Anyone running a V8 Tundra Rear Axle under a 40/45/55?

[Drake2]

Hi all,
I was wondering if anyone is running a V8 Tundra rear end under their 40, 45, or 55? I am contemplating this as an option for a centered rear axle so I can keep my NP205 on the back of the TH400 tranny. I am guessing the axle is also wider than a stock FJ40 setup. If you have some pics that would be great, cause you know we all like pics

Thanks

 

[Drake2]

I'm thinking if it is enough to handle the Tundra V8 it would be a good option as some of the newer models I think come with disk brakes on the rear as well. I would like to keep the axles all Toyota if possible. If anyone thinks of possible swap issues please drop a note. Thanks

 

[Drake2]

Bump

 

[Drake2]

Hey John, do you have some pics of your axle setup handy? Thanks!

 

[Drake2]

Hi Lil'John, you sure have some awesome rides! You've obviously put a serious amount of time into them to make them perfect for you! I appreciate the pics very much and they will give me a bit more to think about. I have mostly put the hardcore mud bogging behind me, couple decades ago actually. I spent about 10 years building hardcore, non-road legal rigs that I had to trailer to the actual wheeling areas.....these days I just want to make my current 40 a great DD (with the 400 SBC, Turbo 400 auto, and 35" tires) that is capable of hitting the highway for some week long adventures. No LC clubs in this area and very few LC friends within a couple hour drive so I have to be able to put some distance on the 40 when it's finished. I recently bought a rolling 67 chassis in Lincoln, California that is ready for shipment as soon as I find someone to transport it for a reasonable price . This will give me a good doner tub to replace the patchwork 68 tun that I have in my shop now. I was thinking of a V8 tundra or 200 series rear so I can have the center diff for the NP205 output but I would probably have to narrow it to do it right for the road. So many unknowns..........

 

[pb4ugo]

This is another option, Centered L/C/mini truck hybrid rear. I swapped to a center rear output Dana model 20 T/case with 2.46:1 low. I did this because my 3rd member already has a detroit locker and 4.88 gears in it. Its was easy and cheap. I run a SBC,Sm420,dana 20T/case, 35 x 10.5 boggers, its been this way for 5yrs or more with no problems. The rearend is stk width.

.

 

[Living in the Past]

If your willing to have fine spline inner axle made a early FJ40 had a centered diff and same size as the late diffs. Axle housing will be a direction bolt in on a 40. These all had coarse spine axles.

 

[Drake2]

This is another option, Centered L/C/mini truck hybrid rear. I swapped to a center rear output Dana model 20 T/case with 2.46:1 low. I did this because my 3rd member already has a detroit locker and 4.88 gears in it. Its was easy and cheap. I run a SBC,Sm420,dana 20T/case, 35 x 10.5 boggers, its been this way for 5yrs or more with no problems. The rearend is stk width.View attachment 1991027.

Interesting, what makes it

L/C/mini truck hybrid? It does not look like a Toy minitruck housing?​

 

[Drake2]

If your willing to have fine spline inner axle made a early FJ40 had a centered diff and same size as the late diffs. Axle housing will be a direction bolt in on a 40. These all had coarse spine axles.

That's a good idea as well, not sure how easy a centered early housing would be to find and the cost that goes with it. If I had 2 custom axle shafts made, would a fine splined LC 3rd member drop right in? I have extra drop ins laying around

 

[Living in the Past]

That's a good idea as well, not sure how easy a centered early housing would be to find and the cost that goes with it. If I had 2 custom axle shafts made, would a fine splined LC 3rd member drop right in? I have extra drop ins laying around

Probably not as hard to find as you might think. Price usually isn't bad either. Axles survive after the sheet metal has rusted away. Search the classified or start a want add. The early diff had a smaller stud so housing may need to be drilled and tapped for the larger studs. But once that's done a LC diff will bolt in.

I plan on selling off cruisers this fall. May end up parting some out. Few have centered pumpkins. But I've seen them pop up for sale from someone parting or upgrading to newer drive train. While the pumpkin was centered on the early FJ40 the transfer case was offset. Seen them changed just to take the angle out of the driveshaft.

 

[69LC]

There used to be a tech link in mud of how to slide mini truck rear axle tubes and shafts into a cut down 40 center section. The mini truck axle shafts which are the same spline as the later 40 diff side gears. Earlier axles are 55” wms and the later ifs trucks were 57-58” which would be a good match for a 60 front swap.

 

[pb4ugo]

As 69LC mentioned, I think there's a write up in FAQ'S or you can use the search function. If you do search, spell it out as in my signature below. Essentially, you find a 1985 or older mini truck rear end. You cut the 40 axle housing just behind the outer wheel bearings. Cut the mini truck housing just b4 it gets larger and slide the mini truck axle tubes into the 40 axle housing. As mentioned earlier, mini truck axles are each the same length, another benefit is the axle is held in by the flanges at the end of the axle housing, so you eliminate the 40's C clips. You slide the mini trucks axle tubes in so the axle splines line up internally with the side gears in the 40's 3rd. You weld where the 40's cut housing ends and the mini's axle tubes. You need to square them up so the axles are in line with the side gears in the 40's 3rd. I also drilled holes in the 40's housing so I could weld rose buds to help retain the tubes deeper in the 40's housing. I recommend you search for a more detailed explanation and pics. I had found a complete mini rear end for about $125, and a spare set of axles for $50. I sold the mini' s 3rd for $75. Mini 3rds are color coded with paint on the pinion flange to id the gear ratio, I think mine was pink so that meant it was 4:11, which didn't mean much for my application, but it did make it more desirable to sell.