What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Solid Axle Conversion???

TC4x4

TC4x4

1/2 ton status
Joined
Sep 12, 2006
Posts
888
Reaction score
22
Location
Michigan
What goes into this to do this kind of project? I need to know all about it before i do anything. I need to know what i will need to do this and should i go to coil over or leaf spring??? I am clueless to how or what it takes to do this so I NEED HELP Thanks guys

010205010407011611200802042dda41123c2f17296700e45e.jpg
 
TC4x4 said:
What goes into this to do this kind of project? I need to know all about it before i do anything. I need to know what i will need to do this and should i go to coil over or leaf spring??? I am clueless to how or what it takes to do this so I NEED HELP Thanks guys
Click to expand...

first & foremost: MAKE SURE YOUR FABRICATION SKILLS ARE UP TO TASK! (if you're going to do it yourself). We don't need another half a$$ed piece of crap endangering other people's lives.


Now, search will go a long way in helping you out, but this what I could offer to start you off:

You taken into consideration what you're going to do with the truck? Terrain...sand, dirt, rocks, mud, street, etc? Size of your tires? So then you need to figure out what type of axle you're going to swap in, D44, D60...if D60 are you going to swap out the rear for a 14 bolt to match the 1 ton front? Don't forget your front d-shaft. Coilover or leaf? That depends on much money you want to spend. If money's no concern, coilovers hands down. So there are your answers.


But take into consideration all the geometry to set up your front end, especially if you're going coilovers. So factor in the cost of the D60 + if you want to regear, lock, and beef it. Factor in the rear axle. D-shaft. Link material, heims, bushings, brackets, etc OR leafs, bushings, brackets, perches, plates, etc (depending on which route you go). Factor in misc, such as brake lines, steering, tires, wheels, welding materials, time, etc.


I hope this helps :D
 
haha, I planted the seed :D.

You need to really think about what your going to do with the truck. Do you want to build a hard core rock rig? A good heavy duty trail rig, A light duty trail rig and so on. If you building either one of the first two mentioned your going to want a D60 front axle, and swap your rear to a 14FF, thats the "standard" setup most run or want to run. Im not going to even get into all the aftermarket axles that cost too much.

If you just want a good trail rig that you dont want to get into the real hard stuff swap in a D44 or 10 bolt. your going to be limited to 33/35 max tires. You still can break these axles with that kind of tire if you have a heavy throttle foot. But you will be able to go alot of places and do alot of wheeling with these axles too.

Your truck is not as heavy as the older blazers so you wont be quite as hard on them. You will need some spring hangers and shackles, go straight to Kert at DIY4X4 for hangers. Good springs are BDS Tough country's. I would see if you can use either the DIY4X4 or the ORD shackle flip, there not made for your rig but you might be able to make them work for you.

Do you know how to do fab work and do you have welders, grinders, tools to do a SA conversion? If so cool, if NOT your kinda in a hard spot. You can have a shop like OFF ROAD UNLIMITTED do it if your local but it will cost you an arm and a leg, or you can buy there kit and find an axle and do it your self, but you have to have the know how.

Personally I would build myown "kit" and find myown axle and just figure out what to do. search for sites, and threads of guys that have done a SA conversion that will help a bunch. I could go on and on but Im at work, got to go. hope this helps.
 
RGV72BLAZER said:
first & foremost: MAKE SURE YOUR FABRICATION SKILLS ARE UP TO TASK! (if you're going to do it yourself). We don't need another half a$$ed piece of crap endangering other people's lives.


Now, search will go a long way in helping you out, but this what I could offer to start you off:

You taken into consideration what you're going to do with the truck? Terrain...sand, dirt, rocks, mud, street, etc? Size of your tires? So then you need to figure out what type of axle you're going to swap in, D44, D60...if D60 are you going to swap out the rear for a 14 bolt to match the 1 ton front? Don't forget your front d-shaft. Coilover or leaf? That depends on much money you want to spend. If money's no concern, coilovers hands down. So there are your answers.


But take into consideration all the geometry to set up your front end, especially if you're going coilovers. So factor in the cost of the D60 + if you want to regear, lock, and beef it. Factor in the rear axle. D-shaft. Link material, heims, bushings, brackets, etc OR leafs, bushings, brackets, perches, plates, etc (depending on which route you go). Factor in misc, such as brake lines, steering, tires, wheels, welding materials, time, etc.


I hope this helps :D
Click to expand...


here I am typing away and you beat me to it. :D
 
well if you have the fab. skills to do it, id use leaf springs,less money, less complicated IMO. you can get some good flex out of springs too. as for ride quality, most solid axle conversion kits add 4" from the start so with a soft 4" spring (tuff country) you have a 8" lift and a soft ride. just make sure you have time and the skills. friends with truck knowledge help too.
 
