I am going to be starting my new sami project this spring and got a ques. I am going to run a 85 toyota front axle , and was thinking of taking an i.f.s. rear and cutting three inches off of it to get the pinion closer to center. I know that others have done this I just cant find any info, anyone know or habe opinions TIA chris

Easier & cheaper just to adapt a Toy CV driveshaft, but shortening one side isn't too bad if you have fabricating skills.
Moser Engineering can cut the axle down for you for around $90 + shipping. BIG tubing cutter, little machine work on the flange, and careful welding required.

John at WMS tells a story of a guy who cut down a Ford 9". The guy cut the axle tube in the center with a band saw. The best part is, he left the axle shaft in! I understand he went thru several blades, but he wanted to make sure he cut the same amount out of both the tube and the shaft! Then he welded it all back together (shaft included)!!! :rasta:

Not a reccomend method.... ;)

I shortened a Ford rear end that way-

Well, I Did take the axle out...
But I didn't use a band saw...
And I didn't cut the axle tube in the center...
And I didn't butt-weld the tube back together...

Okay - I guess I didn't do Anything like he did! :nuke:

why hasn't anyone narrowed a Toy IFS rear axle by cutting down the passenger side to use the axle shaft from a pre-85 toy truck
this would seem to me to get the pinion kicked over a little and you would be still using all stock shafts................
it would probably match up with the front axle width pretty close too...............:D

Originally posted by CRO
why hasn't anyone narrowed a Toy IFS rear axle by cutting down the passenger side to use the axle shaft from a pre-85 toy truck
this would seem to me to get the pinion kicked over a little and you would be still using all stock shafts................
it would probably match up with the front axle width pretty close too...............:D




cro if you just use the 85 down rear axle shaft for the shortened side you would only shorten it 1.500" you need at least 1.000" more to make it identical to the same width as the 85 down front and scoot the pinion to the pass side 2.5 inch there by getting it closer to where it needs to be.:D

why not just pick one up that's already had the work done? :flipoff2: ;)

use a Taco rear end. They are 61" so you can cut more down.

Mike

Dont know much about Sammi's. I'm kinda of lurking to learn more, because I'm thinking about building up a Sammi Coil over buggy sort of thing next year. But for this question, wouldnt a FJ 80 rear axle work, and be about the same width as an 85 front.

Originally posted by mas2
use a Taco rear end. They are 61" so you can cut more down.

Mike

Are the guts of the Tacoma 3rd member interchangable with a 85?

I am almost positive that they are not they are 8.400" whereas the 95 down is 7.800. It is however a good idea provided that I could get low enough gearing for it.:D

wouldnt a FJ 80 rear axle work

I dont know about an fj80, but others have used tlc axles in the rear.

It shouldnt be too much to get someone with experience to cut the housing, and then get the axles cut and splined to match.

Here's an awesome webpage giving you the run-down on Toy differentials. The only ones I can think of that isn't on there are the FJ-40 units - but you can ask in the landcrusier section about that one.

Anyway, here's ErikB's <a href="http://home.off-road.com/~bibelheimer/diffs/diff_info.html" target="new">Toy diffs page</a>.

fj80 axles are 63.5" wide. but a pair of them would work great and have the bigger birfields ;)

Taco come with 8.0" and the 8.25"
The 8." are electric locked
The 8.25" are open
Good luck finding a complete 8" trd rear end.
I used the 8.25" taco rear end and Had TT cut it down and put a locker in it.

Originally posted by poppycock
fj80 axles are 63.5" wide. but a pair of them would work great and have the bigger birfields ;)

Wow there that wide.:eek: Never realized, thought at most they would be 58". Anyway, they would be a pretty bulit proof set of axles under a Sammi, and I'd keep them that wide!. Just need to find a set cheap enough.:D

Are you trying to make this project Hard than it has to be? why not just leave it alone. Run a cv in the rear and call it done, don't believe all the talk about the rear. Its been done a million times and it works fine. Not to mention it worked for me and It drives fine on the highway at 60mph.:)

Fatkid nope I am not trying to make it harder than it has to be. I have a good time build axles and have developed a reputation for atleast attempting to do things in the best manner that they can be done . Yes you could put a rear in the sami and drive it thousands have , and there isnt anything wrong with it but this guy wants it done a certain way , I ahve explained all the options to him, and to this particular person money isnt an issue. He approached me already with the idea that im talking about. For the money he could have almost any axle but paticularly wants a toy rear ,and preferred not to have any mods to the axles ,sometimes this can be done but in this case it looks like to offset the housing 5.500" to the pass side ill need a taco ds left rear axle and one from a 85 down yota cut and resplined .:smokin: