Builds cuttin up the lx

[wv_lx450]

...and while doing the rock lights i found this.....

super awesome broken panhard mount

 

[Wrench]

Wow 80 frames are the strongest around!

 

[wv_lx450]

ha ha. yeah, the frames are definitely nice, unfortunately the mounts arent as nice. for all the reinforcing toyota did on these panhard mounts you would think they would be bomb proof but oh well. all the welds look good, it just broke the actual plate that the mount is made of. im gonna clean it up and weld it to get me through one last trip thats coming up then ill cut it all off and make a new mount i guess

 

[Wrench]

I've seen it happened before. Just surprises me. Yeah just clean it up and weld it. GTG.

 

[donutfj80]

Check around the mounting holes for the steering box, they will crack also

 

[wv_lx450]

i checked the steering box holes recently and they look good. i have hydro assist so i think that may be saving the steering box mounting. i will double check them when im welding this up

 

[Wrench]

Awesome avatar pic. I like the snow cover tires. Did your Lexus do well on that trip?

 

[wv_lx450]

yeah, did great. wasnt a real wheelin trip, i just used it to break tracks in my driveway and a few of my neighbors drives that are fairly long. we had a lil over 20" so it makes it easier to get the subaru and rx out without them having to push snow with the bumpers lol

 

[Wrench]

Oh ok.

 

[wv_lx450]

welded up the crack and then plated it with piece of 1/4" angle. i think it will hold for another trip, then ill cut it all off, plate the frame and weld on a new mount.

 

[Biggreener]

Just read through this thread form beginning to end, awesome work on your rig. Keep the pics and stories coming, subscribed!

 

[wv_lx450]

heres some pics of my 60 setup for those who were interested. its nothing fancy and theres no bling parts really but it has held up well through the beatings ive given it.

 

[wv_lx450]

more

 

[jcardona1]

Cool pics. I don't know squat about axle swaps and fabbing up bracketry so...I had no idea you could mount a shock to a lower link! Does that do anything to handling or ride quality?

I have a few more noob questions if you have some spare time to reply:

- If I wanted to keep an eye out for a junkyard 60, what specific makes/models should I be looking for?
- Do you run these at standard width or are they cut down with custom length shafts? How much wider than stock would it be?
- What brackets/hangers have to fabricated vs bought from a place like Ruff Stuff?
- Gearing - getting ready to install 5.29s. Are there gearing options for a 60 that match the rear, or do you need to swap both axles at once?
- Any other conversion parts that need to be addressed - steering, brakes, driveshafts, frame-side panhard mount?

Thanks!

 

[AuburnFJsexy]

Thanks Seth

 

[wv_lx450]

Cool pics. I don't know squat about axle swaps and fabbing up bracketry so...I had no idea you could mount a shock to a lower link! Does that do anything to handling or ride quality? i guess technically you should probably have shocks that are valved differently than stock since they dont travel as much as they would on the axle but i havent noticed any issues even at speed.

I have a few more noob questions if you have some spare time to reply:

- If I wanted to keep an eye out for a junkyard 60, what specific makes/models should I be looking for? mine is a mid '80s chevy k30 axle ('85 or'86) but i believe any of the chevy k30 axles in the '80s are the same. also, some of the older dodge axles will work (dusty used one in his lx i believe)
- Do you run these at standard width or are they cut down with custom length shafts? How much wider than stock would it be? stock width, not sure how much wider it is but i think mine is 69" wms to wms and its from a single rear wheel chevy. the dual rear wheel fronts have diff hubs and are a different width. Billavista's dana 60 bible on pirate has tons of info and specs on 60's.
- What brackets/hangers have to fabricated vs bought from a place like Ruff Stuff? i bought all my brackets. pretty cheap to buy and way easier than cutting your own. a truss for the upper link mount is the only issue if you are keeping stock springs. the pre-made trusses are designed to work with coilovers and get in the way of the stock springs. im going to coilovers one day and get a proper truss and upper link mount.
- Gearing - getting ready to install 5.29s. Are there gearing options for a 60 that match the rear, or do you need to swap both axles at once? i believe that 5.38's are the closest thing you can get for a 60. otherwise you would have to do the rear too.
- Any other conversion parts that need to be addressed - steering, brakes, driveshafts, frame-side panhard mount? i used all the stock steering and panhard. i really need an adjustable panhard and lengthened draglink because my axle sits a lil toward the driver side as is. i had a budbuilt draglink already and just drilled and tapped it to fit a chevy 1 ton draglink end.
i swapped in a chevy 1 ton master cyl but dont know if its absolutely necessary.
i used both stock driveshafts but needed to lengthen the rear one because of where i set my axle up. i got flanges made for the 60 and 14bolt from driveshaft superstore to bolt up the stock shafts. at the time they were the only ones with a flange for a 14bolt but i think others have them now. i have a tacoma rear shaft in the front now after i stretched the front a lil more.

this is the first issue ive had with the frame side panhard. im pretty sure i know exactly when i broke it on my last wheeling trip. i would imagine it would hold up fine for most people but i was continuously slamming the driver side sideways into a bank at full throttle. im going to plate the frame in 1/4" and then put on one of the Artec inside frame panhard mounts.

any other questions just let me know.

Thanks!

 

[wv_lx450]

just got back from the cove and chaos off road park. i only got these two vids of my truck while my brother was at the wheel runnin the bunny trail at the cove. i always plan on filming more but it never happens lol. i wasnt paying close enough attention while i was filming and he ended up trashing the rear drive shaft and had to winch out.
if you like rocks, theres plenty of them at the cove campground.

 

[AuburnFJsexy]

That trail looks awesome!

 

[wv_lx450]

its a good one. its a really short trail but all the video shows is the last 50yds or so. the rock ledge that he was almost at in the second vid is the exit.

 

[jcardona1]

That's one hell of a boulder field. I'd cry like a little girl. And thanks for all the answers to my D60 questions. I actually printed out the Bibles from Pirate, lots of great info there. And man, these things sell for a lot locally! Thought I could find them cheaper. And having to do the rear axle too makes this even more expensive. Guess I'll wait to see how long the 8" lasts