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Solid Axle Swaps

noJeepshere

noJeepshere

I Drove Trains!
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So... in pricing out lift kits, I remember ORD has a solid axle swap kit. I looked at it years ago and it was in the neighborhood of $1500, note the price on it now:

http://offroaddesign.com/catalog/88-98SolidAxleConversion.htm

Now I'm keeping an eye out for a hp44 from a Ford pickup to this instead of a problem-infested IFS lift.

What can you guys weigh in with? the plan is for about 4" of lift and a 33" tire. I don't want to go big on this, just have a very capable rig that is also good on the highway.
 
I really looks like a nice simple swap Riley.

It would be way better than an IFS lift, and give you a much stronger front end.

Pair that with a pair of ORD springs, and that thing will ride awesome :thumb:
 
Im not knocking ORD and yes I know its all bolt on but for $500+ dollars for some brackets a pair of shackles and bushings its that all that great of a steal. I mean if you can measure, weld and cut it could be done for under $100 with nice generic laser cut brackets. But then again you wouldnt need a kit if you could do all that stuff.
 
noJeepshere said:
So... in pricing out lift kits, I remember ORD has a solid axle swap kit. I looked at it years ago and it was in the neighborhood of $1500, note the price on it now:

http://offroaddesign.com/catalog/88-98SolidAxleConversion.htm

Now I'm keeping an eye out for a hp44 from a Ford pickup to this instead of a problem-infested IFS lift.

What can you guys weigh in with? the plan is for about 4" of lift and a 33" tire. I don't want to go big on this, just have a very capable rig that is also good on the highway.
Click to expand...

I have a feeling you're thinking of ORU (Off Road Unlimited) or Off Road Direct (who also used ORD, now out of business).

Ours have been out for a little over two years and has been about the same price the whole time.
 
noJeepshere said:
So... in pricing out lift kits, I remember ORD has a solid axle swap kit. I looked at it years ago and it was in the neighborhood of $1500, note the price on it now:

http://offroaddesign.com/catalog/88-98SolidAxleConversion.htm

Now I'm keeping an eye out for a hp44 from a Ford pickup to this instead of a problem-infested IFS lift.

What can you guys weigh in with? the plan is for about 4" of lift and a 33" tire. I don't want to go big on this, just have a very capable rig that is also good on the highway.
Click to expand...

That's just the brackets, you still need the springs, and cross over steering. Oh and shocks and a hard to find ford axle and a new front driveshaft and a slip yoke eliminator kit to go along with the driveshaft. Oh and something has to be done about your ABS... :doah:

By the time you add it all up it costs just as much as a complete ifs lift kit :screwy:
 
There is nothing cheap about a SAS. The brackets from ORD were the cheapest part ;)

As mentioned above, you need to get a diff + rebuild it to be street worthy, fit crossover steering in, new shocks, shock towers, extended brake lines, ABS delete or retrofit, springs, u bolts, new front driveshaft, a swap to an NP243 with a flange front output, exhaust mods, misc hardware, and a whole crapload of grinding, cutting, painting etc.

Expect to spend at least 2.5 - 3k on the swap above the cost of brackets, assuming you find a good front diff that doesn't need a whole lot of work.
 
Chevy305 said:
Not endorcing IFS lift kits, just comparing the cost.
Click to expand...


Yah, just seems its impossible to keep them alligned, cv shafts get killed all the time.

I know quite a few people running them. They ride like crap off road. My blazer is a caddy compared :deal:
 
Russell said:
There is nothing cheap about a SAS. The brackets from ORD were the cheapest part ;)

As mentioned above, you need to get a diff + rebuild it to be street worthy, fit crossover steering in, new shocks, shock towers, extended brake lines, ABS delete or retrofit, springs, u bolts, new front driveshaft, a swap to an NP243 with a flange front output, exhaust mods, misc hardware, and a whole crapload of grinding, cutting, painting etc.

Expect to spend at least 2.5 - 3k on the swap above the cost of brackets, assuming you find a good front diff that doesn't need a whole lot of work.
Click to expand...
I know it won't be as cheap as an IFS lift, BUT, ifs is ifs, and I could throw that same $3,000 into an ifs and still have a weak front end that I can't put a locker in. My plan was 10 years down the road or so do a sas, based on the price of aforementioned sas (probably was ORU, it's been a while) price and the work needed. But I don't feel like spending that kind of money twice.

The biggest hurdle is keeping it low, I do not want more than ~4" of lift, so I think the best idea for the front would be a spring under setup and notch and brace the frame so the axle has some up travel. I'm looking at the 52" kit, in which I will also get the ORD springs, and with his shackle reversal kit in back with new springs, I'll be good to go. And I want to get rid of my autocrap transfer case for the 241 or 243 case with fixed yokes. Combine that with a 14bsf with selectable locker and disc brakes, it will be more than tough and capable for what I want to do.
 
Deuling said:
Yah, just seems its impossible to keep them alligned, cv shafts get killed all the time.

I know quite a few people running them. They ride like crap off road. My blazer is a caddy compared :deal:
Click to expand...
Mine has held its alignment very well for GM stock, and it rides very well off-road, until I hit a pot hole or bump that is more than 4" deep or tall, then it sucks. :doah:
 
noJeepshere said:
Mine has held its alignment very well for GM stock, and it rides very well off-road, until I hit a pot hole or bump that is more than 4" deep or tall, then it sucks. :doah:
Click to expand...


Stock they ride great...

Im talking ifs lifts.. They suck AZZZ


The $1500 or whatever... would be much better spend towards a real suspension
 
To bad you are not closer I have a '79 F250 hp44 and ff60. I was putting them in a guys jeep and he decided to go HP60/14bff instead. So I bought them from him for what he had in them which was probably to much. With the intention of using them for a sas on a '99 suburban 2500 which got sold before I got around to it.
 
K588 said:
To bad you are not closer I have a '79 F250 hp44 and ff60. I was putting them in a guys jeep and he decided to go HP60/14bff instead. So I bought them from him for what he had in them which was probably to much. With the intention of using them for a sas on a '99 suburban 2500 which got sold before I got around to it.
Click to expand...
Yeah really! Are they six or eight lug? I'd rather stick with six lug, but if the price is right, I'd rock eight lugs.
 
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