Beat to death, but SAS?

[BLACKDOG]

Ok, I've decided to do my SAS this summer.  I am gonna try and do it as cheaply as possible.  I have a guy who is gonna show/help me weld up anything I need.  I'm gonna do junkyard springs, marlin's crossover, junkyard shock hoops, etc.

coupla questions, and then the parts will be collected.  Which should I use for my front axle.  I have heard both good and bad about dana44s and toyota axles.  I will probably still be using the IFS rear, unless I decide to go crazy and do 60s depends on how cheap I can get them and what not. 

I have 5.29s right now, is there a dana44 gear that matches that?  I heard that 5.29sare not used in the dana44 axles.  I know which years of toyota to go after are the mid 80s for thestronger gusset. 

Here is what I am thinking
f250 shock hoops
dana 44 or toyota axle
i dont know what springs
fabbed hangers, prolly using marlin's patterns

any advice is much appreciated

[mr4x42u]

rears up front mixed with added leafs for a total of 6 or 7,,f-250 shock hoops,,and either or on the axles..Being there about the same strength anymore i'd go with what is cheapest to buy and build...I would rather have the toy front if it were up to me..with all the goodies for them these days I bet its still cheaper to build then a 44.

[BigMike]

Hey BD, Can you get it built by DB's Birthday bash?

[BLACKDOG]

Hey BD, Can you get it built by DB's Birthday bash?

mabye, but I'm definitely shootin' for the roundup

[BLACKDOG]

rears up front mixed with added leafs for a total of 6 or 7,,f-250 shock hoops,,and either or on the axles..Being there about the same strength anymore i'd go with what is cheapest to buy and build...I would rather have the toy front if it were up to me..with all the goodies for them these days I bet its still cheaper to build then a 44.

Lookin for about a 4"  lift.  I have chevys in the rear already,and dont plan to change them at this time.  Unfortunatley, I dont have the rears to put in the front.  I think it may be easier to get a dana44, and cheaper as well.  I know I want to go full width eventually, so I may just go with the 44.  Are there differences?  What is a good vehicle to pull one off of? and how do you identify them?  I have gotten confused before, and wanna make sure I get the right thing

[91 super yoda]

Im in the same boat your in, ive got both a 44 and a toyota axle, I got the 44 out of an 80 Scout II because its abou the right width and its passenger drop, hte downside is I have a real limited choice of gears, i havent done a lot of reserch but i think 4.88 is as close as i can get, but ive got a friend runnin 4.88s on 36's doin just fine, but strenght wise there are parts for both to make them stronger just comes down to personal preference. and when i did all my figuren it would come out cheaper to use a 44.

[BLACKDOG]

one of my problems is I just put in new gears, and they are 5.29s.  I dunno if dana44s had a gear set that matches that.  I'm hoping they do, otherwise I will probably drop to 4.88s as well.   I'm also dropping tire size to 35"s, so I should be alright

[lilbuddy]

The closest gear for a d44 would be a 5.38. My buddy on his 91 has a IFS rear and D44 up front with 5.29 in the rear and 5.38s in the front. It does just fine. And he has 37" MT/Rs.

[whiteman]

I would run the toy axles , I am a big fan of dana's but the toyota's are good axles.  They have certainly impressed me, all except that birfield bullpoo.  As far as I know with a dana 44, in your gear range you can get 4.56, 4.88, 5.13, and 5.38.  The problem with 44's is it's hard to get one the right width whithout narowing it, which is possible if you want to do the extra work and have custom axle shafts made.  The wagoneer 44's are a little wider than a toy but the problem with them is I believe it's the caster or mabey the camber that you have to correct buy cutting and turning the knuckles.

[BLACKDOG]

so to use a 44, i should prolly try to get a scout axle?  I am kinda leaning toward a toy axle, but I want to keep my options open, cause I know I can get a dana for cheaper

[whiteman]

          

             i cant believe how stupid i am, i was wrong.  The wagoneer is the one you want, its the scout that you have to cut and turn the knuckles on.  Sorry about that.   My bad

[LA_Fred]

My vote, toy axle with 30 spline longs!!! Unless you want the extra width of the d44. Even better would be FROR housing!!! Good luck Blackdog and post some pics when the buildup begins!

