hey guys i just wanted to get a few opinions on what i should do, ive wheeled for a couple years now and personally love trail riding way better than boonin...ive got a couple questions for you guys thatve done a SAS on your truck...people argue about which is better all the time, the way i see it they both have their pros n cons but im leaning more towards the solid axle even though ifs has been pretty good to me except for torn up hubs tie rods sway links and all...

my buddies have been trying to convince me to SAS my truck... i can get a d44 for 150 bucks or get a d60 ford hp off my friend for 250 complete with brakes and everything, our buddy keith whos a master fabricator said he can fab up everything i need and to get the axles and springs and hell do the rest? im solid axle retarded but i think i need more than that lol, i dont see how hed fab up the track bars and all that ****, he said the ORD kit would be a waste of money and i can get away with this SAS cheaper than my 6in ifs? is it me or does this sound way to good to be true? axles i can get cheap and in good shape, and i also have the opportunity to buy a 14FF for 100 bucks, which either way since im ocd about things theyd be completely freshened up and have a front ratcheting locker so im sure thatll be a good amount of money. i can get 35s on rim (8lug) for 200 bucks off of another friend. do you guys think i could get away with this decently cheap? like under 2k? and if ya dont mind me askin what else do i need to buy other than the axles, springs and all that? i know they can fab up all the mounts/brackets and all that stuff for sure...

and one last question...if i go d44 to keep my 6 lug, i know with a SAS swap in general on stock springs its an instant 4 or 5in of lift i take it i can fit 35s on there without a problem since im stuffing 33s on no lift right now lol, but how much would i have to jack up the *** end to make it level? would a 6in block work or would it be prerunner status

thanks guys and sorry if this is a novel

tj

 

almost forgot if i do go with the 14ff what do i do with my factory driveshaft to make those two work since they have different yolks? crossjoint or is there any 14bolt yolk thatll meet up with the stock driveshaft? as for the front ill pay to get it extended after the swap since a shop here is pretty cheap with balancing and lengthining, he quoted me 60 bucks

 

What type of T-case? Manual shift or electronic with auto trac? If you have a manual T-case you are already in good shape (hopefully). This assuming that you already have a fixed yoke for the front driveshaft versus the slip yoke the autotrac has (NP246). If you have auto trac, then you would first need to obtain a NP241 T-case.

From there, leafs or a link setup? Leafs would be cheaper. I have done both to the same truck. Sky-manufacturing is also a good company to work with. That is who made my cross over steering setup. Plus you can use the 88-98 chevy SAS kit. Just have to measure the inside frame width by the front cab mount. Either 36 or 38'' (+/- .xxx'') That is the measurement you would need to have if you ordered with them.

For the leafs, use rear leafs off of a 73-87 chevy/gmc 1500. Get heavy duty ones though, stock duties will sag too much. A stock rear leaf is 4'' of lift and the SKY kit is 6''. So there is 10'' of lift right there.

As for the 14bolt....yes, a cross joint should be your cure. That swap is very common so i am sure you will be able to get better info.

I went D60 rear, D44 front from a 75 F-250, so my shafts were all made by Carolina Driveshaft. Good service and quick.

 

IMO if your gonna do a sas link that bitch up..I cant stand it when guys do leafs in the front...

Lookin forward to seeing your build

 

haha andrew i might do links man but idk, my buddy who gonna be doin this with me (master fabricator) reccomended the springs for my price range, not to mention the whole fact it could have a less chance of death wobble which my idiotic *** needs since i like to do 120+ in a truck lol, as for the links...its a little outta my price range but well see in time. and i look forward to it also lol, not to mention itll be a friday after work through sunday night deadline lol, were gonna be bustin our ***** gettin this done so i can take it to work

n tanz sounds like a sick project man, mind postin some pics? as for the crossover and the track bar my buddy keith will be fabbing mine up...his work, its impresses me every time, nobody around here buys links or any of that stuff anymore, they just call him to make them? so it kinda works out lol, hell be doing all the mounts brackets and all that fun stuff, and our other friend eric will be doing the regearing of the axles and installation of the locker. as for the height i want im undecided, stock springs supposedly get me 4in of lift...all i want to do for now is run 488s with 35s and have some room to flex, i do want to eventully run 37s or mabey 38s but i dont know what size springs id need...in reality id love to be on 40s but for my needs right now and well still daily driving it i think the 488s n 35s will be just fine...mabey 37s but it just all depends

 

also what do i do about the speed sensors on the hubs? is it gonna mess with anything not having them once i go to a SA?