Will the guts of a 8.2" diff bolt straight into a 8.0" pumpkin?
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There’s a post on FB GXOR whereby someone did this, but there were some mods requiredWill the guts of a 8.2" diff bolt straight into a 8.0" pumpkin?
It certainly seems possible, but with a brand new OEM 8.2 housing costing around $900 if you purchase it abroad (like I did), or around $1,100 from your local Toyota dealer, I'm not sure it is worth it unless you are on a shoestring budget.They will fit, Ive seen this done. You just have to notch the 8" housing and tap a few extra holes for the 8" v2 to fit. Someone posted a write-up on here a few years back. It's basically the same overall housing.
Good food for thought. Thanks!It certainly seems possible, but with a brand new OEM 8.2 housing costing around $900 if you purchase it abroad (like I did), or around $1,100 from your local Toyota dealer, I'm not sure it is worth it unless you are on a shoestring budget.
FYI - complete GX460 8.2s seem to go for around $1,000-1,500, at least around here, or around $500-1K cheaper than a complete 4Runner 8.2. They are a 3.91 ratio so if you aren't planning to re-gear you'd also need the GX460 front differential, which seems to be as cheap as $250-300. So if you shopped around, and (if you have a non-KDSS rig, have some rear sway bar mounts built for the GX460 8.2), you might be able to get a complete 8.2 swap AND a 3.91 regear for around $1,300, AND then recoup some of that cost by selling your old 8" and 3.73 front clamshell as well.
I went the new housing route as it is basically the same cost as a used GX460 complete 8.2, but I get the truss and a brand new axle housing as opposed to something that's going to be 10+ years old and kind of crusty (living in the Midwest, after all).
Thanks, Mr. Bubbles.Frankly, I wouldn't bother with an axle swap unless you plan on running 35s. There aren't actually that many cases of an 8" breaking unless the driver had huge tires or was driving like a moron. Get an Eaton locker and be done with it.
Many people in GXOR Facebook page destroy their 8" rear diff even with light wheeling and 33" tire only. Mostly in slickrock like Moab. The high traction surface cause the carrier to flex and shift contact point to a much narrower part of the gear.Frankly, I wouldn't bother with an axle swap unless you plan on running 35s. There aren't actually that many cases of an 8" breaking unless the driver had huge tires or was driving like a moron. Get an Eaton locker and be done with it.
There have been enough 8" failures that I'm not personally willing to sink $2200 into a regear and Harrop, only to grenade the 8" rear diff and have to spend that money again for an 8.2 swap. I also want the flexibility to add 35s later. Buy once, cry once.Frankly, I wouldn't bother with an axle swap unless you plan on running 35s. There aren't actually that many cases of an 8" breaking unless the driver had huge tires or was driving like a moron. Get an Eaton locker and be done with it.