Volvo C303 Axles

[truggier]

Hey folks...I picked up a set of Volvo C303 portal axles last year but they sat in my garage for over a year while my cruiser project languished. Now I'm working on the thing again, and have it down to the frame. It's on the verge of being built up again and I need to make some decisions.

What's bothering me is that I purchased Old Man Emu Dakkar springs, and a shackle reversal kit. With extended shackles in the rear, this puts me up four inches. Now if I put the portals on, it'll lift me another 4 and a half inches. That, combined with bigger tires, is going to put me 10-12 inches above where I bought it. I guess my question is...for a get-around fj40 that will see moderate trail use...how stable is this going to be?

 

[andrewfarmer]

For a "get-around fj40 that will see moderate trail use" why are you putting portals on it?

 

[zebrabeefj40]

How are you planning to put the springs on the axles? SUA? SOA? Got some more details of your plan?

Were it me I'd put'em SUA with anti-wrap bars and go from there...

Nick

 

[ridgerunner]

I had a pair of C303 axles under my 55 with fresh stock springs, and had no problems running 36 michelins.

You're going to get about 4.5" of lift from the axles, Dakar springs are 2.5" inches, for a total of 7" of lift, not including whatever lift the shackle reversal might inherently give. A guy on pirate had stock 40 springs and cut fenders and was able to slap 42s on his 40 easy with volvos.

With stock springs, my truck was still pretty low and very stable.

 

[bustanutley]

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=214232

fj55 on stock springs and volvo portal.

I would not use lift springs, low is good. Ground clearance is too, that is why you are using portals. Make a wrap bar for the back, or link it to keep that axle under control.

 

[truggier]

Thanks for the replies.

[andrewfarmer] I want the portals because of the ground clearance..and because of an irrational desire to make my cruiser as unique as possible . It doesn't necessarily make practical sense. Besides, since I work at home, this is not a daily driver, and I WILL put it to some serious use. By 'moderate' I meant infrequent.

[zebrabeefj40] I'd definitely mount them under...putting the springs over the axles would put me way too high. The wrap bar is a good idea...anyone have any details on making one?

[ridgerunner] [bustanutley] Yes, using stock springs occurred to me. Unfortunately I already laid out the $$ for the Dakars, but of course I won't let that stop me if it's necessary to go to stock springs (again, going back to that 'practical sense' comment made earlier...). However, this brings up another question I had. With stock springs how much articulation am I going to lose? And if my axles don't articulate much...what is more desirable, stock axles that articulate but have a low housing, or portals that don't articulate much but have the greatly increased housing clearance?

I'm not too worried about the 5.99 ratio in the axles...with the gear reduction of the 5th gear in my NV4500, I should still have decent highway performance.

All opinions/replies are welcome.

 

[bandy rooster]

how much did you pay for the volvo portals?

 

[ridgerunner]

Stock springs, cleaned up and slip plated. Open spring clamps, stock shackles.

That's almost 3' of overall travel from a stock suspension. What makes it different is you have more width and therefore available articulation at the tire.

I look at these pics and wish I didn't dismantle the truck.

(imageshack)

 

[Mace]

You will be too tall, I reccomend that you switch to a set of FJ60 axles and get rid of the portals.

Actually I have as et of 60 axles sitting here that I would do you a favor and trade you for those portals

 

[coolcruiserfj40]

You will be too tall, I reccomend that you switch to a set of FJ60 axles and get rid of the portals.

Actually I have as et of 60 axles sitting here that I would do you a favor and trade you for those portals

*** you! there mine now!

 

[Mace]

You lurpy bastard!!!!!!!!!

 

[coolcruiserfj40]

You lurpy bastard!!!!!!!!!

ill let you touch them if you play nice

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

I would just get rid of the longer shackles (go back to stock or close to it) and keep your Dakar springs. That will be a bitchen setup, so what if its 6" tall, you'll be fine. Will give you room to run the tires you'll need to get to get over 50 mph!

 

[truggier]

He's right...I made a deal to trade the portals to coolcruiser fj40. Somehow the guy even talked me into driving all the way out there to deliver them...

Practical sense finally kicked me in the head and said go with drop-in axles instead of ones that needed alot of work. Two kids and a third on the way, I just don't have time. It was a nice pipe dream though.

 

[truggier]

Ridgerunner, what kind of shocks were you running on that FJ55?

 

[truggier]

[Bandy Rooster] I laid out $4k for the portals a couple of years ago. From stuff I've read since, sounds like I might not have gotten the best deal.

 

[lulo]

WOW!

Volvo Axles on the FJ-55

Amazing!!!