started my SAS

[chico4554]

i started my SAS today, even though it was pouring, i couldn't resist. So far i got all the small things disconnected from the axle; brakes, breather hose, steering, took off the tranny X-member, and also got the truck stable enough to work under. I plan on getting the d35 out tommorrow. I only worked on it for about 2 hours today because of the rain, otherwise the d44 would be ready to go in. I plan on getting a bunch of pictures tommorrow if the weather is nice. I actually remembered to measure from the ground to the fender to see how much extra lift i will get in the end. Ive done 2 other lifts where i forgot to do it until it was too late.

I found the hardest part so far was getting the dang driveshaft off with those stupid torx bits. Man i hate those.

The axle going underneath is a 73' EB 44 with a no-slip locker and 5.13 gears. I have the FW axle shafts with the larger 760-X u-joint being prepared to put in it. I didnt shorten the longer side, just bought a 4340 replacement from broncograveyard. Then ill run standard brakes and warn premium hubs. I got the 3" BC bronco coils, so im curious on how these work out in terms of ridability and flex. Ill be getting the pictures up when i go back to school in a week. I dont have internet on the computer that the pictures are going on.

ive been trying to find time to do this since may. Im pumped that its finally happening.


stay tuned for more sas action!

 

[PARKINGLOT]

sounds like a good build! what are you planning to run in the rear? 8.8? 9"?

 

[littlered351]

Are you using the drum brakes? or has it been converted to disc?

 

[wahlstrom1]

hmm, sounds like we're doing the exact same swap....SAS's seem to be more popular these days for the older trucks than TTB lift kits.

-andrew

 

[chico4554]

i am converting it to disk brakes. That what has been taking so long. I bought a 78 FW axle and took everything from the knuckle out off of it.

Ill be running the 8.8 that i swapped in about a year ago. It also has a no-slip locker, and i still gotta install the 5.13s. Im running the spacers that give you the larger 5.5x5 lug pattern. Im wondering if those will hold up.

The SAS is really the same amount of work except for a few small things. Once you find all the parts and figure out how to do it, i think its easier. I have done a 4" RC lift and then a 6" skyjacker to this truck so far. I just grew tired of wondering when the D35 was gonna break the with 36's. And the steering has been off for a long time now. I have been wanting to do a SAS since i found out about them almost 3 years ago. I finally felt that i have the know how and the tools to do it, and its gonna look so sick under there!

 

[chico4554]

UPDATE***

i did get the old axle out yesturday. Ive been doing everything so far by myself, and i think ill finally get some help tommorrow with getting the new axle under the truck. Ive worked on this for about 5 total hours, so not too long. The whole SAS can be done in a weekend if you have everything available...if you were wondering. I still gotta get a few old lift parts off, but nothing big. I painted the wheels that im going to be using with the 35s today. (didnt feel like wrenching) Tommorrow i plan on getting all the old brackets off the frame, then finish painting the new axle. Then ill be ready to get the axle underneath on jackstands. Its down to just the housing and diff right now. Id like to have it connected to the frame with the radius arms by tommorrow night (friday). I have to measure for the steering, then ill be waiting on that for a week or so. Lets hope all goes well...

 

[TRUNK_MONKEY]

UPDATE***

i did get the old axle out yesturday. Ive been doing everything so far by myself, and i think ill finally get some help tommorrow with getting the new axle under the truck. Ive worked on this for about 5 total hours, so not too long. The whole SAS can be done in a weekend if you have everything available...if you were wondering. I still gotta get a few old lift parts off, but nothing big. I painted the wheels that im going to be using with the 35s today. (didnt feel like wrenching) Tommorrow i plan on getting all the old brackets off the frame, then finish painting the new axle. Then ill be ready to get the axle underneath on jackstands. Its down to just the housing and diff right now. Id like to have it connected to the frame with the radius arms by tommorrow night (friday). I have to measure for the steering, then ill be waiting on that for a week or so. Lets hope all goes well...

 

[chico4554]

yea yea yeaaaa im working on it. Soon.

 

[TireIron]

what have you decided to do for a trac-bar bracket? just fab one up when you get to that point?

 

[chico4554]

i bought that one off of broncograveyard, and then plan on reinforcing it as much as possible. Im not sure exactly what I will do to reinforce it, but ill figure it out when i get it on. (see how much room i have)

 

[dirtraider]

i
Ill be running the 8.8 that i swapped in about a year ago. It also has a no-slip locker, and i still gotta install the 5.13s. Im running the spacers that give you the larger 5.5x5 lug pattern. Im wondering if those will hold up.
QUOTE]

i've been driving around on my spider traxx spacers for over a year now, thousands of miles, tons of highway and a few wheeling trips ont hem and they didn't even blink you should be fine.

i bought that one off of broncograveyard, and then plan on reinforcing it as much as possible. Im not sure exactly what I will do to reinforce it, but ill figure it out when i get it on. (see how much room i have)

just try to tie it into the engine crossmember. For mine i just too a piece of angle iron, welded it flush to the bottom of the fram then over to the engine crossmember, used the stock trac bar mount and welded it on the side and top into the angle iron...not the prettiest thing but its strong as hell.

 

[chico4554]

thanks for the help ned. Its been going slow right now cause ive been doing everything by myself. My friend who was gonna help me messed his back up.

 

[chico4554]

***UPDATE
right now im getting the tranny X-member fixed up so i can still use it with the new radius arm mounts. Im hoping to have the axle hung by the radius arms in a day or two. I was drilling the front hole for the radius arm mount and ended up drilling thru the damn brake line. So i gotta fix that now too, yay!! the 35s are getting mounted today. after the axle is hung i gotta wait for my u-joints to come in so i can get the axle put together, get the tracbar mount all done up too. Then its tires, measure for steering, then waiting for the steering.


im still hoping my braided steel brake lines match up with the calipers...

 

[RWARanger]

where's the pics dude i wanna see how its coming along. if you still have my number give me a call if you need someone to do the rear gears ill give you a hand.

RWARanger

 

[chico4554]

pics will be up tommrrow night or tuesday. I go back to school tommorrow and ill have the computer set up.

RWA, That would be pretty sweet to get the gears set up at your place. It will be a little while only cause i dont have shocks yet, and steering. Maybe sometime before it gets to cold. You think i would be able to drive it up and we can do them in a day? Let me know, we can figure it out at a later date.