Full size axel swap 78 d44 and 9" SAS in 86 B2

BabyBronco89 · Apr 9, 2014

Okay so just got done ordering a round of parts , I got all 4 Chevy 1 ton tie rod ends and steering links.
26" rubber break lines
Front pads for my D44 all off rock auto for $64

Then I picked up a set of new 7deg c bushings, radius arm busings and drag link bushings for 52$ shipped to my house from autoplicity.com
Hopefully The parts come this weekend so I can start getting things mocked up,
Oh I forgot I also spent 28$ on ball joints earlier last week,
Hopefully I can find some time this week to start cleaning up the d44 and radius arms, and get the knuckles off so I can send them to a machine shop to get tapered for the 1 tons
And get the new ball joints installed.
Hopefully have some pics for you guys by the weekend

I found weld in bungs on eBay for 8.95$ plus 2$ shipping or so, 7/8-18" LH and RH thread with nice hex heads , weld into 1" ID tubing so probably going with 1.5" OD
Do I get one left hand and one RH for each section? So turning the steering link one way or another, after loosening the jamb nuts will either lengthen the distance between 2 ends or shorten the distance, I know modern rack n pinion tie rods are both the same thread.
Wouldn't doing it the way I mentioned allow for greater adjustment? What have you guys done?

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BabyBronco89 · Apr 12, 2014

My box full of goodies arrived from rock auto, however it looks like I'm going to need new rotors and drums if I can get the damn things apart they are way past gone. I'll update picks when I can,

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bIIjr · Apr 18, 2014

I'm following this. I'm gathering parts for my 86 I'm doing same except exploder 8.8 with spacers.

jmidd2011 · Apr 23, 2014

what trac bar are you using for your swap?

BabyBronco89 · Apr 23, 2014

That is one part I haven't even thought about thus far, I might fab up my own or modify something that's close, what have others used??

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BabyBronco89 · Apr 23, 2014

7 deg c bushings
Polyurethane by energy suspension

54$ shipped I should of ordered straight from them instead I ordered from autoplicity and they took over 2 weeks to arrive.

For now I need to save some more change so I can buy new rotors and drums and rear brake shoes. Ugh this project is starting to become a reality slowly but Shirley

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BabyBronco89 · Aug 27, 2014

Hmm trying to revive this thread and my motivation, got the B2 in the driveway and it's not registered ATM so it's a good time to rip the stock axles out from under her.
I have a broken leaf on the drivers side, I think I'm going to put in some explorer leafs then mock up my 9" and d44

Just need to figure out what to do with my rear drive shaft where it connects to the 9"

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Rowdy Fitzgerald · Aug 27, 2014

Make it happen! It's fairly easy swap. I did the same swap in my 87 ranger. I love it. I've done a little more mods to it since the original swap though.

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BabyBronco89 · Aug 27, 2014

Well i made a lot of process today
I beat the drums off the 9" and installed all new shoes and hardware along with brand new wheel cylinders

i also took the knotted wire wheel to the 9" housing and cleaned all the rust scale off, and gave her a nice coat of primer

i sprayed some high temp silver paint on my new drums and my calipers for the front

i have one hub on the d44 apart i have to remove both axle shafts to do all 4 new ball joints
so far I'm have way there
oh and i ripped the old 7.5 out of the B2 now there is no going back now
i took some pics but i guess ill have to upload them when i have some time for now its off to bed!

BabyBronco89 · Aug 27, 2014

Hey Rowdy Fitzgerald How do you like your 63"chevy leafs?

I'm still debating what to do for rear leafs, will they give me more lift then the explorer springs?
also thinking about moving around my leaf hangers and maybe widening them out more two the sides of the frame rail
so i can use the existing perches on the 9" and not have to cut them off and reweld them closer two the center of the diff
that way i feel like ill have a little bit more stability in the rear and less body roll

i was thinking of getting 2x5 or 2x6 1/4" wall square tubing and spacing the stock perches out from the frame rails, any one see a problem with this?

Rowdy Fitzgerald · Aug 27, 2014

I love them. Smoother ride and at least 6" more down flex.
I'm running 6" lift springs. I'm thinking about doing the same to my 99 to get rid of the axel wrap when I decide to lift it. I'm gonna do the same SAS except run discs on the rear.
I would leave the hangers at the stock width. Body roll will be less with the Chevy leafs due to the higher weight capacity of the springs.

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BabyBronco89 · Aug 28, 2014

well i got the old D28 out of the front i have the whole truck up on jack stands
i drug the d44 up underneath her, removed my trans crossmember so i could bolt up the radius arm drop brackets
still got some work to do,
wish i could just upload pics, maybe tom lol

bIIjr · Sep 7, 2014

Dude you need to finish this I am watching you. Since I'm still gathering parts

BabyBronco89 · Sep 9, 2014

oh believe me i am working on it.
I'm just a little slower then most lol

is any one running Chevy 1ton steering on a full size d44 that can tell me what lengths of dom i need?
i measured 41" and 27.5" sound about right?

i have part numbers
ES2233L
ES2026R
ES2027L
ES2234R
And i plan to tap Dom tubing with a 7/8-18LH and RH tap. with jam nuts
my problem is i have to take the knuckles off and bring them along with my tubing to be tapped and reamed because i don't have the Necessary tools needed at my place.

i know someone has done exactly this, i had it all written down but i can't find the paper go figure.

also does anyone know what rear pinion angle i should be running I'm going to be around 6"s of lift when I'm done, still got to cut my last rear perch off and get them rewelded
but first i need to find a decent pair of f150 springs and some shackles
i allready scavenged my rear ubolts and a few inches of lift blocks
I'm thinking f150 leafs will give me 2 inches of lift and the blocks will give me 2-3, then ill probably end up with some longer shackles for the additional 1.5-2 inches to level her out

RangerSVT · Sep 9, 2014

I'd get 42" and 30" dom pieces, which is the nearest half-foot. The rear pinion angle set just below inline with the driveshaft. A specific angle is not a set point as lift and wheelbase will change this. For the knuckles, you can drill them out to 7/8" or 1" and get the tapered adapters from ballisticfabrication.com or Ruff Stuff specialties....

SVT

Full size axel swap 78 d44 and 9" SAS in 86 B2

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