could this work.......

[88_Eddie]

think you could turn a D35 into a solid axle? it would have to be cheaper than putting a EB D44, or a full-width or narrowing a full-width in order to be a good idea. i dont know how much it costs to do any of those, but i've been thinking about this a while

you'd need a welder, new axle tubes, new axles, coil spring mounts, shock mounts and a new radius arm connection to the axle (something early bronco-ish) a diff cover would also need to be made, i was thinking something like the ruff-stuff covers.

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/ford-88-38-differential-cover-p-180.html

people spend $500 for extended radius arms for more flex, i think this could be done for about that too, maybe a tad more, opinions?

 

[pontiacfieroguy]

i think it would be easier and cheaper to just do the swap

 

[4x4junkie]

Instead of all that work... why not MAKE your own extended radius arms??? Would cost about $40-50 and would be far easier than figuring out what miracle is needed to attach steel tubes to an aluminum housing that has no sockets for the tubes to press into.

Nice drawing though

 

[PickupMan04 FX4 L2]

Nice sketch!

Uh That is alot of work. i have little doubt that it wont work what i do doubt is all of that work going to be worth it?

 

[adsm08]

While its a fun idea, I can't for the life of me imagine that this would be LESS work than narrowing a full size axle.

 

[88_Eddie]

Instead of all that work... why not MAKE your own extended radius arms??? Would cost about $40-50 and would be far easier than figuring out what miracle is needed to attach steel tubes to an aluminum housing that has no sockets for the tubes to press into.

Nice drawing though

yeah, that's what i meant.....make your own arms, something early bronco-ish.... i was just pointing out that people are willing to drop $500 (or more) for extended radius arms, so i didnt see why someone would be opposed to spending around that to convert their d35 to a straight axle.

if i ever get the means ($$$$$$$$$$$$$) to try it, i'll def give it a try, just gotta win the lottery first

While its a fun idea, I can't for the life of me imagine that this would be LESS work than narrowing a full size axle.

yeah i know, but then throw into the mix that you gotta get new gears, new install kit, pay someone to put it in if you cant........i dont know, it's just something i've been throwing around in my head for the last few months.

 

[crbnunit]

Stick a Dana 30 under it if you think the 44 would be too much$$$. They are everywhere and the right width.

 

[4x4junkie]

yeah, that's what i meant.....make your own arms, something early bronco-ish.... i was just pointing out that people are willing to drop $500 (or more) for extended radius arms, so i didnt see why someone would be opposed to spending around that to convert their d35 to a straight axle.

Why convert it at all? It's been proven numerous times already a straight axle isn't what's needed to go offroad or have flex...

Agreed on narrowing the fullsize axle if you absolutely must...

 

[88_Eddie]

i have a degree in industrial design, i try to invent, rebuild or improve anything and everything I possibly can, putting it up on here gives me good feedback

 

[cammeddrz]

Why convert it at all? It's been proven numerous times already a straight axle isn't what's needed to go offroad or have flex

hasn't been proven to me yet. any links for my education?

 

[Tony Raine]

pm gwaii, he turned a ttb into a solid axle

 

[cammeddrz]

pm gwaii, he turned a ttb into a solid axle

why does this not suprise me?

 

[4x4junkie]

hasn't been proven to me yet. any links for my education?

These should help...
my BII Cardomain page
Todd's Cardomain page (though he did eventually switch to 1-tons due to wanting big tractor tires and needed a stronger setup, not because his TTB didn't work though)
Joel H is another one that proved the solid axle is passé
Will here also has a decent setup too, though I'm not sure whatever happened to his truck page (link is broken).
There's been several others I know too.

Should be quite a bit of good reading in the Suspensions sections here if you dig around (also in the Tech Library too).
hint: Its about your springs, length of your shocks, and the length of the arms for flex, not so much it being a solid beam axle or not. It is true however you won't get much performance out of most non-straightaxle setups by bolting old-tech aftermarket parts onto it, so a little tweaking is usually necessary. Fortunately most of what's needed has been pretty well-documented here (look up "jeep coils" to start).

 

[cammeddrz]

These should help...
my BII Cardomain page
Todd's Cardomain page (though he did eventually switch to 1-tons due to wanting big tractor tires and needed a stronger setup, not because his TTB didn't work though)
Joel H is another one that proved the solid axle is passé
Will here also has a decent setup too, though I'm not sure whatever happened to his truck page (link is broken).
There's been several others I know too.

Should be quite a bit of good reading in the Suspensions sections here if you dig around (also in the Tech Library too).
hint: Its about your springs, length of your shocks, and the length of the arms for flex, not so much it being a solid beam axle or not. It is true however you won't get much performance out of most non-straightaxle setups by bolting old-tech aftermarket parts onto it, so a little tweaking is usually necessary. Fortunately most of what's needed has been pretty well-documented here (look up "jeep coils" to start).

oh, so you have nothing new to share with the class? "independant (and ttb) vs solid" is a debate that will rage on till armageddon. they both have their uses. like trophy trucks that use both on one truck (but the front has no drive). neither is "better" unless i ask you or copykat. and i suspect there is a reason that a vast majority of the vehicles with the most flex are doing it with a solid axle (and i don't think its because you and copykat know something they don't)

you don't criticize a hammer for not turning screws very well, much like you don't criticize a screwdriver for not hitting-in nails very well

 

[4x4junkie]

oh, so you have nothing new to share with the class? "independant (and ttb) vs solid" is a debate that will rage on till armageddon. they both have their uses. like trophy trucks that use both on one truck (but the front has no drive). neither is "better" unless i ask you or copykat. and i suspect there is a reason that a vast majority of the vehicles with the most flex are doing it with a solid axle (and i don't think its because you and copykat know something they don't)

you don't criticize a hammer for not turning screws very well, much like you don't criticize a screwdriver for not hitting-in nails very well

Ok, so what exactly is your point?

I said a solid axle isn't required to have flex. What are you trying to say, that it is? I'm sorry but if you had clicked those links, you would've seen it's not.



Edit:
Geez, I forgot all about this one lol (and it's not even a Ford, it's a .... Jeep!!)