" PA body lift.
Cut off IFS and all related bracketry.
1981 Jeep Wagoneer Spring under Dana 44.
Internal parts of Dana 44
Yukon 5.13 gears.
Yukon Master install kit.
Full spool.
Yukon Chromoly 30 spline inner shafts.
Yukon Chromoly 19 spline outter shafts.
All brand new brake parts (rotor, calipers, bearings etc)
External Front axle parts/set up
Parks Mike Parts Flat top Knuckles w/ ball joints and high steer arm studs.
Blue torch fab High steer arms (both sides)
TT's fabworks Spring perches and u-bolts.
Blue torch fab Kryptonite diff cover and bolts.
1.5" .250 wall Tie-rod/drag link with 5/8" heims.
RE1555 28" stainless steel brake lines.
Steering
1992 IFS toyota steering box from Foxfab.
Ported for hydro assist by Mild2Wild.
PSC hydo-assist ram.
Custom steering shaft (ranger and 'yota shaft mated together)
Allprofab one peice pitman arm.
Custom power steering pressure hoses.
Front suspension
Alcan custom leafs based off of 8 3/8" rise 7 leaf waggy springs, shortened ~6".
4.5" Stock ranger rear shackles.
No shocks as of yet lol.
Rear axle internal
1999 Explorer Sport Trac 31 spline 8.8.
Yukon 5.13 gears.
Yukon master install kit.
Full detroit locker.
Superior chromoly 31 spline, custom 6 lug shafts.
Rear axle external
Redrilled rotors to 6 lug.
Brand new brake parts (rotor, calipers etc)
7.5 Spring perches off of elliott's old axle lol.
95 exploder spring plates.
95 exploder u-bolts.
Stock diff cover and bolts.
Rear suspension
63" 1992 Chevy 1500 leaf springs.
4.5" stock chevy shackles.
Flipped, cut, and box shackle hangers.
Pushed forward ~6" front spring hangers.
24 (i think?) ES3000 shocks
Mild2Wild shock tabs.
Body
Dovetailed truckbed 17" at tailgate.
Added 2 1x1 square tubing bed supports.
Chopped bumper.
(When i get front fenders...)Cut front fenders.
Engine
MAC intake.
Pro-M MAF.
Half-shafted throttle body.
Ground throttle stop.
Motorcraft double platinum plugs.
Gutted last cat.
2 chamber flowmaster with turndown.
Interior
Door handle surround, floor cup holders, and radio bezel matching green satin paint as axles.
Relocated A/C controls to cup-holders.
Mounted CB in-dash.
Gauges changed to red.
Pioneer DEH1500 (??) headunit.
Sony 1200 watt 2 channel amp.
4 gauge Rockford wires/RCA's.
Custom sealed box i built for 2 Alpine type E 10's (don't have them yet though lol)
Exterior
Headlight mod
Blinker mod.
Camo painted grille and whats left of rear bumper.
60 watt PA speaker painted black behind grille.
MM9500 SE winch (not yet mounted.)
I think thats everything.
Well since all the carnage on the drive home from savannah, I have started my SAS early since i didn't want to dump any more money into my un-reliable, un-able-to-handle-35's IFS. So i am making this thread for pictures and updates as I partake in my SAS.
I am using a D44 out of a '81 wagoneer. Warn chromo-shafts, CTM u-joints, 5.13's, powertrax, CHC high steer knuckles, BTF high steer arms, 'yota IFS steering box, wagoneer 7-leaf spring packs SOA.
Here are some pics of what i have done so far.
This is how the D44 sits right now, all brackets cut off of axle housing, and primered waiting for parts to put her together.
This was taken this morning, everything that is taken off i removed sunday night, the day i got home, and no i don't waste any time lol.
I just took these tonight, I have the front suspension crossmember cut off, all control arms, rack, calipers, shocks off. All i have left is to remove the driveshaft and the front diff and then i will cut the rest of the control arm etc. brackets off.
Here is my pile of crap parts that i have removed.
Passenger side frame rail.
And a view from the front, you can see the crossmember is gone and the front diff is the only thing left.
2003 Ford Ranger Edge 4x4 Black
3" PA body lift.
Cut off IFS and all related bracketry.
1981 Jeep Wagoneer Spring under Dana 44.
Internal parts of Dana 44
Yukon 5.13 gears.
Yukon Master install kit.
Full spool.
Yukon Chromoly 30 spline inner shafts.
Yukon Chromoly 19 spline outter shafts.
All brand new brake parts (rotor, calipers, bearings etc)
External Front axle parts/set up
Parks Mike Parts Flat top Knuckles w/ ball joints and high steer arm studs.
Blue torch fab High steer arms (both sides)
TT's fabworks Spring perches and u-bolts.
Blue torch fab Kryptonite diff cover and bolts.
1.5" .250 wall Tie-rod/drag link with 5/8" heims.
RE1555 28" stainless steel brake lines.
Steering
1992 IFS toyota steering box from Foxfab.
Ported for hydro assist by Mild2Wild.
PSC hydo-assist ram.
Custom steering shaft (ranger and 'yota shaft mated together)
Allprofab one peice pitman arm.
Custom power steering pressure hoses.
Front suspension
Alcan custom leafs based off of 8 3/8" rise 7 leaf waggy springs, shortened ~6".
4.5" Stock ranger rear shackles.
No shocks as of yet lol.
Rear axle internal
1999 Explorer Sport Trac 31 spline 8.8.
Yukon 5.13 gears.
Yukon master install kit.
Full detroit locker.
