Possible Front axle ideas - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

FJ40man · 10-06-2003, 04:05 PM

I installing a 4L60E with a NP 241 t case with a drivers side drop. What front axle should I put in. I was thinking that maybe I could take the 40 axle and flip it put the diff on the correct side and with doing a cut and turn with the SOA would put the caster back where it belongs. Or should I get a dana 44/60 that has been narrowed. The trails up here don't like full width axles to much. Some times the cruiser is to wide as it is now (stock axles).

Big DW · 10-06-2003, 04:24 PM

other than the drain plug and filler plug, I don't see why that wouldnt work....not sure if the knuckles are the same if you just rotate them 180*....you may have to put the left on the right and the right on the left...

cruiserbrett · 10-06-2003, 04:26 PM

I have seen the front axle flip done on cruiser axle before. You will have to cut off the diff cover and rotate it 180degrees, as well as cut notches for the ring gear but it can be done. dont forget the fill plug and breather will have to be switched too, along with shock mounts, steering stops and other odds and ends. You will definetly have to do some cut and rotate the knuckles action but it could work. Earl Warden did this on his double front ended cruiser I got to drive once.

No reason it cant be done. I say go for it.

-brett

wngrog · 10-06-2003, 04:32 PM

There are lots of D44's with driver's side drop...think FORD.

Another popular choice of course is the D60 from the Ford with the HP center...

LCOwner · 10-06-2003, 04:46 PM

Isn't the axis that the knuckle turns on at an angle to the housing? /--That would mean doing a big cut and rotate. sounds like a lot of work when HP Ford 60s are to be had.

cruiserbrett · 10-06-2003, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LCOwner
Isn't the axis that the knuckle turns on at an angle to the housing? /--That would mean doing a big cut and rotate. sounds like a lot of work when HP Ford 60s are to be had.

You could just turn somewhere near 180degrees and have the same result. still got to do the same cutting work, just turn the knuckles further(~180degrees vs ~15degrees).

-brett

FJ40man · 10-06-2003, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wngrog
There are lots of D44's with driver's side drop...think FORD.

Another popular choice of course is the D60 from the Ford with the HP center...

Which Fords have the closet WMS to WMS as the Cruiser?

chef · 10-06-2003, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wngrog
Another popular choice of course is the D60 from the Ford with the HP center... [/B]

Yep...

chef · 10-06-2003, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FJ40man

Which Fords have the closet WMS to WMS as the Cruiser?

None really...ford dana 60's are full size one ton gear...

Toploader · 10-06-2003, 06:01 PM

what about early bronco front 44's? flipping the L/C housing would be more time involved rather than finding a ford 60 r/c front, but most of those r/c ford 60's ive seen cost a lot of money, then to narrow and have shafts done on top of that. beleive me i know plenty about narrowing a front 60

$$$. ditch that drivers drop t/c, is it really worth all the hassle?

FJ40man · 10-06-2003, 06:24 PM

I'm just looking for ideas and or possible solutions. I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel or have a one of a kind setup. I also need to do something to get disc brakes up front as well. I wonder how plentiful EB ford front ends are. On another front, wouldn't the Dodge NP 241 bolt up to the 4L60E as long as you change the input shaft?

FJ40man · 10-06-2003, 06:32 PM

I'm also installing a vortec 4.3L in the cruiser as well. Redoing the cage, seats. Nolen has given me myinspritation to lighten up my cruiser. So, if you if you ever had an idea for a light weight street legal cruiser... lets hear it! I will take some pics and include them as I go along. I hope to have it back on the road by spring!

Toploader · 10-06-2003, 06:32 PM

you should talk to "orangefj45" he can help you out on the 241 to 4l60e, and tell you what you would need.

joe cabela · 10-06-2003, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wngrog
There are lots of D44's with driver's side drop...think FORD.

Another popular choice of course is the D60 from the Ford with the HP center...

Joe is in agreement here. 44 if you will run smaller tires and light wheeling, 60 for bigger tires and heavy duty.

FJ40man · 10-06-2003, 06:47 PM

I have been running 35's the 5yrs w/ a locker in the rear and an Eaton Super Brute up front. I Haven't even broken a birfield yet, running Moab and The Con. But I didn't always push it or do the super crazy stuff as much as it was my dd. But now, I can wheel it like Nolen and Woody, but I will try to keep it on its wheels

. The biggest tire I could see running and still be able to drive it on the road is 38's.

joe cabela · 10-06-2003, 07:09 PM

Im not one to be the "hero" on the trail but breaking stuff sucks. I broke a rear pinion 2 weeks ago with my 35s but Im currently narrowing a 70 for the rear and a 60 for the front with a 420 and atlas inbetween. I should be good to go now, oh yea and I picked up my new 38.5 sxs, I figure I will have the beef so why not.

cruiserbrett · 10-06-2003, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by joe cabela

Joe is in agreement here. 44 if you will run smaller tires and light wheeling, 60 for bigger tires and heavy duty.

