Hello All
I'm looking for advice. I picked up a set of LC 80 series axles and planning to swap them onto my 1st gen. My questions are in regards to how to clean up the 80 series axles, removing all the tabs and spring perches, I have access to a plasma cutter, welder and of course an array of angle grinders.

Questions are:
 Seals: Is it possible to go through the clean up procedure and save the inner seals etc wile being installed?
Oil: Should I drain the oil prior to plasma or grinding, or leave oil in and drain after?
Welding of new tabs; Weld on tabs and perches with oil in the axle or remove oil? Can new  perches and tabs be welded on with axle complete.
Strip Down: should I just plan on completely striping down the axles to the bare housings?

Thanks for reading

i wouldn't worry about the gear oil either way but i drained mine.
go slow. like 2" beads at a time.
rotate where you weld so you don't concentrate too much heat in a single area.
strip it down and build it back up.
replace the seals....cheap and the last thing to get to when tearing down.
get gloves and towels it's a pretty messy project but rewarding when done.
my build has pics.

CB

One other question

Does anyone know if  drive line length be the same when I switch from mini to 80 series

Definitely strip them down to the housing before cutting and welding. I have done a couple 80 swaps, if you have any other ? along the way post them up.

Thanks Joeyf
Ill post some pictures when available.  Do you have any 80s swap build pictures on this forum? Do you drive any of the 80s swapped mini trucks on the street? If so were there any issues with the rear dive line angle and the passenger side rear dif angle?

Sorry no build on them. Yes one of the rigs is a DD,  the offset does nothing to the drive line. Just set the pinion angle to what ever drive line you are going to use, CV or no CV.

Awesome man thats what i wanted to hear, thanks!