Currently I run a 76 disc front on my 45. I want to do a SOA. I have a pair of 69 axels. My thoughs are to get a mini axel and do the swap with the cut and rotate and just sell the front 76. This way I could have an entire axel ready to just swap in. I have never done a SOA or a mini swap so opinions would be appreciated. So far I have found a local front mini for $200 less caliphers.

With the exception to drums the rest of the 69 is the same right?
Are the cruiser brakes better?
What is the hastle factor of the mini swap?

Thanks for any help.

Hassle factor is minimal. 69 housings are similar to disc style L/C. Convert it using the mini-truck stuff and use L/C vented rotors and V-6 IFS calipers. It will give you equal braking power to the L/C disc front end. Tierod taper will be a bit of a hassle, but not a huge deal. Just get the hysteer setup with HD tie rods...

The rotor choice depends on the year of the mini truck parts. If the rotor BOLTS to the hub with 6 14mm head bolts use a early disc land cruiser rotor(76-80) If the rotor is held to the hubs by the lug studs, use FJ60 rotor ***(from `82 or newer) I am not sure if there is a difference in the very early FJ60s, as the change in attachment overlaps their producion run, so opt for later FJ60's.

$200 minus the calipers is not a very good price when you factor in the $50 core/caliper plus the $50 each for the rebuilt caliper. In other words, that $200 frontend just increased to $400:eek:

The steering is the only thing that you may have some hassles with. Where the drag link goes into the main tie rod...my cruiser tie rod end ('74) fit into the spot on the toy main tie rod where a steering stabilizer is supposed to go. This was not very stout and bent in the two months that passed before I could swap in Dana 44 tie rod ends.

I did that conversion on my 69 it ended up costing a bit more than I expected.
I put 81 mini truck spindles on my messaged 69 axle housing, I bought new L/C vented rotors and rebuilt calipers, I picked up the minitruck parts for $200 and turned in calipers as core on the L/C calipers that saved me $30 or $40. :roxy:
Good luck in your project. :usa:
Mike

200 bucks??

i got mine for 150 and it included the rims, tires, shocks, and steering stabilizer that they didnt want to take off!! Plus, they took it out!

Did ya shop around?

j/w

I have been looking around but not real hard yet

Originally posted by cruiserbrett
The rotor choice depends on the year of the mini truck parts. If the rotor BOLTS to the hub with 6 14mm head bolts use a early disc land cruiser rotor(76-80) If the rotor is held to the hubs by the lug studs, use FJ60 rotor ***(from `82 or newer) I am not sure if there is a difference in the very early FJ60s, as the change in attachment overlaps their producion run, so opt for later FJ60's. My experience is different. I got a '79 mini front end that used the 6 bolt hub, and I installed fj60 rotors.

Regarding costs, I paid $125 for the complete mini front end, $90 for V6 mini calipers (add $20 caliper rebuild kit), $60 for 2 fj60 rotors, $75 or so for fj60 knuckle rebuild kit, $20 for knuckle taper shims, and $30 or so for 2 mini brake hoses. Plus $80 for new Aisin V6 mini master cylinder.

The pinion flange might be different fomr the 69 to the 76. I did the reverse this summer and put a 77 front axle in a 66. I had to change the pinion flange, other than that it was a direct bolt in.



Josh