Solid axle (maybe)

[falconace]

Thanks, alot for your replies!!! Man, I dont know what I would do without this board. Im doing some more research on this and will let yall know my progress and probably ask more questions. i read on another post that the 8.8 was ranked tougher than the d44, do u know if this is true?

 

[taxx]

Originally posted by falconace
Thanks, alot for your replies!!! Man, I dont know what I would do without this board. Im doing some more research on this and will let yall know my progress and probably ask more questions. i read on another post that the 8.8 was ranked tougher than the d44, do u know if this is true?

One of the magazines recently did a table with the axles and the size of tire they can run in stock form with no ill effects. I don't remember where the 44 was but the 8.8 can run a 37.

 

[falconace]

Thanks alot taxxman. Also, does anyone know about mounting a manual tcase from a first gen to an auto tranny from a second gen?

 

[falconace]

update

Ok, i went by my offroad shop today, they said that i would be able to run 38s with the d44 and 8.8. They also said that they now have a supplier with a bolt on kit for a solid axle for the second gen explorer!! I was doubtful but he said he would dig up the brochure for me. Anyone hear of this thing?

Also, he said that there would be no need for me to get a new tranny as he could change the tail shaft. He said the only difference between a 4x4 tranny and a 2x4 was the tail shaft, as i had already learned from here, but he said that there is an adapter.

He also recommended that if i do this, i go for the atlas tcase since it will last and outperform a stock one. What do yall think?

I'm so excited about this thing. I'm hopin that all goes as planned and i can turn this thing into a beast!!!

Oh, also, when i was talking to him about the tcase, see i had planned to do something similar before but we couldnt get a tcase, i told him how someone on here (section 525, up above) had told me that i would be able to get a stock one after all. He asked me what site i was on and he said that hes been here several times.

 

[DocVijay]

Re: update

Originally posted by falconace
Ok, i went by my offroad shop today, they said that i would be able to run 38s with the d44 and 8.8. They also said that they now have a supplier with a bolt on kit for a solid axle for the second gen explorer!! I was doubtful but he said he would dig up the brochure for me. Anyone hear of this thing?

Wow, a kit to bolt an axle on. That would greatly simplify things. Even if I don't try it myself, it'll mean less $$$ since there will be less time fabricating stuff.

 

[soupbone]

bolt on!? where? ive been doing research for a month on this fab process. I doubt you can just bolt on. Because there is alot of cutting involved to remove the IFS and such....

 

[Rick]

Bolt on kit... hmmm that would be nice. It could be bolt on... They just don't mention "cut off first".

The Atlas II is an awesome performing T-case. You would be very happy with it.

 

[jeffseal]

yeah fabritec makes it. It is a rip off. I dont remember how much it is but around 1500 i think. it is listed for a ranger.

 

[DocVijay]

Originally posted by jeffseal
yeah fabritec makes it. It is a rip off. I dont remember how much it is but around 1500 i think. it is listed for a ranger.

$1500. Seems a bit much. If you have a good garage to do the work, you could get a lot of work done for $1500. If you do it yourself, it'll cost way less than that.

 

[falconace]

Ok, two questions.

1) How much should I expect to pay for this, I dont have the tools to do this type of work at my house and I dont know how to weld. I went to my local offroad store and they want a ridiculous amount of money. They want 14000 plus rims and tires. Thats more than i paid for my explorer a few years ago!!! Sure that includes the atlas II but take that out and its only 2400 less which is still way to much in my opinion. I may be able to get a break on labor if i make their website but labor is only about 3000. That would still be more than i paid for my explorer when u factor in the rims and tires.

2) Anyone know of a good offroad shop around houston, tx that doesnt have ridiculous prices like this? I mean I knew it would be expensive but i was thinkin more around 7-8k w/ tires.

Am I completely off on prices here or are they tryin to screw me?

 

[Robb]

There are two really tough things with the SAS on a 2nd gen. 1) A lot of stuff has to be removed. This is not as easy as it sounds. To quote CoryL, "This was hard to do and I used a plasma cutter, I can't imagine doing it with a sawzall or cutting wheel." Here is a pic:

2) Steering. The SLA Explorers are rack and pinion. With a SFA up there, you will need to incorporate a traditional style steering box. You will also probably need to swap over to a traditional steering pump. The r&p pump will prolly produce too much pressure for the steering box. All steeing links will prolly have to be custom fabbed to do correctly.

As far as cost. I have heard of total cost from a couple of custom fab shops in the range of $5k-$8K + axle. As far as a DIY project, the parts cost involved is quite a bit more than simply buying an axle and a steering box!! Please remember all that is involved. Axle, steering box, steering pump, custom steering hoses, misc. steel plate and tubing, leafs, leaf perches, brakelines, driveshafts, possible custom pitman arm, custom steering links, shocks, custom drag links, regearing, wheels/tires, etc.

It is not a cheap job, even if DIY.

Robb

BTW: $14000? ? That is pretty ridiculous!!!

 

[Rick]

Originally posted by DocVijay
$1500. Seems a bit much. If you have a good garage to do the work, you could get a lot of work done for $1500. If you do it yourself, it'll cost way less than that.

$1500 is about what it costs to lift the IFS with a kit from Superlift or Trail Master. And you think a SAS kit at $1500 is too expensive

 

[DocVijay]

Originally posted by Rick
$1500 is about what it costs to lift the IFS with a kit from Superlift or Trail Master. And you think a SAS kit at $1500 is too expensive

Well if you compare it to the $14,000 quote then no it's pretty cheap.

 

[Randall]

There is a shop in North Houston called Texas Auto Gear off of I45 and Cannino. They said that thye would do a first gen. ex for $1500 labor. A second gen. would probably be more, but you could call them to find out.
Texas Auto Gear = 281-448-4371

 

[DocVijay]

Well I'll throw out a littel question here. For those of you who have done an SAS, approximately how much did it cost? You don't need to answer if you don't want to, obviously. I just think there are a few people who would like to get some idea of what has been spent in the past on this conversion. (myself being one)

 

[jeffseal]

second that!

 

[taxx]

There are a lot of variables there. It depends on who does the work, where you get the parts from.....It could be done for as little as nothing if the parts are available to you for that. Others have spent thousands for high quality custom jobs. Its really up to you

 

[falconace]

Ok, I thought that no one had replied to my thread after my last post since I never received an email, o well, im back now. I was doing some more research and clicked on my own thread. Does anyone know of a shop that can do this for a reasonable price in texas? The places I've been to want 10k, which is more than the truck is worth, 5k would be more like it.

 

[Randall]

TexasAutoGear.com and they are pretty close to you, off of I45 and canino

 

[falconace]

Thanks, I'll have to give them a call