Are you seriously talking in the third person here???

texican · 10-06-2003, 08:17 PM

I picked up a reverse cut D44 a few weeks ago for $200 out of a 79 F150, if you are easy on the stupid pedal it might be a decent choice

Butch

kling-on · 10-07-2003, 05:58 AM

look around for the right donar rig and you can have a 9in centered rear also

i bought my 76 f150 4x4 running $200.00 d44 and a9in rear look around maybe even run the coils in the frnt

FJ40man · 10-07-2003, 12:51 PM

I think that I going to go with a ford 9 in the rear and a ford dana 44 in the front. Then again I might go with Hybrid Toy-dana 44 or 60's. So many choices, so much money and time.

LC Hamma · 10-07-2003, 01:43 PM

Quote:

But now, I can wheel it like Nolen and Woody, but I will try to keep it on its wheels . The biggest tire I could see running and still be able to drive it on the road is 38's.

38's max.? IMO, don't waste your $$$ and time fixin' up your birfielded front or a D44 with alloy axles, CTM's, etc. A 35 spline stub upgrade to a narrowed RC60 is all you'll need

swon · 10-07-2003, 01:58 PM

If you want to lighten your FJ cut the stock body off at the cowl section and add an Aqualu aluminum tub, fenders, bib and sideplates. Ditch the hardtop and you've done it. Oh, don't forget to throw the boat anchor away also. I'm doing a cut and flip on two front FJ axles right now, for my crawler. It can be done in a lightweight rig. The heavier birfs should survive, if you don't do stupid stuff with the go pedal.
swon

Tankota · 10-07-2003, 03:39 PM

Quote:

The trails up here don't like full width axles to much. Some times the cruiser is to wide as it is now

You're right...however, things are changing on the trails and I can fit through Elbe, all of Naches (yawn), Walker Valley, and even all of Rimrock being 78" wide overall (60" WTW). I have 9" of tire sticking out past the mounting surface of the wheel

I was also worried about being too wide when I went wider. The fears didn't pan out though.
Full width axles do have some problems at Elbe and Rimrock.

FJ40man · 10-07-2003, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LC Hamma

38's max.? IMO, don't waste your $$$ and time fixin' up your birfielded front or a D44 with alloy axles, CTM's, etc. A 35 spline stub upgrade to a narrowed RC60 is all you'll need

I still would like to be able to drive it on the road without getting hassled by the law.

Tankota · 10-07-2003, 05:01 PM

Aha! A major factor in how you build your rig...whether or not you will drive on the street and whether or not you mind being "hassled" by THE MAN.

10-06-2003, 04:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
FJ40man Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Member # 12941 Location: Bellevue WA Posts: 181	Possible Front axle ideas I installing a 4L60E with a NP 241 t case with a drivers side drop. What front axle should I put in. I was thinking that maybe I could take the 40 axle and flip it put the diff on the correct side and with doing a cut and turn with the SOA would put the caster back where it belongs. Or should I get a dana 44/60 that has been narrowed. The trails up here don't like full width axles to much. Some times the cruiser is to wide as it is now (stock axles).

10-06-2003, 04:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
Big DW Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Member # 9950 Location: Lodi, CA Posts: 1,060	other than the drain plug and filler plug, I don't see why that wouldnt work....not sure if the knuckles are the same if you just rotate them 180*....you may have to put the left on the right and the right on the left... __________________ [SIZE="4"][COLOR="Blue"]Operator, Quick...give me the number for 911!!![/COLOR][/SIZE]

10-06-2003, 04:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
cruiserbrett Registered User Join Date: Sep 2001 Member # 6863 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,797	I have seen the front axle flip done on cruiser axle before. You will have to cut off the diff cover and rotate it 180degrees, as well as cut notches for the ring gear but it can be done. dont forget the fill plug and breather will have to be switched too, along with shock mounts, steering stops and other odds and ends. You will definetly have to do some cut and rotate the knuckles action but it could work. Earl Warden did this on his double front ended cruiser I got to drive once. No reason it cant be done. I say go for it. -brett __________________ I have enough projects for the next decade. Need two?

10-06-2003, 04:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
wngrog Moderating Midget Join Date: Jun 2000 Member # 1154 Location: Canton, MS Posts: 22,065 Blog Entries: 4	There are lots of D44's with driver's side drop...think FORD. Another popular choice of course is the D60 from the Ford with the HP center... __________________ Nolen Grogan 1997 FZJ-80 Land Cruiser, 37's 2010 RZR-4 www.cottonlandcruisers.com www.rockmidgetphotography.com USAF Veteran 1988-1998 GOD Bless America

10-06-2003, 04:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
LCOwner 181 Join Date: Feb 2000 Member # 181 Location: 100 miles from Ershim Lake Posts: 1,743	Isn't the axis that the knuckle turns on at an angle to the housing? /--That would mean doing a big cut and rotate. sounds like a lot of work when HP Ford 60s are to be had. __________________ Team Member: G-Man Racing #213

10-06-2003, 06:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
Toploader Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Member # 16737 Location: Chillin with Clayton Bigsby Posts: 2,209	what about early bronco front 44's? flipping the L/C housing would be more time involved rather than finding a ford 60 r/c front, but most of those r/c ford 60's ive seen cost a lot of money, then to narrow and have shafts done on top of that. beleive me i know plenty about narrowing a front 60 $$$. ditch that drivers drop t/c, is it really worth all the hassle? __________________ All my shits heavy.