[MidgetMike]

I'll give you a hand with if you need it. I have all the tools and the steel hook up, I might be able to find you some springs or an axle.

[Hyena]

I have 2 sets of rear springs sitting in my garage.

[awhotrods]

go with the toyota front axle!  I just got back from hammers and the 4runner with a 44 broke 3 time, (u joints) and all the trucks with the standard $60 longfields never broke, even in some nasty shiit!  44's suck, not even worth the time or money to install it.

[BLACKDOG]

Thanks MidgetMike and Hyena.  I might be hitting you guys up   I want to do this this summer, and I have to do it with VERY small budget, that is why I am trying to do junkyard parts.  I'm thinkin go with the toy axle though, just seems as if it'd be easier

[mudaddict]

TOY!!! thats my vote!

[BigMike]

Seriously, can't ya find a Toy axle at a local parts yard ?

[BLACKDOG]

havent looked too much, but the PnPs rarely have them, and the other yards have really high prices

[BigMike]

If you can make it to Fresno, I know of a couple of guys who collect Yota parts, and I can see if they have a complete axle.

We have some axles at the shop, but none that are complete I'm afraid

[BLACKDOG]

I've got a couple of places to look.  And some people to talk to.  Is the only strength difference in the 1st gen and 2nd gen yota axles the gusset?   

[BigMike]

Yup, 79-83 Axles have small gaussets, 84 axles have gaussets that extend out to the u-bolts, and 85 axles have gaussets that extend all the way out to the knuckle ball joint.

D44s are heavier, larger, and have worse ground clearance as compared to a Toy axle, and in my opinion the axles are not any stronger.
Try to find a Toy axle and keep your truck all Toyota!

[mudaddict]

Ya keep it all toyota dont put anyhitng that jeeps come with ahah! i was lookin at some d44's this morning ona  cj7, i would agree i think the toyota axles hvae more clearance then those things!

[MidgetMike]

Thanks MidgetMike and Hyena.  I might be hitting you guys up   I want to do this this summer, and I have to do it with VERY small budget, that is why I am trying to do junkyard parts.  I'm thinkin go with the toy axle though, just seems as if it'd be easier

I'm all about small budgets, between you Hyena and I and any body else I bet we could do it in about 6 hours   

[91 super yoda]

i havent done a swap yet on mine but was leaning toward the 44, just seems a bit easier, but why is it that you have to cut and turn the knuckles, is it to fix the drive shaft angle. and also i found 4340 chromoly shafts OX lifetime warranty u-joints and lifetime warranty warn hubs for much chaper than i can build a toyota axle with the same stregth. and i know you lose ground clearance but is it enough to even matter

[BigMike]

I was just courious why its easier? Its more abundant?

I've never done a SAS either but it just seems that an axle is an axle. What about the flange bolt pattern on the D44?Will that work with a Toy shaft

No matter which way ya go you'll gonna love that solid axle!

[BLACKDOG]

I was just courious why its easier? Its more abundant?

I've never done a SAS either but it just seems that an axle is an axle. What about the flange bolt pattern on the D44?Will that work with a Toy shaft

No matter which way ya go you'll gonna love that solid axle!

In my case, yes, I can get a 44 out of a junkyard easily.  but I would like to keep it toy, unti I go fullwidth.  I just cant afford that right now, I dont think, and I am too impatient to wait.  Figure I'll do this one, then I'll have a base to go off of when I go fullwidth.

I dunno about the toy shaft, I have heard both sides on that one.

I know I am going to  love the solid axle, I Cant wait.  I'm tempted to go out there and start cuttin off the IFS, then I'll have to get a solid axle

[WHITE_TRASH]

Mikey your close but not exactly correct.  79 and early 80 have NO gusset.  Im running a 79 housing just for that reason.  Anyone that pays extra for a 84 or 85 housing is a total idiot.  The gusset isnt all that strong to start with and why pay extra for less ground clearance?  I have no gusset on the bottom of my housing just for the ground clearance.  Oh yea d44's suck.  Stay away.

[Hyena]

I cut my gusset off of my 80 front housing and put it on the top for a little bit more strength and ground clearance.  the SAs wouldn't take more then a day to do if you have all the parts.

[BLACKDOG]

what exactly do I need?  the metal for the hangers. springs, axle, extended brake lines, shocks, steering (will my IFS steering work temporarily?)

what else?