For those plagued with the pre-68 front axles with the ball and claw, and metal bushing... I understand from word of mouth that you can not only swap to a post-68 front axle, then do a mini truck dick conversion, but can also swap in an entire mini truck disc brake front axle. Are the axle widths close enough of a match?

Seems to me - if this is true - that mini truck front axles may be a tad weaker - but are cheaper and more plentiful than post-68 Cruiser axles.

perches are not the same distance, the offset of the pumpkin is not the same, you lose interchangability with the centers, housing as a whole is not as strong (IMO), not honestly sure on WTW distances, but they are close.

IMO, purchased a 85-older mini setup complete for the disc kit and then buy a 68-75 coarse-spline Cruiser front and convert it to disc. The Cruiser axle will run ya ~$100 for the drum models.

Originally posted by 1970cj5
mini truck dick conversion

:D Is that like those truck nutz?:D

I'll spare you the newbie crap but you better try a search and look at the tech section in IH8MUD.com - basically all you need to know.

Post -68 cruiser axles are plentiful and they are talking about swapping from the birfield out from the mini. I think it can also be done on a pre -68 axle, that thread is here if you search. Or you could look at this thread: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=1420365#post1420365

I'm loving the old ball and claw plague!

From what I have read, you can't put mini disc brakes or birfs in the early axles. There is no place to put in a seal because of the brass bushing, so there will be a problem with gear oil migrating into the knuckles. Could be wrong though! :skull:

Originally posted by Cruiser Nerd

:D Is that like those truck nutz?:D


hahaha - good catch. Yeah - those dick conversions are fuckin hell on ya. Make sure you get a new one and not a rebuilt.

Thanks for sparing the newbie crap. I have cruised this site for years, and I am old hand at Jeep shit. Just trying to get my bro a leg up on his '67 Cruiser and its leaky front axle.

I have checked out IH8MUD.COM before and not run across anything on swapping entire mini truck front axles into Cruisers. I know everyone swears by swapping in post-68's, and if you say there are plenty to be had, then that's the way to go.

Originally posted by ranger
From what I have read, you can't put mini disc brakes or birfs in the early axles. There is no place to put in a seal because of the brass bushing, so there will be a problem with gear oil migrating into the knuckles. Could be wrong though! :skull:

You can put mini discs on a pre-68 axle, I did, but it is kind of a pain to get the bushing out and get a seal that works. There is grinding to be done on the knuckle to fit the mini birfs but, don't you have to grind any knuckle to get the mini birfs to fit anyways?

So if I find my bro a post-68 front axle housing, will his old 3rd member fit up?

If so - if his r&p are still in good shape - sounds like the bulk of the cost is a new axle housing, birfields/longfields, and disc brake parts from a mini for a conversion.

You guys that have done the swap remember what you spent - ballpark?

Originally posted by 1970cj5
So if I find my bro a post-68 front axle housing, will his old 3rd member fit up?

If so - if his r&p are still in good shape - sounds like the bulk of the cost is a new axle housing, birfields/longfields, and disc brake parts from a mini for a conversion.

You guys that have done the swap remember what you spent - ballpark?

The existing 3rd will bolt up BUT the side gears on the 67-older are coarse spline and the 68-newer are fine, so you'll need to switch those over.

Guessing....68-75 front drum axle, ~$100....85-older minitruck front for converting, ~$250. Longfields are ~$350 IIRC. Kunckle rebuild kit is ~$100.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by woody
[B]

>The existing 3rd will bolt up BUT the side gears on the 67-older >are coarse spline and the 68-newer are fine, so you'll need to >switch those over.

Also, i believe the early 3rd members used a smaller diameter stud for attaching to the housing. no big deal, justdrill out the holes to the corect size.

Your cheapest rout is to probably get a complete post 68 drum front axle. The third will fit, you'll have the inner axles, and side gaers. I goit one at the PMC swap meet last year for 75 bucks. Then get a complete front mini axle from PNP for about 200.

Then you can sell the mini third, inner axles,and housing, and the cruisers coarse birfs, and third member to get back some of your investment.
Pygpen

Great info!

Thanks guys.

I've bought complete '85 mini-truck axles for $100 and $150 from private parties, in good condition. Knuckle rebuild kits for about $100. If you go the mini-truck route, I'd recommend IFS calipers (I paid $60 for a pair at a pic-n-pull) and FJ60 vented rotors (new about $80 each, maybe a lot less for aftermarket) while you're at it.

John