Ok...so which would be easier?

[GregFrench]

I am doing a disc conversion. The more I read in the FAQ the more I keep changing my mind on which direction to go!
Here's the situation:
I have a full axel housing from a donor 62. It has been upgraded to chromolly birfs. My options appear to be:
1- swapping the entire housing (and relocating the spring mounts like in FAQ) or
2- swapping everything from the knuckle out.

Option # 1 doesn't look too hard according to the writeup in the FAQ.
Option #2 looks very involved, with lots of cleaning parts and replacing seals and measuring shims and stuff.

Am I looking too much into this? Is the complete housing swap as easy as it looks, and is the knuckle rebuild as complicated as it looks?

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[mcwinery]

Yes, your are looking too much into this. Knuckle rebuild is not too complicated if you have the right tools.

 

[Isaacjohnstar]

I heard/read it was the other way around. I think using a 60 axle with chromoly axles sounds like it would be a upgrade as well as the brakes. I'm going to subscribe to this one cause i have the same dilemma.

 

[GarageRat]

I'm doing one of each, I have a 60 front axle for my '69 and for a '73 I'm building for someone else I'm doing a knuckle swap on a 40 housing and going to try an IFS mini wheel hub swap for spacing out instead of wheel spacers. Should be close to the same width when alls said and done. In my opinion the works all about the same, especially if you happen to be doing a shackle reversal at the same time.

 

[bikersmurf]

Building from the knuckles out is straight forward. It requires no real fab skills just some mechanical ability and time.

I'd go that route unless you really want the extra width.

 

[GregFrench]

Thanks. Don't really care about the extra width. On the post in FAQ it looked like just a simple take the old spring hangers off and put new ones 1.5" outboard from where they were.

If doing the knuckles, I will need a rebuild kit, right? What about the shims and all of that that was on the FAQ page? I just hate to get into it and realize that I didn't have all the parts I need, then have to order and wait and be without my truck.

 

[camcruiser13]

just put everything on the same way you took it off. dont mess with the shims

youll be fine and the next time you do it youll know what your doing

not that tough just hella messy

 

[Alaska40]

I'm just about to start this exact conversion. I bought everything I need for the knuckle rebuild from Kurt at Cruiser Outfitters. He will tell you exactly what you need and give you a couple different options depending on your budget and the level of quality you are looking for. I thought about doing the whole axle swap but it is just too involved. I'm going to swap knuckles and steering rods (that will need to be shortened) because I also got the 60 powersteering set up. From everything I have read, as long as you note the exact placement of the shims when you take them off and put them back on the same way, your preload should be correct. Somebody please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[GregFrench]

Cool. Thanks everybody. I have done it on my Land Rover quite a few years back, but I had the help of someone who knew what they were doing!

 

[mcwinery]

Best thing is to read others threads and it makes it real easy.