Welded Rear End

[Adrock]

So I've started my disc conversion on my '69 40. Using 60 discs for the front (birfs, etc) and Posers brackets are on the way for the rear.

I started pulling everything apart today and found that the PO had some fun "locking" the rear (see pics).

So for the life of me I can't figure out how to get my axles out. I have never seen C-Clips before but I assume that they're under the piles of welds.

Any advice on how to remove my axles? Should I get to cutting and grinding and use the 60 front third member (with gearing changed obviously) or is there an easier solution I'm not seeing?

And yes a 60 rear would be great but I haven't been able to find one here in Oregon for a decent price.

Also hello everyone! Been reading forever, time to get involved!

 

[Mace]

why not leave it alone?

 

[pb4ugo]

I don't think you,re going to get the axles out. If the axles can't come out then the 3rd won't either. I'd probably search for another rearend. It appears he welded the center pin & block too. That's crazy. You could cut the backing plates off & install the disc brakes.

 

[Adrock]

Problem is rear seals are leaking too. Plus I figure would be really lame to break an axle on the trail and not be able to pull my axle out.

Maybe I need to look harder for a 60 rear end. Now that I'm pounding on it a bit it looks like one c-clip will come out without too much trouble. The other though...

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

My god people do dumb things... I'd find a new rear axle and start fresh.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Either leave it alone or get a new axle with housing. You might be able to cut this 3rd apart, but even that looks doubtful. You'll still need new axles and 3rd member.

What a mess.

 

[Adrock]

Thanks for all the input. Looks like maybe I'll deal with the bad seals until I can find another axle... lame.

Oh well one step at a time.

 

[TimCFJ40]

If you can find a new carrier, spider gears, axle shafts, and carrier bearings I think you could take off the bearing caps and then cut through the carrier and axle shafts just inside (or maybe just outside) of the carrier bearings with an abrasive cut off wheel and take it all apart by taking the carrier out of the rear cover. Then you'd have to set up your diff gears etc on the new carrier.
Might be more work than finding a complete rear, but I think that is the minimum collateral damage you could do and get it out cleanly...

 

[DSRTRDR]

in the not too distant future, I will have a '72 rear axle with disk brake conversion (Man-a-Fre kit) available - except for the third member

 

[Trollhole]

Run it till you find something else. Spend all your time trying to save that housing your likely to find more PO fun.

Step back and punt.

 

[BigRed40]

Wow.. Like others said, I would run it for a little and just be on the lookout for another rear axle. Can't believe they welded everything in there like that.

 

[camcruiser13]

gotta love the Lincoln locker

 

[Dieseler]

A plasma cutter will make short work of it

 

[JohnnyC]

wow thats alot of welding rod... he was probably quite proud that it would never break

 

[Adrock]

Picking up some fj62 axles Sunday. Definitely changed my plans a bit but ultimately it'll be a good route to go.

Yes there is definitely quite a few PO oddities about this vehicle. I've been slowly fixing all them. This seems to be the last of the horrible stuff, I was so worried to pull that cover for quite a while. Was even worse than I expected.

 

[Fast Eddy]

Make sure you understand what is mean by "outboarding the springs" before you get too far into the new axle project. I wouldn't try to talk you out of it since I did it and am very happy with how it turned out, but it's a lot of work.

 

[Mace]

Ruffstuff outboard spring hangers help a lot..

 

[Adrock]

Yes I have looked into out boarding quite a bit. Originally that was the plan (have an fj60 front for the discs) but decided against it because I couldn't find a rear for a decent price.

Now that I've got fj62 axles lines up it makes more sense to do this. Here's the other part of the problem... My gearing is not stock. I have estimated it to be 5.29s (can't count my pinion very well due to the welding atrocity) based on speed and engine RPM. And yes I want to eventually cut my rear apart and get my damn gears out.

I'm sure this will be a big project but hey, the weather is getting lousy and work is slow.

Probably will flip my springs while in at it and still trying to weigh advantages of shackle reversal. Seems to be hotly debated with no clear winner.

Flipping my springs will result in drive line work anyways so would it negate some of the reversal downsides?

Thanks for all the input guys.

 

[Mace]

lengthening or shortening a drive-shaft has nothing to do with the length of the slip splines on a drive-shaft.