First project on the DII

[leftlanetruckin]

Did a little playing, and ended up with this.

So made this.




Will be building it as time/funds/research allows. End goal is 35's, probably on FJ80 locked axles, steering upgrades, bumpstops, and so on. Still figuring out which way I'll with the suspension etc.
Last wheeling rigs have been Heeps on 37's, locked, hydro assist, etc.

Martin

 

[Devildog01]

35's on toy axles. Sounds familiar. And a smart move.

 

[leftlanetruckin]

Seems to be a common swap, and a cost effective one.
I always look at different axles, before beefing up the ones under a rig already. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't...
I'm more inclined to spend money with folks that actually reply to emails too, vs ones that cant be bothered. So Toyota over LR axles is 99% going to happen on this one.

Martin

 

[Lsmyth26]

What kind of bumper is that?

 

[Mongo]

Like I said over on Pirate, look into the HD stuff that's available for the LR axle before you go crazy with a axle swap...

 

[leftlanetruckin]

What kind of bumper is that?

I made it myself

Martin

 

[leftlanetruckin]

Like I said over on Pirate, look into the HD stuff that's available for the LR axle before you go crazy with a axle swap...

I certainly will, thank you

Martin

 

[leftlanetruckin]

Mongo, here is my thinking, is it flawed or sound?
By the time I regear and lock the Rover axles, plus upgraded axle shafts, it comes to @$4500 by quick reckoning on Lucky8's site. Save a bit by not going selectable lockers, but comparing like for like, and all they list are ARB's.
Been offered a set of 80 axles for $2500 (too high IMHO) with 4.10's, lockers and full float rear.
Are the 80 axles not enough stock, to handle wheeling on 35's with a careful driver? So no upgrades required off the bat.
Not being a smartass by any means, just conveying my thinking on the matter.

Thanks for your time.

Martin

 

[Mongo]

2500 for a set of e-locked 80 axles is a crime. Rebuilt kits and brakes are going to be another 500…so now your at 3k and haven't done any work other than get the axles refurbed, driveshafts (500) black box to keep it so you have a speedo (250), brakelines and other brake shit (250) brackets and shit (500) and you haven't even began to build it and your looking at more than building what you got under the truck…

Don't fool yourself and think your time isn't worth anything and this swap is a bitch…for not a lot of gain. If your going bigger than 35, dump the D2…You'de be amazed what a properly set-up D2 can do on 33's...

 

[leftlanetruckin]

My time is just me at home between work, I'm in the shop regardless.......lol
Point taken on the other stuff though, and of course you are 110% correct.
I was going with new DC shafts anyways front and back, but I'll get them made by my guy instead of going the TW route.
Do used chromo axles ever come up? I will do more digging into chromo shafts and see what I come up with. I get stuff shipped fro the UK for other projects, so will look there too.
No I havent broke anything yet, but with 33's.....

Cheers
Martin

 

[leftlanetruckin]

Made the sliders this week too, and now on with the front bumper and winch mount.
Sliders are 2x3x1/4 square tubing, welded onto some broke 1/4" steel angle that wraps the rockers, then a piece of 1/4" welded to the back side of that. I also tacked some 1/2" onto the inside of the angle, to level it to the lip on the rocker panels should it ever get pushed up (which I doubt with 5-7/16" grade 8 bolts on each side)
Bent some DOM for a little more protection, and called it done.
Nothing complicated, and certainly nothing hardcore. Have @$100 in them.




Front bumper got a little more head scratching, but is getting there. Overbuilt maybe, but I dont want it to move. Side plates are coming back to the shock mount on one side, steering box on the other side, and are 3/8". Cut the wannabe crossmember so the winch can sit closer to the rig with less overhang off the front. Also cut the body mounts, and will make brackets to bolt them to the 3/8" plate. I wanted the side rails to sit flat against the frame. I also welded on some 1/8" plate to the frame. On one side to level up the frame to the steering box mount, other side just because.
Again, nothing hard core, just screwing around before I head to Wi next week..

