axle suggestions

[Chappy]

so here is the deal, i plan on doing some serious modification to my pickup.
plans are a QSB cummins 4.5L HPCR diesel with a SAS.

question is:
what axle should i go with in the front?
i was planning on keeping the 8.8 in the rear swapping 3.08's in and getting the tubes welded and axles straightend, that takes care of the rear.
the front though is throwing me for a loop. i was thinking a jeep axle or a pre 03 dodge half ton cause those came with a solid axle and from what i understand they were pretty good.

any suggestions welcome

thanks
Thomas

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Why would you swap in 3.08 gears?

If you want to keep your same bolt pattern, your only option is a d30 out of a jeep.

What exactly are you wanting to use this truck for? That will pretty much determine what axle you should go with in the front. Also if you want to stay the same width or go full width.

 

[1badexplorer]

^X2 on axle choises. You cane get a jeep dana w/3.08s. I've never seen a dana 44 w/3.08s either. Smart move using 3.08s w/ that cummins also

 

[Beanmachine7000]

Cummins+Dana 30=--

A QSB 4.5 is a pretty hefty piece of machinery... I'd do D60's... Maybe 9" and D44 only if it was never going to be wheeled... I don't see an 8.8" and D30 holding up to the 450+lb/ft in a 4500lb truck... Heck, a D30 is lucky if it survives long behind a 4.0 with 33's...

 

[Chappy]

i see, well, as far as the 3.08 that keeps me in my diesels happy rpm range for fuel range and torque, as far as the axle, that jeep axle should hold, ive seen guys use there stock jeep axles with ls1's under the hood rock crawling which is why i was leaning that way. with the 9inch in the rear, i was also thinking of that too, i dont mind if the axle is a little long ill have to find a wheel that has the right off-set and back-spacing or i can cut the tubes to make it narrowER like i said im not worried too much about the wheels sticking out slightly. ill also need to find axles at the right width or have some made. luckily this is a project that will make very slow progress and wont start for a few years. i still have student loans and whatnot to pay off.
as far as use, i dont really plan on doing any heavy, crazy desert running or rock crawling, just some weekend trips out to the desert or on the trails camping and stuff, nothing major

what do you think?

 

[JohnnyU]

Narrowed GM 14FF and a Dana 60 up front. Seriously.

Search the internet for "MookTank" and his Cummins Ranger. He may still hang out over on the 4bt swaps forum.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

Yeah, a D30 WILL NOT hold up to a Diesel engine...

 

[AKBroncoII]

Yeah, a D30 WILL NOT hold up to a 4.5L cummins Diesel engine...

Fixed it for you.

 

[Chappy]

i see . . . so no jeep axle?

 

[Beanmachine7000]

No, not even a Jeep D44... You need at least 60's... Just go to a junkyard and get a GM 14bFF, they're cheap as dirt... Then find a Dana 60 front, expect to pay a pretty penny for it though...

Are you sure you wanna use a QSB 4.5 though? That thing is beastly, your truck will drive like crap with almost 1000+ lbs of engine over the front axle... I'd use a 4BT at the very most, a QSB 3.3 would be best...

 

[Chappy]

im still researching it, im leaning heavily on the QSB 4.5 but ive also heard of an ISBE 4.5 that is basically a 24v with two cyl. cut off just as the 4bt is to the 6bt

 

[JohnnyU]

Any reason inparticular that you want an electronic engine?

 

[Beanmachine7000]

I think a 4BT would be best... All mechanical and only weighs ~7-800lbs...

 

[Chappy]

i want to do something that nobody has done, people have done 3.3 and 4bt's i want to see if i can pull off a commonrail 4.5. call me different i guess

 

[JeepRecoveryTeam]

rockwells.