welding the spiders

[dirty40]

ok i did the soa, got done with it about two weeks ago. now with the extra flex i need to lock it up. my qu. is if i weld the rear is my stock transfer case going to be able to take the load of haveing the rear welded. this is my DD. i only drive about 5 miles to work. i had an 88' bronco with a d60 that i welded the spiders up. i loved it. it was cheap, no loading & unloading on the highway.

the po of my FJ40 put a t-case saver on the new case after I broke his old t-case

it's a 76' with a stock sbc, sm465 and a 4-speed t-case, 33'ssr's, gona trade up to 36 or 37 soon

I'm easy on it in street, but on the trail i go for broke

so any input would be great. im gettin the itch to weld it. I'd rather dump money on the tires

 

[DIESEL40]

On the street, tire wear will be more significant. Just keep your tires aired up to the max and you will be fine. As for the trail, I think woody runs a welded rear with no problems. I'm sure there are others that run a welded rear with no problems. Make sure you have a good traction bar or ask woody what happens to rear pinions !

 

[dirty40]

made a track bar when i did the soa. already bent it, so i think its working . when I broke the old t-case it took the pinion with it . so i know what its like, and it sucks. even more when its you friends FJ :whoops: not worred about tires

 

[72cruiser]

yeah, i'm in the same boat. i need a locker but i don't have any foldin stuff, so i'm thinkin about goin lincoln style.

i've heard that it's not that bad (and wouldn't be for a 5 mile commute). i would figure that the worst would be turning while backing up (parallel parking style) but i don't really have any experience....

malphrus

 

[orangefj45]

i had almost the identical setup in "darth", only difference being that i ran 36" swampers. worked great on the trail. i'd be more concerned about breaking stuff on the street with a welded rear. mine's been welded for 3 years and still works.

 

[Mace]

weld it...

 

[woody]

I thrash mine....weld per my instructions in the tech corner, and you'll have no problems.

Done properly (cooling time), it'll take ya 4-5 evenings....

Nice thing is, ya don't like it, and another center is easy to find...ya could even be aggressive and torch free the guts and install a lunchbox....

 

[dirty40]

Woody what t-case are you running?

I think the t-case is gona be the week link, on the street.

 

[woody]

bone stock 1972 t-case with a topside saver...nuthin fancy. You haven't seen me drive....I'm not easy on my rig...

I use to have a $4000 350 SBC under the hood.....060, flattops, .020 shaved, decked, balanced, etc....ran that truck to 120+ many times, and could smoke all 4 tires for over 2 blocks....never once busted a t-case. (that was a 74 stock case with a stock 4-speed tranny too...)

 

[dirty40]

ok that pretty much does it for me...

thanks for all of the feedback