Martin

 

[Buddy]

Having been looking at the axles swap for several years and even having bought and sold some FJ80 axles in that process. I'm going to agree with Frank on this one. Unless you're going to link your truck anyway the FJ swap is going to be just as expensive or more so. The last couple of times I ran the numbers I was in for 6,500-7,000 total, and yes that's with me doing my own work. Granted that's including new air lockers and Chromo shafts since I was open to going over 35's. Right now I've got probably around $1,800 sitting in my garage for joints, mounts, link materials and other random stuff. Just to do a fully linked front and rear suspension. If you're not going to link I really don't see the point in even doing an axle swap.

As for do they come up used often. Not really, but I do know of a set of barely used Ashcroft Lockers with 4.75 gears for sale right now.

 

[leftlanetruckin]

Front bumper done. 3/8" plate goes back to the steering bracket on the driver side, and to the shock mount on the passenger side, laid flat against the frame. Comes to the front of the winch tray/right behind the 1/4" plate up front.
Pull the grill and the winch will drop right in from the top. Solenoid will go into the empty space where the jack went. Plasma cut the wannabe cross member in front of the radiator, it's useless now the bumper is there beefing up the front.
Need to figure out a washer bottle relocation, or a new bottle. Seen a few threads, but I have SAI so doubt any of the "kits" will work. May be heading to Lowes....lol



Martin

 

[KyleT]

You should be able to find 93+ fzj80 axles for 700-1500 depending on lockers or not. Only get 93+.

You can beat on them on 35's on a rover. A d2 weighs about 1k lbs less than an fj80.

 

[leftlanetruckin]

Thanks Kyle.
Still trying to keep the options open, as far as the axles go.
Tried twice to get a price to upgrade the current axles (HD shafts, regear, ARB's), but no joy. Guess that's the first @$4.5k towards an axle swap....

Martin

 

[Greg Davis]

Front bumper done. 3/8" plate goes back to the steering bracket on the driver side, and to the shock mount on the passenger side, laid flat against the frame. Comes to the front of the winch tray/right behind the 1/4" plate up front.
Pull the grill and the winch will drop right in from the top. Solenoid will go into the empty space where the jack went. Plasma cut the wannabe cross member in front of the radiator, it's useless now the bumper is there beefing up the front.
Need to figure out a washer bottle relocation, or a new bottle. Seen a few threads, but I have SAI so doubt any of the "kits" will work. May be heading to Lowes....lol
View attachment 55164
View attachment 55165

Martin

Nice work! :victory:

 

[helievacpilot]

Thanks Kyle.
Still trying to keep the options open, as far as the axles go.
Tried twice to get a price to upgrade the current axles (HD shafts, regear, ARB's), but no joy. Guess that's the first @$4.5k towards an axle swap....

Martin

What do you mean tried? It's not that hard. I could go on just one website right now and look up all the components your talking about and get price + shipping in about 5 min. Sounds like your trying to talk yourself into the swap.

 

[leftlanetruckin]

Nice work! :victory:

Thanks Greg, means a lot coming from someone that does that stuff for a living!

Martin

 

[Devildog01]

What do you mean tried? It's not that hard. I could go on just one website right now and look up all the components your talking about and get price + shipping in about 5 min. Sounds like your trying to talk yourself into the swap.

In which case he would be a smart man.

 

[leftlanetruckin]

What do you mean tried? It's not that hard. I could go on just one website right now and look up all the components your talking about and get price + shipping in about 5 min. Sounds like your trying to talk yourself into the swap.

Not at all, or I wouldn't have bothered sending two places emails about a price for a OME lift kit, regeared 3rd members with ARB/Ashcroft lockers, upgraded axle shafts, and so on...As a package deal.
Yes, I could go online and find the individual prices in no time, but would you not expect some kind of deal when spending over $5k in one hit on Rover parts? Besides that, I asked about any other "required" items in their opinion.

As I said earlier, I am still an open mind on the axles.
If I find a good set of 80 axles, I'll get them. If I find a good deal on the stuff for the Rover axles, I'll get it. I tend to look at more than one option, being my money and all...

Martin