Project Guinea Pig

[Stormtrooper]

Took awhile bit I read through it. Hope things start going in the right direction for you. I'm ready to see this thing finished.

 

[prerunner]

Thanks Stormtrooper. I definitely want to be wheeling in it.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Troopers right! You need to quit fiddle farting around and just finish it already! Lol Jkn.


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[prerunner]

This is awkward. I have a line on a 76 Bronco Dana 44 housing (only) which has wedges still on it ($250). I have no idea where to get the rest of the radius arm suspension but should I bother with this?
D44's from any Ford have been scarce around these parts lately.
Just curious. What would you guys do?

 

[Stormtrooper]

I'd wait it out unless you find the rest before it sells.

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[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Yeah if it's hard to find whole axels just think how hard it's going to be to find parts for it. You'll have to buy new parts which will cost an arm and a leg.
But if it's a high pinion 44 it'll be hard to find another that's whole so it may be worth it in the long run.


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[prerunner]

The early Bronco 44 is a low pinion, fairly low performance axle. I have about the same axle that I'm planning to put under this thing but it had the wedges hacked off before I got it and spring perches welded on. I have alloy inner axleshafts for it already. It can be made better.
I was thinking about it and this isn't a great plan because its so incomplete. Totally different story if there were radius arms and some assorted brackets included, especially for that price. So while the leaves aren't the greatest plan, I'm still on track with them. Besides, after I find a HP axle I can rip all this junk out and change it. Hey, thats why its a guinea pig.

I rolled a 315/75r16 alongside to see how it might look without doughnut tires. They're 34" tall and a bit on the small side for my taste. I'll snap a pic tomorrow to show you and maybe motivate me a little...

 

[bobbywalter]

yeah...the stock eb axle is a pos.... but livable.



i need to upgrade the one in the b2 because i dont have any more shafts....so stepping up to 760 shafts from the wormy ass stock 260's will be a improvement. just not sure if it warrants the cost....i can get fullwidth 44's on occasion for 150-300 bux.... makes it hard to buy shafts for that low pinion 44 that the tires rub on thats in there now......especially since it still has drums on it.



leaf springs can work awesome though....but you still need a trac bar and big swaybars to use soft springs....so....coils or coilovers make more sense at that point. and good mil-wrap leaf springs are hella expensive.

but with my engine combination they work better then coils or coilovers due to space constraints....


balance to all of the variables

 

[prerunner]

Only a few things save the eb axle from being totally worthless. Its narrower than the F150 / fullsize Bronco if thats important and almost stock width at that. Theres lots of them and there are shaft and brake upgrades available.
The fullwidth axle beats them in every other detail though.
Bobbywalter, I keep finding D60's from Superduty trucks. Is there any reason to avoid these? I can't think of anyone on this board thats swapped one in an RBV.

 

[bobbywalter]

hmmm.... maybe on this board....there are probably more superduty axles then old school axles on rbv,s these days due to availability..


on some of the big mud trucks down near naples i seen a few weeks back, they all had dodge or ford unit bearing axles.


and today the metric pattern wheels are easier to get used etc. 17 and 18-20 inch used tires are the most common as well... so those axles for an rbv are ideal for most due to availability.


the eb width i consider a weak point. the damn pumpkin is almost center...an old school dana 60 fits way better then an eb axle in a ttb chassis, you dont even have to cut the k member and you can still keep the truck lower with that fat bastard.. full width axles are the best way to go imo...makes the truck sooooo much better to drive.

 

[prerunner]

Agreed on all points about both axles. But where I am the Bronco II is classified as a car (2dr station wagon) according to the mandatory insurance co. As such, I can't go too far building it or any cop will pull it over and issue a box 1 citation. I bought the eb axle for it and have pirated it for this pig for the time being.
Now the SD axle will be the next step for this pile. Somebody on here, I forget who, posted a side by side comparison of the SD axle with the older kingpin style D60 and the newer axle was noticeably bigger. Bigger usually wins.

Okay, I said I'd post a pic of a 315/75R16 under my truck but I can't. So here it is with a 33/9.5R15 instead.

The back of the truck is on jackstands and when jacking the right corner up it came off the stand pretty quickly then started lifting the left tire. I decided I didn't want to explain to the neighbor how my non-running pickup without a rear axle crashed through their fence. So the 33 is gonna have to do for now.

 

[prerunner]

Made the decision to swap fullsize axles into this project after my consultation with Bobbywalter and a few others on here. Off to hunt jy's tomorrow.
So far of the 5 Craigslist posts I've responded to, not one has gotten back to me. One Facebook post decided to keep his front HP60 just as I contacted him.
People are funny sometimes.

Edit 6:55am: The guy on Fakebook with the HP60 sent me a pm he's interested in selling now. Hoping to get this done today.
The axle is supposed to be a 91 but might be later (idk how to tell them apart yet from a tiny photo.) No gears or carrier, mounts cut off for install in a J**p. $350.
I'll keep y'all posted.
(12:30 ~ he saw my msg 1st thing this am (7am) and hasn't msg'ed back or called. wtf? About to give up on this one too.)
(6:00 pm~ he msg'ed me saying hes waiting to hear back from another guy "who was supposed to buy it.")

I think I got it. I'll pick it up sometime this week. The other guy flaked out.
Now to find a ring & pinion and a locker for this...

 

[prerunner]

I supposedly got this but haven't set eyes on it yet. Also haven't paid for it.

Hope I'm not jumping the gun on this thing.
(note, its upside down.)

I'll be pushing the guy to get this deal done before something fawks it up.
The outer assemblies go with it. Only missing the r&p (yoke?) and carrier.
I'll get happier about it when its sitting in my yard.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Sweet, good luck!



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[prerunner]

Sweet, good luck!

Thank you sir!

Edit: Dude sold the 60 to his previously arranged "supposed to buy it" guy. Not at all impressed.