Superior chromoly 31 spline, custom 6 lug shafts.
Rear axle external
Redrilled rotors to 6 lug.
Brand new brake parts (rotor, calipers etc)
7.5 Spring perches off of elliott's old axle lol.
95 exploder spring plates.
95 exploder u-bolts.
Stock diff cover and bolts.
Rear suspension
63" 1992 Chevy 1500 leaf springs.
4.5" stock chevy shackles.
Flipped, cut, and box shackle hangers.
Pushed forward ~6" front spring hangers.
24 (i think?) ES3000 shocks
Mild2Wild shock tabs.
Body
Dovetailed truckbed 17" at tailgate.
Added 2 1x1 square tubing bed supports.
Chopped bumper.
(When i get front fenders...)Cut front fenders.
Engine
MAC intake.
Pro-M MAF.
Half-shafted throttle body.
Ground throttle stop.
Motorcraft double platinum plugs.
Gutted last cat.
2 chamber flowmaster with turndown.
Interior
Door handle surround, floor cup holders, and radio bezel matching green satin paint as axles.
Relocated A/C controls to cup-holders.
Mounted CB in-dash.
Gauges changed to red.
Pioneer DEH1500 (??) headunit.
Sony 1200 watt 2 channel amp.
4 gauge Rockford wires/RCA's.
Custom sealed box i built for 2 Alpine type E 10's (don't have them yet though lol)
Exterior
Headlight mod
Blinker mod.
Camo painted grille and whats left of rear bumper.
60 watt PA speaker painted black behind grille.
MM9500 SE winch (not yet mounted.)
I think thats everything.
Well since all the carnage on the drive home from savannah, I have started my SAS early since i didn't want to dump any more money into my un-reliable, un-able-to-handle-35's IFS. So i am making this thread for pictures and updates as I partake in my SAS.
I am using a D44 out of a '81 wagoneer. Warn chromo-shafts, CTM u-joints, 5.13's, powertrax, CHC high steer knuckles, BTF high steer arms, 'yota IFS steering box, wagoneer 7-leaf spring packs SOA.
Here are some pics of what i have done so far.
This is how the D44 sits right now, all brackets cut off of axle housing, and primered waiting for parts to put her together.
This was taken this morning, everything that is taken off i removed sunday night, the day i got home, and no i don't waste any time lol.
I just took these tonight, I have the front suspension crossmember cut off, all control arms, rack, calipers, shocks off. All i have left is to remove the driveshaft and the front diff and then i will cut the rest of the control arm etc. brackets off.
Here is my pile of crap parts that i have removed.
Passenger side frame rail.
And a view from the front, you can see the crossmember is gone and the front diff is the only thing left.
Last edited by redranger4.0; 06-17-2007 at 12:49 PM.
#3
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#6
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If you look at the thread in the meet and truck photography, my passenger hub bearing blew out going up I75 N. Bearing and knuckle are worthless, rotor is bad, caliper bracket is ground to 1/2 the thickness and the caliper is worthless. I had 36,000 on the truck.
Just got off the phone with classic city off-road in Athens and got 5.13's, full spool, install kit for the D44, and 5.13's, install kit and notched cross pin shipped to my door for $660. Thanks Bobby.
Also ordered my high steer arms from blue torch fab. And i was going to order my Crane high clearance knuckles but their shop is closed b/c they are moving until august 5th. So i have to find another source for flat top knuckles.
And lastly i ordered my u-joints, went with ox b/c they are about 100$ cheaper than CTM's and since i'm buying everything at once i wanna try and save as much cash as possible. When i get back in contact with the guy i'm ordering my toyota IFS steering box today. And i got all the brake parts (calipers, rotors, pads) on order as well.
Just got off the phone with classic city off-road in Athens and got 5.13's, full spool, install kit for the D44, and 5.13's, install kit and notched cross pin shipped to my door for $660. Thanks Bobby.
Also ordered my high steer arms from blue torch fab. And i was going to order my Crane high clearance knuckles but their shop is closed b/c they are moving until august 5th. So i have to find another source for flat top knuckles.
And lastly i ordered my u-joints, went with ox b/c they are about 100$ cheaper than CTM's and since i'm buying everything at once i wanna try and save as much cash as possible. When i get back in contact with the guy i'm ordering my toyota IFS steering box today. And i got all the brake parts (calipers, rotors, pads) on order as well.
#7
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Yes I am going to run a reversed shackle. The D44 is a narrow-trac waggy. It is not full-width. I am using Parts Mike's D44 flat top knuckles with BTF steering arms. The front drive shaft, i'm going to have a local drivetrain shop a friend works at lengthen it and i probably will run a double-cardan up front depending if it can operate at a steep enough angle for the amount of lift I will have. I might not keep the stock t-case so i'm not too sure on that right now.
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#11
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Originally Posted by 01xltranger4x4
....WOW, i could never tackle anything like that lol!! 5:13 gears are pretty high....hope you dont have any problems with it...good luck with the rest of it!
Originally Posted by RanJerEdge
Thats gonna be awesome, can't wait to see how it ends up. Are you still going to run 35's?
#14
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UPDATE: Got some parts in today. Front and rear 5.13's with install kits. Full spool for D44. And my blue torch fab high steer arms. Them things are beefy as hell. On to the pics.
EDIT: If anyone needs any of the **** that i'm taking off my truck, feel free to PM me with an offer on it.
EDIT: If anyone needs any of the **** that i'm taking off my truck, feel free to PM me with an offer on it.
Last edited by 034x4; 06-22-2005 at 07:42 PM.
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