Quickie xmas $$ advice

[amaurer]

I have to plan out just how much of my xmas fortune (ha!) I can use on the cruiser, and how much I can put towards real life - I need your guys help playing the risk-reward game and deciding just what I need and what is not really necessary.

First off, I'm buying with an e-locker for the rear (already have a full floater, and yes, I know about the downfalls, but my mind is made up). Since it may factor into your advice: I'll be staying with the stock engine (3B) and I'm on 31s and will never be going larger than 33s (I like the stockish looks - no mega lifts).

The questions are:

1) Given the elocker's potential to create carnage, should I go with chromoly rear axle shafts when I put it in? Or with a 3B and only 31's are the risks lessened?

2) I have knuckle service on the menu sometime this year, should I get Longfields or longfields and chromo inners? Same question as above, do I need fancy axle shafts with my engine and tires (note front wont get a locker any time soon)?

3) Should I do all of the above? ($$$ !!!!)

And for the record, yeah, I'm being cheap (I like to call it "spending money wisely", but really its just cheapness), but I don't want to go installing hardware that I don't need, given that my rig will never ever be a 38" swamper tube frame four link monster truck thing.

Thanks in advance oh mud wizards!

 

[1973Guppie]

I would skip the longfields and the rear chromos, with 31's and the stock engine you should be fine. If anything, just buy longfield birfs for the front axle and carry the stock ones for spares, that will buy you some insurance on a very commonly busted part. I have a 73 fj40 with a vortec v8, and have driven it for years with front longfield birfs, minitruck front axles and stock rear axles, with no problems. I have 35 inch muds but am conservative on the throttle and think I know how to drive off road fairly well......

 

[amaurer]

I would skip the longfields and the rear chromos, with 31's and the stock engine you should be fine. If anything, just buy longfield birfs for the front axle and carry the stock ones for spares, that will buy you some insurance on a very commonly busted part. I have a 73 fj40 with a vortec v8, and have driven it for years with front longfield birfs, minitruck front axles and stock rear axles, with no problems. I have 35 inch muds but am conservative on the throttle and think I know how to drive off road fairly well......

Hmm. I guess that sounds like a good plan. Plus, its easy to swap the rear shafts at any time, its just the front inners that would be a PITA.

 

[lcwizard]

firstly, selective lockers don't create carnage, beer and poor judgement do.
I've only lost two axles with selective ( ARB ) lockers compare to about a dozen with non-selectives ( Detroits and Lock-Rites ). The difference is there is always added stress whenever and wherever you drive a non-selective.
I've had two shafts pop while driving on the street , one with a detroit and one lock-rite. Both cases were mild accelleration into a corner.
I've yet to see a 31" tire break an axle so stick with stock. While Chro-mo
has a higher yield, it work hardens faster and won't last twenty years like the stock one will. Chro-mo in a full floater will last longer than in a semi floater
because road vibration isn't transmitted to the shaft by way of the axle bearing

I have to plan out just how much of my xmas fortune (ha!) I can use on the cruiser, and how much I can put towards real life - I need your guys help playing the risk-reward game and deciding just what I need and what is not really necessary.

First off, I'm buying with an e-locker for the rear (already have a full floater, and yes, I know about the downfalls, but my mind is made up). Since it may factor into your advice: I'll be staying with the stock engine (3B) and I'm on 31s and will never be going larger than 33s (I like the stockish looks - no mega lifts).

The questions are:

1) Given the elocker's potential to create carnage, should I go with chromoly rear axle shafts when I put it in? Or with a 3B and only 31's are the risks lessened?

2) I have knuckle service on the menu sometime this year, should I get Longfields or longfields and chromo inners? Same question as above, do I need fancy axle shafts with my engine and tires (note front wont get a locker any time soon)?

3) Should I do all of the above? ($$$ !!!!)

And for the record, yeah, I'm being cheap (I like to call it "spending money wisely", but really its just cheapness), but I don't want to go installing hardware that I don't need, given that my rig will never ever be a 38" swamper tube frame four link monster truck thing.

Thanks in advance oh mud wizards!

 

[amaurer]

Cool. Related question - do you have to run a snap ring in the birf with a [front] elocker, or does the martack still work?