10-06-2003, 06:24 PM	#11 (permalink)
FJ40man Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Member # 12941 Location: Bellevue WA Posts: 181	I'm just looking for ideas and or possible solutions. I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel or have a one of a kind setup. I also need to do something to get disc brakes up front as well. I wonder how plentiful EB ford front ends are. On another front, wouldn't the Dodge NP 241 bolt up to the 4L60E as long as you change the input shaft?

10-06-2003, 06:32 PM	#12 (permalink)
FJ40man Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Member # 12941 Location: Bellevue WA Posts: 181	I'm also installing a vortec 4.3L in the cruiser as well. Redoing the cage, seats. Nolen has given me myinspritation to lighten up my cruiser. So, if you if you ever had an idea for a light weight street legal cruiser... lets hear it! I will take some pics and include them as I go along. I hope to have it back on the road by spring!

10-06-2003, 06:32 PM	#13 (permalink)
Toploader Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Member # 16737 Location: Chillin with Clayton Bigsby Posts: 2,209	you should talk to "orangefj45" he can help you out on the 241 to 4l60e, and tell you what you would need. __________________ All my shits heavy.

10-06-2003, 06:47 PM	#15 (permalink)
FJ40man Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Member # 12941 Location: Bellevue WA Posts: 181	I have been running 35's the 5yrs w/ a locker in the rear and an Eaton Super Brute up front. I Haven't even broken a birfield yet, running Moab and The Con. But I didn't always push it or do the super crazy stuff as much as it was my dd. But now, I can wheel it like Nolen and Woody, but I will try to keep it on its wheels . The biggest tire I could see running and still be able to drive it on the road is 38's.

10-06-2003, 07:09 PM	#16 (permalink)
joe cabela Registered User Join Date: Jun 2000 Member # 1072 Location: Quincy CA Posts: 428	Im not one to be the "hero" on the trail but breaking stuff sucks. I broke a rear pinion 2 weeks ago with my 35s but Im currently narrowing a 70 for the rear and a 60 for the front with a 420 and atlas inbetween. I should be good to go now, oh yea and I picked up my new 38.5 sxs, I figure I will have the beef so why not. __________________ "Very few things can't be solved with time and money, some times more of one than the other." 69 fj40 with some "minor" mods Don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya

10-06-2003, 08:17 PM	#18 (permalink)
texican Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Member # 12349 Location: Bonham Texas Posts: 6,610	I picked up a reverse cut D44 a few weeks ago for $200 out of a 79 F150, if you are easy on the stupid pedal it might be a decent choice Butch __________________ Conflict is inevitable..... Combat is optional.... Tires are like boobs, they always look big until you have played with them for a while, then you just want a bigger set. [URL=http://www.lslc.org/]Lone Star Land Cruisers[/URL] [URL=http://www.khyi.com/]Support Texas Music[/URL]

10-07-2003, 05:58 AM	#19 (permalink)
kling-on Kool Arrow Join Date: Sep 2002 Member # 13666 Location: pimpin parts in San Antonio, TX Posts: 2,827	look around for the right donar rig and you can have a 9in centered rear also i bought my 76 f150 4x4 running $200.00 d44 and a9in rear look around maybe even run the coils in the frnt __________________ 82 FJ60 5.3, 4L60E, SOA, 35's, 456's, lockrights, ARB bull & side bars and warn 12k 85FJ60 SOLD 82BJ42 3B,H55, Fj60 p/s.... And a boat load of parts in the garage GIT-R-DONE!!!! low riders want SWITCHES... 4 wheelers want SHIFTERS Last edited by kling-on; 10-07-2003 at 05:59 AM.

10-07-2003, 12:51 PM	#20 (permalink)
FJ40man Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Member # 12941 Location: Bellevue WA Posts: 181	I think that I going to go with a ford 9 in the rear and a ford dana 44 in the front. Then again I might go with Hybrid Toy-dana 44 or 60's. So many choices, so much money and time.

10-07-2003, 01:58 PM	#22 (permalink)
swon Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Member # 17748 Location: West Virginia Posts: 160	If you want to lighten your FJ cut the stock body off at the cowl section and add an Aqualu aluminum tub, fenders, bib and sideplates. Ditch the hardtop and you've done it. Oh, don't forget to throw the boat anchor away also. I'm doing a cut and flip on two front FJ axles right now, for my crawler. It can be done in a lightweight rig. The heavier birfs should survive, if you don't do stupid stuff with the go pedal. swon __________________ [img]http://www.rockcrawler.com/readersrides/photos/2475a.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.rockcrawler.com/readersrides/photos/2475b.jpg[/img]

10-07-2003, 05:01 PM	#25 (permalink)
Tankota Registered User Join Date: Jun 2000 Member # 1159 Location: Olympia, WA Posts: 1,861	Aha! A major factor in how you build your rig...whether or not you will drive on the street and whether or not you mind being "hassled" by THE MAN.

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