Need help with custom lift, and axles.

[jagerauto]

Hey guys I'm here to see if anyone has some information that can help me get this truck on the right track. Its my buddy's truck and I'm trying to get this thing right before he gets back.

It's a 2001 4 runner, fully custom lift all the welding and fab work is very good. It's just that whoever built it used what they had laying around.

Motor/trans(auto)/tcase are stock. It does pretty good pushing 38's haha.

ALL the lights in the dash are on. And I mean all. Hah.

Front axle is an 83
Rear is a 2002 Tacoma (one of the shafts is bent, makes wheel wobble) need to fix that too. Otherwise rear axle fits and works great.

Wanting to put a different front axle on it but not sure what rout to go, using the stock t case. Or if that's not possible, what could be making all the racket in the hubs? Sounds like a fisher price popcorn popper. But not as bad. Haha

 

[IBallEngineer]

Wow, so many questions, yet so little information! I'm going to assume a few things, like the transfer case is Left hand drop, and the axle is right hand drop. In a perfect world you'd just adapt a gear driven transfer case and keep that axle. Inchworm and Marlin have the parts for that. As for the noise, could be a bad birfield, or bad bearings, or the hubs are partially engaged/stripped.

If you change the front axle, the noise is irrelevant. Most people use a D44 out of a Jeep wagonneer, early 80's ish. It's left hand drop and the width is pretty close to what you need. Personally I'd look for earlier Ford High Pinion D44 out of a bronco/truck(not twin I-beam). A little wider so you may have to have it cut down.

I'm assuming your friend is deployed and you are being a super cool friend, but this could get pricey. Awesome if you can get it done!

:cheer2:

 

[Ol'Blue]

^^^^^^

Agree with above. Run the Danna 44 off at older Ford. That is what I'm running in my 3rd Gen SAS. The only thing that I learned is you really need a bigger power steering pump. This is my next project. Also if you are going to run the 38's then 5.29 will be almost a must (imo)

Blue

 

[jagerauto]

Ok so Danna 44 off older ford, drive shaft have to be something custom?

I tried to take a pic of where he t case comes out. Haha but yes right hand drop axle and left hand t case.

A gear driven T case may be an option. But I think having to re do the rear would be more work..

I'm helping him with fixing it, he is footing the bill assuming he wants to spend the money that needs to be spent.

 

[Rockdawg84]

There are a couple of ways to go. you can go '78-79 ford Dana 44 which is nice as it is hi-pinion. or you can go with Trail-Gear's tacoma front housing.
The advantage of the TG housing is that you can use all of your brakes and hubs and 3rd member from your current axle.

no matter what you will need to rebuild the mounts as a 83 axle has 29.5 spring perch widths where as a 44 needs to be set at 31.5. Thought I guess the TG housing could have perches set at 29.5"

Good luck and nice rig