Axle Identification help

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

american outlaw

american outlaw

10 Year
Joined
Dec 7, 2013
Threads
22
Messages
84
hey, have one of those Frankenstein FJ40s i got for the cheap cheap. Allegedly it has a locker in the rear end that isnt plumbed with air. Since ARB lockers call for 70 PSI i dont really wanna hook up that much air to a dummy connector and blow my rear seals out. BUT, i dont think its an FJ40 axle so, im hesitant to pop the diff cover off and then get stuck without a new gasket. It has a little fitting on the top of the axle that I would assume is where the locker air connects too

1770485270270.webp
1770485313866.webp
1770485329024.webp


If it helps it has a chevy 350 and a TH350 transmission with what looks to be a dana 20 transfercase.

Any guesses as to who the axle is? or if its a safe bet that the locker is still in there?
 
Am I trippin or does it look like that diff is offset to driver side ? It should be offset to pass side. That is an oem fj40 axle and that looks like an air fitting for what would assume is an arb. The axle tubes dont look modified so the driver side offset is a new one on me.
 
People make their own gaskets, its not that hard or expensive. You could use a borescope threw the fill plug - Amoron sells an android unit for like $35; works fine and is very useful.
 
peesalot said:
Am I trippin or does it look like that diff is offset to driver side ? It should be offset to pass side. That is an oem fj40 axle and that looks like an air fitting for what would assume is an arb. The axle tubes dont look modified so the driver side offset is a new one on me.
Click to expand...

Oh... so your thinking its just... upside down? I can work with that
 
I’m gonna say that’s a dummy fitting. It is not logical to plumb the air line anywhere except ON THE CARRIER itself so that the lines/fittings install and come out with the 3rd member.
 
65swb45 said:
View attachment 4082002
Single exhaust runs on the driver’s side. Simple image flip.😉
Click to expand...

Now the fill hole is on the wrong side. I think we need more pics of the setup. Maybe a side Pic of the 40 so we can see the axle location. The shocks are in front of the axle. I agree the air line should be installed in the 3rd member. I run a dana 20 case too. I centered the rear diff. This one doesn't appear to be centered. I had to flip my springs to get a good driveshaft angle.
 
pb4ugo said:
Now the fill hole is on the wrong side. I think we need more pics of the setup. Maybe a side Pic of the 40 so we can see the axle location. The shocks are in front of the axle. I agree the air line should be installed in the 3rd member. I run a dana 20 case too. I centered the rear diff. This one doesn't appear to be centered. I had to flip my springs to get a good driveshaft angle.
Click to expand...
PXL_20250413_190938870.webp
 
It was built as a rock crawler like 10-15 years ago in Colorado and changed hands to a dude in Arkansas then got moved to Alabama then eventually got dumped on me. I'm still trying to figure out what all's going on with it cuz it's got some weirdness
 
Last edited:
@Mace used to run some long rear springs with the shackles hanging off the back of the rear crossmember like that.

I’m beginning to feel like this is a game, as we’re still trying to guess at what the rest of this powertrain is.
 
What's the wheel base? (Spacing, front to back)...it looks like the rear axel was also moved back about six inches and the obvious cut line on the tub seems to suggest that happened.
 
I think they turned the housing 180* around then installed the 3rd on what was the cover side. The drain is on the wrong side. You'll need to pull the cover to see what's going on inside. Either a gasket or glue should seal it. I wonder what trans it has?
 
pb4ugo said:
I think they turned the housing 180* around then installed the 3rd on what was the cover side. The drain is on the wrong side. You'll need to pull the cover to see what's going on inside. Either a gasket or glue should seal it. I wonder what trans it has?
Click to expand...

Semi floating rear axle can change the offset by swinging the around and installing the cover and diff on the opposite side.
 
…and notching the housing for the ring gear
 
65swb45 said:
…and notching the housing for the ring gear
Click to expand...

Confused. The diff goes in the same way. Ring gear would be on the be the same. Cover would go on the same way. Just think moving the diff and cover away from the axle. Spin the axle housing 180°. Install the diff and cover just the way they came off. Bolt patterns are identical to each other.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom