Well, me and steven (dvcp) are definetly highly considering solid axle swaping both our trucks soon. I just want to start this thread so we can talk about it w/o having to pm and all that. So far, it seems pretty easy, we have a connection for the axles (both front and rear) and all the other stuff will be saved for later (i.e. boggers/powertrax/gears) b/c I am just going to SAS with my same size tires, not lift it too much more, I just want it for the 4wd. I'm not in it for flexing (fl is flat w/ mudholes), I just want 4wd.

I was going to trade my truck in, but it's way cheaper (and way better) to SAS it.

I don't know what steven plans on doing, but I'm only raising (at the most) 2 more inches than now. I will probably use 4-6" lift springs in the front with a D30 (or if I can find it D44).

Trying to get it knocked out in a weekend, just cut everything off, weld up perches and crossmember, go to town!!!

If anyone has any more ideas, or input, feel free to tell me, I'm more than willing to hear it.

 

if it was only that easy

 

^^^I know!!!! I wish it was.... :)

 

lol more like transfer case? will it mount to the tranny?

what size tires?

i wouldnt run a D30, you could prolly get away with certian D30s but idk.

also what gearing? what rear axle? you need an 8.8 either 28 or 31 spline or your speedo will not work.

what about width? what axle from where?

also front driveshaft?

coil or leaf spring?

what steering box? how are you goin to adapt your steering now to the steering box?

how do plan to mount the steering box

brakes? abs?

million things u need to think about

 

better plan for your truck being off the road for at least 2 weeks while you get everything done

 

Yea, sorry, forgot to put the details...

I gotta tlak to ryan about the transfer case, but he told me he got 2 extra, and on top of that knows where to get em.

I'm keeping my tires for a little while now...I'd rather do my SAS and have money to eat after it I'll go to (boggers) in 36x14.50 or 37x13 after a while...I'd like to not go huge b/c I know I will break stuff, bad!!! (Ryan showed us that this weekend...well, we actually don't know what it's from {the axle shaft})

Gearing, for now...whatever I can find that comes stock (most likely 4.10's b/c thats what most of the D30's round here are)

Im not regearing until I hit bigger tires. and when I do regear, I'll throw a powertrax up front and rear.

I'm going 8.8 28 spline most likely, and if I can find it, 31 spline out of a level 2 or expo. We can weld expo perches and do that swap in a day, thats not a big deal bc the axle is out of the truck when we do it, so I can do that WAY before the swap.

Steering will be from toyota :)

Definetly springs

ABS/Brakes, I dunno, I'm counting on the fact that ryan has done 2 swaps before on rangers, so he knows what to do!






BTW, if things don't work out with the SAS, I'll still BL of 36x14.50's and get a level2 rear (i may have a connection for em) with 4.88's or 5.13's and lock it!!!

Either way, my truck is going straight up!!!

 

duh. lol

Coil springs or leaf springs

 

you will also have to replace the transmission to make it attach to a transfer case....the tail shafts are different....the 1 for a 4x4's shaft is longer........please dont get a axle out of an early bronco.....it is the easiest swap as it is the correct width, but it is a low pinion and will limit the lift you put on it......you can have a full size Dana 44 cut down for a decent price.........and it will have disc brakes.........you can also send your rear axle shafts out to Moser or to any machine shop and they can redrill them to accept the 5x5.5 bolt pattern........dont forget you will need new wheels.......

 

i would also go with the coil spring front end instead of leaf spring.......a coil spring looks more of a stock and i personally believe you can get more wheel travel out of a coil spring.......heck a nice coil over would be cool!

 

The Ranger Station info

 

haha, I did that to mess with ya...

I'm going leaf...It seems easiest (most touble free also) and I can get more lift easily.

I didn't know that about the tranny. I thought you could just bolt up that different transfer case (whichever one it was).

I hate to say it, and i will curse myself down the road for it, but I am going for easiest swap right now. It will probably be out of a wagonner or bronco, either one. I really, honestly don't want too much more lift out of it. I do want it to be bigger, but I've seen SOOO much crap break on tires above 35's, I think I'm sticking to 36x14.50's. It will look sweet, be SAS, etc.

As far as the wheels, I think I'm going to just get a different lug pattern of the same wheels. I wanna get some MT classics, so I'll get 5 on 4.5 for the rear 5 on 5.5 for the front...if they make that size or if it will even work.

I'm just going by what ryan said, and they have everything working pretty good between him and jesse, so we should be able to do my truck pretty easily (seeing as this is the 3rd one) and we aren't changing much between the 3 trucks...so it shouldn't be toooo bad. We'll see.

AFter all, I may not SAS, it was just a thought, we were kicking around the idea, since I wanna get 4x4. I may just build a really really really capable 2wd (bl on 36x14.50 boggers and 31 spline rear with locker) or something along those lines. I dunno yet :)

 

the trannys are different......the only difference is the tail shaft, and the rear section of the tranny that the transfer case bolts to.........you can get the classic II's in 5x5.5 bolt pattern but i doubt you can get the correct backspacing for a ranger.....they may either be in too far or out too far......i would have my rear axles sent out to be redrilled to accept the 5x5.5 bolt pattern.....it wouldn't cost much i looked into it and it was like $50 an axle.....that is pretty cheap considering you will be able to rotate the tires......

 

if he is going to run a D30 it will more then likly be 5x4.5 he wont have to have the axle changed to 5x5.5

and if your gonna do that why not goto 6 lug?

 

good plan, for what you have down there should work nicly.

if i ever did it i would want coils tho.

 

what happened?

 

i believe he broke an axle shaft

 

Broke an axle shaft...I dunno the details on where/what happened to the shaft, but it was broken.






So far, I got a plan, I just don't have parts :)

 

I'd like to keep an eye on this if you go through with it! keep us posted with every little thing you buy and everything that gives you trouble.

 

gotta start somewhere!

 

I will. I'm trying my best. DVRP (steve) is also willing to go through it together with me. WE may do them at the same time. Who knows?

I'll keep ya updated though!!

 

jesus, who would have thought with stock shafts and 38 inch boggers

 

Maybe he was wheeling until this broke before he upgraded?

I can't wait to see the list and info you've come up with man!!

 

Possibly but I wouldnt be caught on a trail locked and with the 37s im running and stock d44 shafts. on any tight trail people would be pissed at breakage like that..

 

it was his rear axle, so im assuming it was the 8.8 not the 44

 

It was the 8.8, from the way he was talking abot it, i guess the last wheeling trip he went on, the truck got beat to **** or something. thats probably what caused it. Or doing burnouts...or a list of other thigns.

Just time for bigger and better, thats all.



Supergildo, we did clog up the trial too, luckily it wasnt busy though...if it was, ppl woulda got pissed!!!