axle swapping an a series rover?

[John Witherspoon]

OK, I am an extreme newbie, (my first post) so be gentle. I am wondering what I can do as far as swapping out axles on, say a 69 series 2a? A friend and I are getting it as a project, and want to run actual tires on it. (old 10 splines have to go!) I've read about swapping out for Dana44's etc...what all is involved. What trucks can I get these off of with off-centered diffs? (I'm assuming that's what I need to be looking for) What else will have to change. I'm just getting into all this stuff, so yes, I'm illiterate as to wheeling jargon and stuff. I NEED HELP! Also, any ideas on what can be done to get better lift/articulation would be great! I want to use the series body/chassis as a platform, but I'm NOT a purist...we want to make a cool, kick a$$ trail rig! Any and all help from the wheeler gurus would be great! Thanks

John Witherspoon...."Spoon" :usa:

PS. I know where I can get a 78 Bronco (think its a 78) pretty much for free...no tranny/xfer case, but all else is there....any usable parts on that thing? THanks again! :confused:

[Strange Rover]

There is nothing very complicated about swapping axles and you can preety well swap any axle into any rig. Im know that I could put the bronco axles under the series rig easily. Its just a matter of cutting, welding, drilling holes and undoing and doing up bolts. Nothing hard in any of it. But it really depends on how much gear you have got and if you can use it. Ive put scout II D44s in my rangie and there wasnt anything really hard about that either.

All you got to do is cut off the bits on the axles that dont match and weld on some new ones that do. Cut and shut the tailshafts. Make a couple of brake line adaptors (maybe swap the brake master cylinder). Bolt the whole lot together and your there. Easy if you can do it but really hard or expensive it you carnt.

Sam

Oh yea I wouldnt worry about running an off centred diff. Mines centred and its just fine. Just do it.

[John Witherspoon]

Thanks for the info! Was beginning to wonder if I had already pissed of the POR gods or something :mad3: ;)

Yeah, a friend and I are compiling quite a bit of crap in the shop...he's got a couple of welders and there seem to be enough tools to do at least something with, so I'm not worried about that. Actually now, we're looking at putting a series III body on a chopped down 1/2 ton chassis from an 86 chev. That would give us an actual motor, p steering, heat etc. and some fairly decent axles...I think! We have the series w/o a motor or tranny, and a pretty good line on a 86 1/2 ton Silverado...we'll see.

Any thoughts? Yes, no, maybe?

I feel I'm the only newbie around not catchnig any $hit! So here
:flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Thanks

[Rover Addiction]

Originally posted by John Witherspoon


I feel I'm the only newbie around not catchnig any $hit! So here
:flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Thanks

Yeah well, here's your pirate salute NEWBIE!! :flipoff2:

Actually, if you're looking around for rigs to get axles from, at least get a 3/4 ton to get the axles from so you don't have to do it again soon. Personally, I'd suggest you go all out and get the 1-ton stuff (D60 front and 14 bolt or D70 rear so you won't have to worry about it for a long time.

I'm thinking about the same thing: Chevy 3/4 ton running gear with some rover body panels hung on it. That'll make it as much a rover as many of the jeeps out there are jeep.

Good luck with the projects!! :flipoff2:

-John

[Strange Rover]

Good plan. Like you say you get the complete drivetrain plus the power steer.

Im doing the same at the moment with my rangie (putting a SIIa body on it). And my buisness partner is about to put a series on a scout. They are a great body to use, lots of flat panels, they are narrow anough and they have heaps of guard clearance (this is the best bit) you can cut the guards almost to the top of the bonnet and the firewall is a long way back to give good clearance. You can run huge tyres on a series and still keep it low you just gotta cut heaps :D

Oh yea welcome newbie :flipoff2:

Just like the rest of us.

Sam

[road1will]

im planing on doing the same in about a months time. cept ill be using front and rear mid- 70s Jeep Wagoneer D44s. they are nice and narrow, and already have a pass. side offset diff front and rear.

i should have the axles in a few weeks.

btw sam, youre still a newbie too, you shouldnt talk!

NEWBIES!!!!!!

:flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

[John Witherspoon]

OK, at least I know I'm not completely out in left field with our idea...Since I'm a newbie not only to POR, but to big 4x4 hack jobs as well, what am I looking at as far as planting a series body on a (for the sake of argument, its still the 1/2 ton) chev frame? We're planning on chopping the frame down some...and I assume will have to fab some mounts to do it right? Any advice? Feed Me!!!



PS Anyone know what axles will be on an 86 1/2 ton Silverado :question:

[road1will]

yeah, shitty ones! prolly a 10 bolt front (absolute POS) and 12 bolt rear (okay, but not very good). why not do it right from the start and do it on the rover frame? IMO there will be a lot less guess work etc involved, and you will have a much more solid product in the end. also, if this is your first job, then start out easy, with just swapping the axles. then once you are confident, get more involved with it.

the 1/2 ton may also only ahve a 6 cylinder, and prolly a shitty trans case.

go one ton or go home!

newbie! :flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

[John Witherspoon]

why use the 1/2 ton base for the project? Well, we've been looking for an "economically viable" option for a land rover project recently. (Notice the usage of appropriate governmental language :eek: ) So, my friend runs across a SIII with everything we need, except for a motor/tranny/xfer case for $300.00. This "rural gentleman" has a small "collection" of "classic vehicles" on his property about 10 miles on the other side of BFE (some guy has a junkyard in the middle of nowhere which contains an absolute gem...he only wants $300.00.) He'll sell it to us so long as we don't tell anyone, or sell it...just build it up and keep it. He probably stole the damn thing twenty some years ago:smokin: So then we can also get an 86 chev 1/2 ton for almost nothing...we're thinking heat, power steering, axles better than 10 spline toothpicks, ability to put something other than steel wheels, etc...The rover has a frame, just not a spectacular one!...The chev frame looks good, and I'm thinking the motor is a V8...although now I can't remember which one. If we had more in the rover, we'd go more rover-ish...as is, we'll probably go to the hybrid dark side :vader2:

[Strange Rover]

OK fellas since where talking axles and all heres a dumb ass newbie question thats been bothering me for ages.

What the hell makes a 1 ton axle 1 ton and a 1/2 of 3/4 ton axles. or the rockwell 2.5 ton. Its not the weight they can carry??? or the weight the truck they came out of can carry???

Whats the ?? ton actually a measure off.:confused: :confused:

Sam

[road1will]

sam- its the weight rating of the truck that they would have come out of. i dont know how they rate them, but thats all i know. dana 60 front axles come out of 1 ton trucks, along with 70 and 14 bolt rears. rockwell 2.5 ton axles come out of 2.5 ton military 6x6 trucks.

dont ask me how they are rated that way, i only work here, as they say!

:flipoff2:

[Strange Rover]

yea there must be something to it . I mean 1 ton on a F350 is really stuff all no matter how you load it or tow it or put 1ton on each axle. It seems wierd to me but there must be a reason for it.

Maybe I should ask in the general 4x4 forum.

Sam

[road1will]

i think ya should, but put up your newbie guard!

:flipoff2: is the pirate salute

:flipoff: means they are very mad at you

dont take it personally!