• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

Flipping axle tubes?


95XL

New Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2007
Messages
190
Reaction score
1
Points
0
Location
Fulton, NY
Vehicle Year
2002
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
7.3L Diesel
Transmission
Automatic
No no, it's not what you think, read before answering.

After much thought and deliberation, I've decided to go with a full width Dana 60 on the front of my truck. I've been searching around craigslist and ebay for a few weeks now, and the guys on there want outragious prices for a Ford or Dodge Dana Front. (I need one with a drivers side drop, obviously). Now, after talking with a guy at work today, I told him that I could get chevy dana's all day long for dirt cheap, but the pumpkin was on the passenger side. and he suggested that I look into switching the axle tubes around, flip-flop them so to speak. I would have to swap the tubes, and then swap the knuckles on the ends of the tubes back to their original sides, so the brakes aren't backwards, and then swap the axle shafts themselves (kind of self explanitory, but I figured I'd add that). Thus effectively moving the pumpkin to the drivers side. I know it's kind of a lot of work, but hey, it beats spending $800 on an axle when I can pick one up at the junkyard for $90, and just add a little elbow grease. Besides, I need something to work on over the winter anyways, so I figure if this will work, it should keep me busy 'till spring rolls around (I'm a very slow worker, couple hours a night after I get home from work, max).

What do you guys think? Would it work or not?
 


racinranger

New Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2008
Messages
276
Reaction score
1
Points
0
Age
38
Location
tuckerton NJ
Vehicle Year
2008
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0L
Transmission
Manual
Im relativly shure that patov did that i think its Patov he won ORTOTM. and the pig blew apart on one side while in use. im pretty sure they said it was because of the extreme heat and pressure used to flop the tubes. Now im not saying you cant do it. Race cars retube centers all the time. Just get someone to do it that is competent. dont go blasting it with a torch and hammer the tubes apart
 

BlackBII

Ranger Custom
Article Contributor
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
Truck of Month
Joined
Aug 14, 2007
Messages
7,895
Reaction score
982
Points
113
Location
UT
Vehicle Year
1989
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
5
Tire Size
33
Drill out the plug welds and swap the tubes, pretty simple.

You know how to weld?
 

95XL

New Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2007
Messages
190
Reaction score
1
Points
0
Location
Fulton, NY
Vehicle Year
2002
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
7.3L Diesel
Transmission
Automatic
Yes, I know how to weld, am I competent? No. But, I have plenty of buddy's who are, so it's not a problem.

Ok then, glad to here it's not impossible to do, looks like I'll be seen at my local junkyard this weekend!:yahoo:
 

AKBroncoII

New Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2007
Messages
481
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Age
40
You don't have to drill out the plug welds. Cut the long side down to short side length, take what you have left of the long side and put it on the old short side. done You only have to cut one inner C off too.
 

95XL

New Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2007
Messages
190
Reaction score
1
Points
0
Location
Fulton, NY
Vehicle Year
2002
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
7.3L Diesel
Transmission
Automatic
Ummm...... Thank you for the advice AKBronco, but I would be much more comfortable knowing my truck was sitting on a one piece axle tube than one that has been patched together.
 

BlackBII

Ranger Custom
Article Contributor
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
Truck of Month
Joined
Aug 14, 2007
Messages
7,895
Reaction score
982
Points
113
Location
UT
Vehicle Year
1989
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
5
Tire Size
33
Yeah, you don't want to be cutting butt welding the tubes...breakage.

Drill out the plug welds, much easier and safer. You may want to add some reinforcement to the welds.
 

swamprat

Member
Joined
Aug 12, 2007
Messages
720
Reaction score
3
Points
18
Location
lexington KY
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
You can cut the long side to match the legth of the short side and weld your inner C to that end. Drill the welds out of the short side and other welds that may be there and press that side out. Cut a piece of DOM tubing the right length and press into the center section and weld your inner C to that end. It will take one hell of a press to get those tubes pressed out and back in. It is about a .005 press fit. My buddy just did the same thing to a D60 but he put DOM on both sides and is using it for rear stear on his Toyota. We have access to a machine shop with mills and lathes and anything else that you need and it is still one hell of a job. BUT IT CAN BE DONE.
 

AKBroncoII

New Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2007
Messages
481
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Age
40
Wow, you guys really have no experience doing this. How is this any different than bearing ends welded on a rearend? Do you think a fullfloat rearend has a single piece tube? It doesn't, the spindle is welded on the axle tube. Butt welded I may add. If you can weld the tubes in after cutting the plugs, then you can weld the tube back to another tube. If you can't, I wouldn't recommend either.
 

BlackBII

Ranger Custom
Article Contributor
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
Truck of Month
Joined
Aug 14, 2007
Messages
7,895
Reaction score
982
Points
113
Location
UT
Vehicle Year
1989
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
5
Tire Size
33
True, a good welder could do it either way, doesn't really matter...but drilling is just the better option of the two.
 

AKBroncoII

New Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2007
Messages
481
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Age
40
I would choose the option that you can physically do. Most people don't have the tools to press or pull the old tube out. Thus creating a problem. I could flip a tube in a couple hours. I bet most can't drill the spot welds and pull the tubes out in that amount of time.
 

Tony Raine

Member
V8 Engine Swap
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Aug 10, 2007
Messages
908
Reaction score
17
Points
18
Age
41
Location
Jonesboro, AR
Vehicle Year
1984
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
302
Transmission
Manual
You don't have to drill out the plug welds. Cut the long side down to short side length, take what you have left of the long side and put it on the old short side. done You only have to cut one inner C off too.

i'm with AK on this one. nothing says you have to JUST butt-weld the tubes back together. find some tube that fits over the axle tube. cut it into 2 long semi-circles. drill a few 1.5" holes along it. weld one of the halves onto the backside of the axle tube (for aesthetics), with the butt-weld in the middle. weld all around the edges and inside the circles (for extra weld area). of course, this would have to be done carefully to avoid warping anything.

i've seen this process done with flat steel to extend/shorten a truck frame. if it works for a frame, why not an axle?
 

Toreadorranger

New Member
V8 Engine Swap
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
686
Reaction score
5
Points
0
Age
37
Location
Sal
Vehicle Year
2000
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0L
Transmission
Manual
Theres alot of room inside the tube, just plug weld a peice of DOM tube inside the used to be short side and slip the left over long side over it, plug weld and butt weld and done.
 

Mutant Pony

Active Member
V8 Engine Swap
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
1,753
Reaction score
9
Points
38
Age
58
Location
Hersey, Mi
Vehicle Year
1977
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
2300
Transmission
Manual
Ah but, The Ford is a high pinion. The others are not. Keep looking for a Ford. Look for a heavy equipment salvage yard. You can get a 60 out of an old power company truck that has been overlooked by 4x4 builders.
Good luck!
 

Loanranger

Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
842
Reaction score
4
Points
18
Age
42
Location
Puyallup, Wa
Vehicle Year
1989/
1972
Make / Model
Ford/
Fordzuki
Engine Size
2.9/2.3
Transmission
Manual
One thing nobody has mentioned, is if you go cutting and welding on your axle, you need to keep everything alligned. Something like this. http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=306356

Other than that, I would cut the long tube down and use the rest on the short side. V notch the buttweld, and sleeve it with .250 wall DOM. Add a couple plugwelds through the axle tube to the sleeve, and you're golden.
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Kirby N.
March Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top