Solid Axle Swap *In The Progress* UPDATE

[03SMURF]

They did great with everything except mud. Took a lot of wheelspin. But, they aren't really a mud tire. They actually rode really well on the road.

[Btempy]

O3SMURF post some pics of your truck..

[03SMURF]

http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forum/i...ml#post5479022

[Btempy]

Alright, Since i didnt post pictures when doing the swap ill be sure to do it this time around.
2 lift tickets later 4" over the limit, with 35s easily clear 40s as it is.
So Stock 52s in the front and remove the 4" block in the rear.
dana 60 swap in the front
Here we go:
Heres is with 12" of lift
Front: 4" overstock 52" atlas leafs, Dana 44, 4.10s and no driveshaft.
Rear: 8" Overstock 54" atlas leafs & 4" block in the rear,14 bolt w/ Detroit locker 4.56 gears and disk brakes



Picked up a dana 60 (78-79) for $500





Cleaned up, brackets grinded off, and painted.


Ditched the 3.54 gears, installed a set of 4.56 gears, to match the rear.
I think the pattern looks pretty darn good.

[Btempy]

4/21/12
Finally got the stock 52s for the front.
Thank you donor truck

Tore the leafs apart & removed the overload; Also got the front driveshaft from the k5

The bad: Leaf spring center bolt broke removing them, bushing are shot, and the driveshaft was seize in the slip

- Finally got the drive shaft freed up after lots of persuading. Ended up soaking it in gear oil to help loosen it up and tied it to 2 trees with a come-along at one end. Got it as tight as i could and hit it with a hammer a few times, loosened up a little, tightened it up a little more and a couple more hits and the end came free.

[Btempy]

4/26/12
Got some work done:
Removed the 4" block from the rear
*sorry no pics* just imagine it sitting @ss low nose high
Dana 44 removed. FOR SALE PM ME

Front springs are out of a 91 k5 blazer 4leaf pack. Removed the overload.
**Still have to head over to the local spring shop and pick up the bushings, Teflon pads, and center bolts.**

[Btempy]

4/27/12
Picked up the rest of the parts today to get the leafs together..
Kingpins removed!,
best thing ive ever bought http://www.wfoconcepts.com/pr/WFO-Ge...over/3205/4358
After breaking 3/4" tools decided to get this, one hit and its out.

Shock tabs welded on
****

Leafs hung


Dana 60 under





Get pictures tomorrow of how it looks on all fours, just to dark now

[Btempy]

Dana 60 is in.. Back on all fours










UPDATE 5/28/12
Picked up a NBS master cylinder & adapter fitting (BLF-26c) for the one line
Out of a 1500 Nbs w/ 4wheel disks





Setup works great! Pedal is firm.

[silver98Z71]

Looks good. You'll love the 52s. Plans for a sway bar?

[Btempy]

Looks good. You'll love the 52s. Plans for a sway bar?

I had 52s to begin with, Does ride better with the stock ones. Not as stiff
Need to finish up some small stuff before i go wheeling, need longer shocks theres about 2" of uptravel before they hit the shocks bump stops, have to modify the exhaust to make room for the front driveshaft, and most likely will have to get the stock k5 front shaft shortened. No plans for a sway bar, debating weither or not to run the dual stabilizers i had on the 44.
But i have to say i like it alot better at 8" then 12" gives it a much better stance with the 35s actually in the fenders now, and its under the legal lift limit down here of 30->29 just barely though

[bigblazerboy]

looks good mine next? lol i need to find a ford axle for cheap. finding a 241 with electric vss wont be fun. im about tired of my loose ass front end and so much play and crappy ride of cranked truck bars

[monsterchevy355]

how much you spend on the springs and front and rear hangers? Iv got the **** and know how to make the front but not the rears. Looks pretty difficult to me. way easier to just do what u did. It be worth the money i think

[squeaky3]

looks great now, much better height now than before

[Btempy]

how much you spend on the springs and front and rear hangers? Iv got the **** and know how to make the front but not the rears. Looks pretty difficult to me. way easier to just do what u did. It be worth the money i think

Not sure, the rear springs were about $800 a piece and so were the front when i had the 4" custom atlas, but that was with shipping from cali.
picked up the stock 52s & the front driveshaft for $60 total from a buddy that's parting out his k5.
For simplicity i would just buy a kit. Offroaddesign has a nice kit out. I used the fabworx kit, but they since changed the design i dont like the new style one bit witht he logos and shi*t cut into the brackets

[Btempy]

looks good mine next? lol i need to find a ford axle for cheap. finding a 241 with electric vss wont be fun. im about tired of my loose ass front end and so much play and crappy ride of cranked truck bars

If you get the stuff ill help you set it all up. Got mine done in a couple hours.
Started with everything in pieces, still had to remove/torque kingpins, weld shock tabs, get the leafs together and press in the new bushings, centerpins, and pads, re assemble axle, hook up steering.
I Like the way my truck rides, Nice and smooth.
Not bad for a solid axled, lifted 8", and with unbalanced 35s
and steering aint that bad either, can steer it with one finger no problem
** I still got the 78-79 dana 44, still has the crossover arms and everything! 4.10 gears

[monsterchevy355]

Im a poor white boy lol. no way in hell id ever spend that much on anything other then parts for my L98 tbi. I only spent 700 for complete rebuild of my 355tbi and still runnin strong. I ran the **** out of it when i had it and its been in 3 different trucks now and 3 different owners. Still has 60lbs oil press. not a knock one and dont smoke a bit. been 4 yrs now. Ill stick to the half ton junkyard rearend and ill figure out a way to make rear hangers. damn cost of living sucks in missouri. some bitcH

[monsterchevy355]

better yet i think ill stick to building motors lol. suspention aint my thang

[Btempy]

better yet i think ill stick to building motors lol. suspention aint my thang

Suspensions all i do. Much rather be rebuilding a rear end/ regearing then doing any king of engine work.
Still deciding if i want to swap in a 6bt & Nv4500 trans. But i think 4.56 gears will be a little to much.

[monsterchevy355]

**** we'd make a pretty damn good team.

[Jon4x4]

You wanna sell those u bolt plates lol