to widen, or not to widen?

R.J. · February 25, 2008

ok, i have a set of cut and turned beams that im going to truss, plate, and enlarge the axle hole.

but, should i keep them the stock width and run all stock parts/axles, are should i widen them about 2.25" each side and use a d44 axle which is around 4.5"s wider? widening the beams by the pivots, to use only one longer axle, is the way the McNeil's widen them, but i will loose some uptravel since the pumpkin will hit the crossmember. but still, wider would be cooler

carlover · February 25, 2008

Just go wider. Im curious as to how much uptravel you lose because of the pumpkin?

R.J. · February 25, 2008

im thinking people will want to see wider. hopefully i'll do a mock up and cycle it to see how much up travel will be lost.

Willard · February 25, 2008

Definitely wider.

mounty71 · February 25, 2008

I say stick with stock width, until you can get a D44 TTB under there

On second thought, you can widen the 35 now, then when you go to the 44 i can swap in your widened 35. Either way, wider is cool, but uptravel is also a good thing.

cybergasm · February 25, 2008

you outta put in the 28 beams

:

R.J. · February 25, 2008

i should see if clarkkents brother wants the d28 beams and arms

R.J. · February 25, 2008

mmm im starting to like the widened idea more and more. i've been thinking abou it all day

anyone have a spare d44 axle shaft?

FROADER · February 25, 2008

What are you final plans for the front end of this thing? If it's a widened front end with the d44 I say leave the d35 stock width. Don't waste money changing your front end 4 times to get it where you want. It works good as it is, then when you can afford it, do what you really want.

R.J. · February 25, 2008

i don't know,s tock would be easiest, but it wouldn't cost much to widen it, just a trip to the junkyard. the only reason i was thinking of staying stock width was because i didn't want a custome axle. but if i make it right so it uses a stock d44 axle, that's awesome. it shouldn't take to much work and i can cut a section out of the d28 i have laying around to widen it. but the whole d44 front end would be to much for right now (gears, locker, rims etc.) and i think all the work i put into these d35's will help transfer to me working on the d44. since i'll need to narrow or widen the d44, when the time comes, it'll be nice to take the experiance form widening these and aply it.

but one of the biggest things im thinking, is, no that i know of on htis board has done the widening with a stock d44 shaft, its only been talked about. it would be cool if i did it and said "yeah it can be done, here's how i did it". lets face it, we need more projects on the forum. it's simple to just get beams cut and turned, or even to get them widened, but i've always wanted to see someone use the stock axles and not have to custom make axles. i know i like to read about "widening using a stock d44 shaft" and if i do this, there will be some closure, i think, about this subject.

kinda feel like im putting a myth to the test.

like i said, i've been thinking about it a bit

FROADER · February 26, 2008

You're right, we do need more projects on here.

You bring up good points too. I just know that I've wasted a lot of money on doing things more than once and should have just done it the way I really wanted the first time.

Be sure to do a detailed write-up, with a lot of pictures on it, because we all already know you're going to do it.

Dannyboy · February 26, 2008

Do 44 beams get cut and turned or do they stay stock? Also what kind of coil setup is needed? My only experience is seeing FROADER's poor rig with some weak looking setup after he sold it (or wait, did he set it up like that???)

Also, if Dana 44 Knuckles bolt up to a 35, can 35 Knuckles bolt up to a 44? This way you can run your current rims, lockouts etc for a few months while you score some cash and get some rims. I know it sounds really lame, but fab work isn't cheap. As autofab states "buy the best and cry once."

FROADER · February 26, 2008

Two owners after me put 44 beams and took the 4wd out of it. They did a really shotty job and beat the sheeot out of it too...

Dannyboy · February 26, 2008

yeah, I just like to bust balls. What a shame, That truck was clean looking. So why take out 4wd but keep 4wd beams? And those angles of the coils make me sick to my stomach.

R.J. · February 26, 2008

the d44 beams still need to be cut and turned. and from what it looks like, autofab moves the coilseat in closer to the center (look at the radius arms and how they mount to the beam)

i know i'll ditch the 35 someday and go 44, but i think i just want to do this project just to say "i did it"

and oh danny, the ideal d44 setup is with coilovers

mounty71 · February 26, 2008

R.J. said:
i know i'll ditch the 35 someday and go 44, but i think i just want to do this project just to say "i did it"

So then it's decided? You're going for it?

carlover · February 26, 2008

Nice, just go for it lol. My build has been put on hold again due to my failing 8.8.

R.J. · February 26, 2008

mhmm im gonna do it

so i guess this means i need make yet another new thread? or do i continue building it on the other thread, "front end work", and when im finished make a new thread thats just a write up? (i think i answered my own thoughts)

Dannyboy · February 26, 2008

Ya know, the best threads are post-work writeups. I never opened my mouth about my solid axle on here 3 years ago, then it was a proud moment when I unvailed that project. With an ongoing thread, it gets too congested with stuff that has nothing to do with the subject. I'm guilty as anybody. Hell, my cage thread has nothing but a few pics every three weeks and a bunch of B.S. Collect the data you need, but put a good thread together with all the content at the end.

Exploderpilot · February 26, 2008

Well said.

to widen, or not to widen?

what should i do?

stock width

widened with a d44 axle, making the track width 4.5's wider

R.J.

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