I'm at the end of the SAS process so I think I can lend some advice. First if your clueless do a lot of research and search here, fullsizechevy.com, and gmfullsize.com. Theres days worth of good info to be found.

Next I'd decide if you're going to go with leaf springs or some type of coilover/coil setup. If you go leafs it can be pretty easy with a kit like the ORUs and done in the driveway. But like everyone else has said you can make hangers yourself but it depends on skill level.

For for the coil/coilover set up thats much more time, work, and money. I went that route and think I would do it again. Plan on lots of down time and some frustration with the project. You will need all the right tools. Good compressor, torch, welder, and lots tools in general.
 
So guys, should i just get a ford axle (half ton) bec i wam not going bigger that 35' tires so should i get a ford so i can keep the transfer case or should i get a chevy and get a different transfer case, and again could someone tell me which i have, i think its a np208, is that a chain driven case.
 
RGV72BLAZER said:
241?...chain drive. if you're going through the trouble, I'd just go D60 & 14 bolt...but that's just me. When I do sh!t, I like to try to do it right & beefy the first time. :D
Click to expand...



X2! I love over kill. :D
 
Just a question. If you are only going to run 35" tires why do you want to do a SFA swap? It is a lot of work and money and you will gain little or nothing.
You have a nice truck.
Your IFS is perfictly capable of handling 35" tire.
If you want to spend some money on it. Put Elockers front and rear and beef up the axles. You will be able to do anything SFA can.
Dont let all the "IFS is crap" that goes on around here make you think you have to have SFA to have a capable rig.

If you want a rock crawler on big tires than by all means go for the SFA swap.
But for 35" tires ??? Not worth it IMO.
 
Thunder said:
Just a question. If you are only going to run 35" tires why do you want to do a SFA swap? It is a lot of work and money and you will gain little or nothing.
You have a nice truck.
Your IFS is perfictly capable of handling 35" tire.
If you want to spend some money on it. Put Elockers front and rear and beef up the axles. You will be able to do anything SFA can.
Dont let all the "IFS is crap" that goes on around here make you think you have to have SFA to have a capable rig.

If you want a rock crawler on big tires than by all means go for the SFA swap.
But for 35" tires ??? Not worth it IMO.
Click to expand...
I gotta agree with you on this. Unless you are making a hardcore rig, you can keep the IFS. I'm sure there are some aftermarket parts out there to beef up the IFS. I think Peterson's 4wheel and offroad did a build up where they beefed up an IFS chevy pickup for wheeling. Might want to check their website for the article.
 
Thanks guys for all the responses. Like I said before this will be a vehical that i do need to last beause I am in college so I have decided the biggest will be 35' tires so i am going to leave it ifs. I am going to be using it mostly for road use around town and camping at times too, maybe a little trail for fun if i ever get time. I am still going to put money into it but not a crazy amount of mods that will come back to bite me in the butt for everyday realiability. Now saying that...

Keeping it a half ton is something that I want to do and down the road will have a weekend warrior that I will beef up a ton for somehard core offroading. With that being said, what modifications do you guys recamend that I could do that are not crazy mods which would still allow me to use it daily. Are there lockers that you can shut on and off? What engine mods are there to draw out more power too? And what ways do you beef up ifs? Thanks guys for all the help again!

Also arnt there computer chips for these newer trucks that will boost performance up?
 
Last edited:
These are all very simple answer questions. Learn some things on your own by using the SEARCH. Or go to 4wheelparts and I am sure they would be happy to take your money.
Good luck.
 
I you are using it for a DD/Moderate trail use I would not do much to it. it is already set up pretty good for that.
You may even have a gov lok (GM stock locker) in the back. you should check to find out
The sticker in the glove box will say g80 under rear axle if you do. Find out what you have before you get into modding your truck. Drive it for a while get used to it. See if it has anything wrong with it. Take it offroad and try it out you may be pleasantly surprised.
As far as the engine
What you really should do is a complete fluid/oil change from the radiator to the rear end, Don't forget the blinker fluid reservoir.
Do a tune up. plugs,wires,cap and rotor air filter etc.
Then worry about performance mods. Headers and exhaust should be the first thing you do.
You really need to get to know your truck before you worry about a bunch of mods you may not even need.

Dont bother getting a chip for a stock engine. waste of money.
 
If you are needing it to last then dont do a SA swap. just throw a good suspension lift and run as stated earlier no more them 35's. you will be more then happy with it. Just dont go try really hard stuff. you will be able to wheel plenty of places. you dont want this to turn into a 3 year, to umpteen year project on jack stands.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom