SOA question

[79fj40]

My fj40 is a 79' and has stock axle's in it with a 4" lift. I want to go to a spring over set up and don't have the skills to cut and turn the front so I have been looking around for a set locally for sale. I found some that are from a 73' he said the front axle housing was cut and chevy kuckles were welded back on to accept resplined D44 axles and is currently set up with drum brakes. The rear is also drum brake's. I put disc brakes on the rear of my 79' can I just swap my 79' rear disc over to the 73' housing and do you think the front turned into a D44 in a toyota housing would be ok, also on the front can i swap the drums for disc. I am just going to rebuild my 2f and stay with stock tranny and transfer case. I don't do any real hard wheeling so breaking a front axel doesn't seem likley but if I did I am thinking it would be expensive to have a d44 axel modified to work. he wants $ 400.00 for the set and he said the rear has a locker in it.
I am not in a hurry to do this as my body is currently hanging from my garage ceiling so I could get to the rear frame member to replace it and to swap out the body mounts. This all started because I wanted to repaint it. As I get it farther and farther apart I keep adding things I might as well do because I am this far. I am sure some of you know what I mean.
TIA for any thoughts.

 

[John Smith]

My fj40 is a 79' and has stock axle's in it with a 4" lift. I want to go to a spring over set up and don't have the skills to cut and turn the front so I have been looking around for a set locally for sale. I found some that are from a 73' he said the front axle housing was cut and chevy kuckles were welded back on to accept resplined D44 axles and is currently set up with drum brakes. The rear is also drum brake's. I put disc brakes on the rear of my 79' can I just swap my 79' rear disc over to the 73' housing and do you think the front turned into a D44 in a toyota housing would be ok, also on the front can i swap the drums for disc. I am just going to rebuild my 2f and stay with stock tranny and transfer case. I don't do any real hard wheeling so breaking a front axel doesn't seem likley but if I did I am thinking it would be expensive to have a d44 axel modified to work. he wants $ 400.00 for the set and he said the rear has a locker in it.
I am not in a hurry to do this as my body is currently hanging from my garage ceiling so I could get to the rear frame member to replace it and to swap out the body mounts. This all started because I wanted to repaint it. As I get it farther and farther apart I keep adding things I might as well do because I am this far. I am sure some of you know what I mean.
TIA for any thoughts.

Do yourself a favor and skip the bastard axle idea. You want to SOA and yet you don't plan any real hard wheeling? Don't waste your time and money on the SOA.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Do yourself a favor and skip the bastard axle idea. You want to SOA and yet you don't plan any real hard wheeling? Don't waste your time and money on the SOA.

Agree with all of this.

SOA is great for wheeling, not so great for everything else. Save yourself a whole lot of hassle, and leave it on the 4 inch lift.

Don't even touch that frankenaxle.


You say you are not in a hurry---If that's the case, find an FJ40 front axle housing. They come up frequently and are cheap. Send it out to Proffitts or Cruiseroutfitters or 4x4 Labs and have them cut and turn it for you. Then you can do your SOA at your leisure. But even then, I recommend you leave your truck SUA.

 

[79fj40]

Thanks for the reply. Your right its not something that I need at the moment but I have it so far taken apart that I have decided to build a trail capable fj40, I don't need the power of a 350 I have my 80 series for haulin the kids to the dirt bike trails. I am having fun building it and want to do it. I may never need alot of the stuff I am planing on doing but I am getting older and trying to keep up with the kids on my dirt bike hurts alot more. So this would be a great substitue for getting out in the trails in comfort.

 

[79fj40]

I will pass on the franken axel and just send mine out to get done. I want to change the gearing to 4:11
and this would have killed 2 birds with one stone.