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97 ext cab, fw d44 & 9inch, foa 14" coilovers, on 38s....finally done, somewhat.


crazywhiteboy

May 2011 OTOTM Winner
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Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Aug 8, 2007
Messages
208
City
clearlake, ca
Vehicle Year
1997
Transmission
Manual
97 ext cab, fw d44 & 9inch, foa 14" coilovers, on 38s....finally done, somewhat.

bought the truck used in 2007. was my first truck ive owned. somehow grenaded the spider gears up front after 3-4 months of owning it, so i welded them up. went through a few sets of shafts, before i read about the d35 upgrades and such, then made my own 1 1/4 lower retainer lift. cleared 32" bfg at's for a year and a half, then to tsls. kept going through shafts, and finally the d35 beams started to give in to my abuse after years of beating the hell outta them so i started gathering parts for my sas. got a set of fw axles from a buddy whos parents own some quarrys that had vehicles just sitting around, then started ordering parts. dont really have that many pics of the build progression, although i can tell you it took about 6 weeks to complete, mainly due to me starting before i finished ordering parts, then waiting on companys back-orders, and a bunch of other bs. so given this is my first attempt at something of this magnitude, im very happy with how it turned out. wish i was smart enough to spend the money the first time and bought a real locker instead of the lockrite, but i knew it wouldnt last long with the 38s. i know i shouldnt be running these tires on a 44, but i got them local, and very cheap for the wheels and tires. so i figured why not, and when they are completely gone, i think im gonna run the 37inch pitbull rocker, still not sure whether ima go with the radial or bias. seeing as this is my dd for sometime, until i can afford another truck, ill probably get the radials.

started as:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61898225@N08/5626277787/http://www.flickr.com/people/61898225@N08/,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/61898225@N08/5626277751/http://www.flickr.com/people/61898225@N08/,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/61898225@N08/5626278315/http://www.flickr.com/people/61898225@N08/,
specs as of now:
97 ext cab ranger
4L 5speed
1354M
front:
HP D44 5.13s, welded lockrite, stock shafts, 760x's
14inch foa 2.0 remote reservoir coilovers 200#/300#
9inch, 5.14s, full spool, stock shafts
14inch foa 2.0 smooth body remote reservoirs
early 2000's 2wd f150 rear leafs with elliptical shackle setup
bald 38.5x16x15 mt baja claw bias, previous owner grooved them a lil


http://www.flickr.com/photos/61898225@N08/5626863596/http://www.flickr.com/people/61898225@N08/,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/61898225@N08/5626277941/http://www.flickr.com/people/61898225@N08/,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/61898225@N08/5626863758/http://www.flickr.com/people/61898225@N08/,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/61898225@N08/5626863868/http://www.flickr.com/people/61898225@N08/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61898225@N08/5626864194/http://www.flickr.com/people/61898225@N08/

still have LOTS on the 'to do' list that hasnt been crossed off yet. but its now out of the garage and im driving it daily. havent been pulled over yet, but i know its bound to happen. i have 2 38.5 tsls rightnow, so i think im just going to find two more then run those for a while. still need to do:
-hydro assist
-saginaw pump
-superior shafts
-yukon grizzly up front
-sliders/boatsides
-find/mount/wire up bII tank as a second tank for those long trips
-alloy rear shafts
eventually want to go to one tons, but the wife and bank account wont allow that one for sometime. what do you think?
 
Last edited:
the truck looks good, but those fat ass tires are way too wide
 
Looks like a hell of a good start! :icon_thumby::icon_thumby:
 
the truck looks good, but those fat ass tires are way too wide

yea i know. i didnt/dont have many options as far as rubber goes tho, so im gonna run what i have til i can afford a new set of 37x12.5 or 13.5 wide.
 
Your truck looks good. Here is an option for some cheap ass 37x12.50
http://www.trailworthyfab.com/37-x12.50-R16.5-Military-Goodyear-Tire.html

-Jester

yea, when i got my tax return, i was just about to place my order for the recentered h1s and some grooved tires, but waited too long and money ended up going to other places. id like to but them, but then i need to come up with 16.5s, if i do that, i might as well get the h1s. but dont have the cash for that.lol so im just gonna wait for now, run the tires i have now, then the tsls, then ill get something else.
 
i know where your coming from on rubber, shit aint cheep. ill probably just keep buying half tread tires and grooving the shit out of them
 
i love the wide tires... though they may be a little too wide for the height, it makes them look smaller than they actually are...

sweet truck for sure though!
 
I'd rock them tires till they were showing belts.
 
Good looking truck. How do you like that shackle setup? Any negative ride characteristics?
 
Good looking truck. How do you like that shackle setup? Any negative ride characteristics?

as far as i can tell, its exactly the same. cant really feel any side to side movement due to the extra length(when its folded). but it sure does help with the droop....have lllloooootsss of it, its badass. i used the stock front hanger, stock rear hanger, added a longer shackle below the stock ones. works perfect.
 

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