3/4ton axles under a mini? (1 Viewer)

[302yoda]

So I'm a soldier, Coming home for a few months from training, before my deployment, in august to Afghanistan.

So I'd like to take a good portion of my bonus from the ARMY, and money I've saved and have fun with my 88 TOYOTA X-TRA cab. I Live in the midwest where mud trucks are the norm, and most off-road areas are mainly mudpits.

So I'd like to take my highschool truck a 88 x-tra cab (Currently IFS w/33's) and put one ton axles under it. I was thinking that buying a complete chevy would be the way to go as I could swap the complete drivetrain into my toyota all at once and not have to worry about doing a engine/tranny swap latter and have to spend more money on driveshafts and other things all over.

I've looked into it quite abit but Still have a few questions.

1. I know that chevy springs are longer so would that move the front axle back?Also what springs do most people run when they use chevy springs on the front?
2. Also The front axle worries me, Do you have to move the center section of the axle so the leaf spring can mount with the axle centered? If so I can have the axle cut and have new tubes/axles installed but would rather not.

I wish I could take measurements but the truck I have lined up to buy is in IA and my trucks in IL, and to make things better I'm in Maryland for training. I can't measure anything.

So if anyone can help with these couple of problems, or has any suggestions/or possible issues I'd love to know. Because Thinking of this thing in my head is a little different than being able to see the stuff.

Thank you in advance.

Also The truck I'm going to buy is at a junkyard and my buddy found it, just got there still runs in fact he drove it in the yard. I don't know much about it besides it got a 400 small block, and a Turbo 400 tranny, hes into cars so he was wanting the engine/tranny and didn't look at the axles but its a mid 80's 3/4 ton truck.

 

[Wile E Coyote]

Watch that 3/4 ton front axle. There's a lilelyhood the front axle is a D-44/D-44 HD ( I Know Dodges, and I think Chebby is similar in this regard). Not a deal breaker, but it's not as desirable as the D-60 fronts for strength.
Here's one resource for putting tons under your Toy mini:Official Toyota One Ton FAQ - Pirate4x4.Com Bulletin Board

 

[shelfboy1]

muddin is king here now and lots of mini trucks running 35s and 38s with stock axles .they never break usually stop running when the go in over the computer.lots of chevies and fords 1/2 and 3/4 ton and they always break by the end of the day the toyotas are still running

 

[302yoda]

Yeah I know that toyota axles are strong but When you really look at how much a solid axle swap kit costs, plus the money you spend on long fields,lockers,and gears, You really don't spend anymore money to buy a chevy truck complete around here thats only 500 bucks running if you look. Then if you get lucky you can sell parts off that truck like the cab/bed and make more than ur money back or sell it cheap and fast and make a big dent in it. so the axles/engine tranny are pretty cheap, if not free.

So money wise its better in my mind to just do some fab work being as I've got access to the tools needed and have the extra width and power from a 350 or 400 small block.

Also I could probably just pull the engine/tranny/transfer out of that truck and find a diff. 1ton for the axles.

Is there any kind of truck to look for specifically, dodges have the passenger side pumpkin to don't they? or is it better to stick chevy to chevy?

 

[liljlandon]

Most 3/4 chevys will have a 10bolt front (basically a d44 by chevy) and a 14bolt rear. I believe dodge/chevy trades and ford is by itself, but im not sure. As for strength issues, we run a 10bolt front under our heep scrambler with a stroked and joked 360amc (about 500horses of hell). It is spooled and tortured by 38's. Granted, the truck was built for mud to begin with, weve had it in some rock comps as well. The 10bolt has held up fine, the biggest issue is unlocking the hubs with the spool. You could sell the toyota stuff and pay for the chevy itself and profit from the rest. Although, I would keep it... They are getting harder to find.

 

[shelfboy1]

i didnt see the ifs part build it have fun and thanks for serving.

 

[mookie]

personally i'd rather have a toyota front axle all day long over a 10 bolt or a d44.....i've seen more broken D44's over the last 3 years than everything else combined......if you want tons then look for a set out of a military cucv truck. D60/14bolt with a detroit already in the 14 bolt and 4.56 gears, should be able to find it for around $1200....basically you are getting a D60 with a 14 bolt thrown in for free!

 

[302yoda]

Yeah I didn't know that they had that axle setup. I don't really know how to get a hold of one though I see them everyday, and I'll be workin on them shortly being as I'm a wheeled vehicle mechanic In the army, I'll have to look for some.

 

[shelfboy1]

try govliquidations.com they sell all over the country. we bought 2 cucvs that were parted but had the axles and good bodies for 800.00 .good luck

 

[mookie]

you can find them on craigslist, pirate4x4 and probably on your local 4x4 message board....$800 is a smoking good deal

 

[302yoda]

shelfboy1 Thank you and I'm proud to serve. Also I knew about govliguidation but haven't look on their for a while and i'll be looking for some axles when I get home. After Some research online I'm gonna be looking for buying a whole CUCV cause I've heard of people getting them from 500-1200 dollars now and thats like getting the Detroit, and 4.56 gears for free

Thanks alot to all that have helped with this and I'll be posting up picks of the build in the next few months depending on when I get my CUCV and when I get my bonus. Thanks again.