i am considering a radical rebuild of my 55. i am thinking SOA with 2" springs and 2" shackles (so 3" lift + SOA = 9" lift) and 40" Michelin XL tires. I am looking at maybe a dana 44 in front and a GM 12 or 14 bolt in rear. It will not be used for any sort of transportation as i have a seperate DD. it is basically a beater at this point.so my questions are what kind of problems am i going to run into? will this work? any ideas/comments? PS: I know it will be HUGE and drive like shit. and i only has to hold together for 2 years then it will be sold/junked/whatever as it has MAJOR body rust issues.

sounds like a tube chassis/piggy front clip is in order

no, all body (well except for fender cutting) will stay in place, cruiser frame, no tube at all. just changing the axles, driveshafts, tires and going to soa.

Find a 3/4 ton chevy p/u and get the 44/14bolt. Shave the 14 bolt and wheel it... If you can find the 60 front run it!!! With the wheelbase of the 55 the centered rear will not be toomuch problem.
Go with Scout p/s so you dont have to butch the front x-member, Morgan has a couple shots on his site.

I dont think it will necesarily drive like shit...but I think you could get away with 40" tires with a stock spring S/O with taller shackles and alot of fender/inner fender well trimming... get out the sawzall trim away!!!

-brett

P.S. if the truck has A/C I let me know. I am looking for any Air Cond parts...

looks like im gonna get a 44/12 bolt set from someone somewhat close by. the 55 doesnt have alot of trimming rooom to the front of the axle in the rear (the rear doors are there) so complete sawzall action is not an option. i think the 12 bolt will hold up the abuse a 2f can deal out so i should be ok. (it never had ac, and it never will.)

Maybe Im crazy(been called worse) but I think a 44 is too small for 40's! Just my opinion.

Cheers
Tyler
:fj:

yea that 44 won't be up to it. not if you run rocks. i don't think that 12 bolt will last very long either.

Originally posted by gunracer1
yea that 44 won't be up to it. not if you run rocks. i don't think that 12 bolt will last very long either.

If you plan to swap front and rear axles do it right...

Stay away from 44's and 12 bolts..

I mean really, Look at glo...

:flipoff2:

I'm with Jason, I would go Bobby longs in the cruiser axle or go right up to 60's or something else nasty. Changing to a 44 seems like a waste of time. I see more people changing u joints then birfields.

In my opinion, a 44 is not an upgrade, thats slummin it! A 60 is an upgrade, but only marginally! But thats just me, cause you know there is no kill like over kill!

Cheers
Tyler
:fj:

where would i go about getting these Bobbly longs? they are just stronger "unbreakable" birfield right? price? and with the cruiser axle width, wouldnt the pig be a bit tippy? Thanks.

http://www.toyotasuperaxles.com/
Nothings unbreakable but with some two inch back spacing and stock flat springs and some trimming that pig will wheel great.

soa/2"springs/2"shackles+40" tires? on stock axles?:eek:

55's are so top heavy anyway, with that kinda lift and that narrow of a stance, you are asking for it. I was running soa/2" body with the top cut off and 37's with 2" bs, and it still felt tipsy.

I say wack the top off, empty out all the doors and tail gate. look into building some 1 ton axles if your gonna run 40" tires. If ya just wanna beat the crap out of it? put some longfields in it, soa and run 35's. weld up the diffs and have fun! :D

Coil over the piggy on 80 axles =)

e-lockers if ya get lucky too hehehe.

Mine will be gettin em in the future (once I scrounge up the dough).