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Solid Axle Swap Buyers Guide
Solid-Axle Swap Buyer's Guide
February, 2009
By Jerrod Jones
Photography by Courtesy the Manufacturers
We've been working on independent front suspensions during the last few months, testing parts, breaking parts, obtaining ideas, giving ideas, creating plans.... And we think we might have some good, hard-core IFS stuff for you in the not-too-distant future. But for now, we have to back our old favorite, the solid-axle swap onto IFS trucks. If you're planning on something like this, then check out this buyer's guide to see if one of these companies might be able to help you.  Calmini Applications: ...  Calmini
Applications: Xterra, Frontier (also available for Hardbody and Pathfinder)
The Guts: Coilover system for use with Dana 44 axle, 2x0.250-inch-wall radius arms, 10-inch coilovers, High-angle CV driveshaft, rockcrawling antisway bar.
Information: Calmini, 800.345.3305, www.purenissan.com |  All-Pro Off Road Applications:...  All-Pro Off Road
Applications: '86-'95 Toyota trucks and 4Runners, '95-'04 Tacomas
The Guts: Replaces IFS with solid axle, three-link with Panhard rod, coilovers, and everything necessary to lose the IFS.
Information: All-Pro Off Road, 951.658.7077, www.allprooffroad.com |  Blitzkrieg Motorsports Applications:...  Blitzkrieg Motorsports
Applications: '67-'98 Chevy fullsize
The Guts: 12 to 16 inches of travel, 0.250-wall steering links and track bar, 1 1/2-inch Heim radius arms, King coilovers, and 2 1/2-inch hydraulic bumpstops.
Information: Blitzkrieg Motorsports, 949.855.1050, www.blitzkriegoffroad.com |  Fabworx Applications: ...  Fabworx
Applications: '88-'98 Chevy IFS fullsize
The Guts: (SALLC) Straight-Axle Long Leaf Conversion, solid-axle swap provides 4 inches of additional lift, fully welded front crossmember, Trimount shackle hanger, shackles, hardware, weld-on shock tabs. Uses Fabworx custom 52-inch front springs. Available with FOX shocks and crossover steering.
Information: Fabworx, 707.529.6696 , www.fabworxoffroad.com |  Off-Road Direct Applications:...  Off-Road Direct
Applications: GM IFS fullsize
The Guts: Bolts onto existing mounting points and framerails. New spring hangers, shackles, new spring plates with shock mounts, dual front shocks, Grade 8 hardware, 3/16- and 1/4-inch steel plate throughout the entire kit.
Information: Off-Road Direct, 480.727.0914, www.offroaddirect.com |  Independent 4X Applications:...  Independent 4X
Applications: Isuzu '87-'91 Trooper, '88-'95 Rodeo, Amigo, and pickup
The Guts: Complete or partial kits available to swap on a '74-'79 Wagoneer Dana 44. Custom front brake lines to allow use of metric factory hard line with Dana 44 calipers. Kit retains factory steering box with custom steering setup.
Information: Independent 4X, 804.550.0480, www.independent4x.com |  Off Road Unlimited Applications:...  Off Road Unlimited
Applications: 2WD and 4WD Chevy IFS fullsize trucks
The Guts: Complete solid-axle swap, some kits offered with 6-inch-longer springs for plush ride.
Information: Off Road Unlimited, 818.563.1208, www.offroadunlimited.com |  Sky-Manufacturing Applications:...  Sky-Manufacturing
Applications: '86-'95 Toyotas
The Guts: 5-inch lift solid-axle and leaf-spring conversion, Rancho 5000 soft-valve shocks, Earl's stainless steel braided brake lines, boomerang shackles, Dana 44 or Dana 60 with a 31 1/2-inch spring center.
Information: Sky-Manufacturing, 541.736.3743, www.sky-manufacturing.com | |
Fabritech
Applications: '88-'06 Chevy IFS fullsizes, Ford Ranger, and '80-'03 F-150
The Guts: Solid-axle swaps to get ride of IFS or TTB in the front of 4x4s, bolt-on solid-axle conversion kits.
Information: Fabritech Motorsports, www.setstr8.com, (buy at) www.ntwonline.com or www.broncograveyard.com Front Range Off Road
Applications: '86-'95 Toyotas, '95-'04 Tacoma
The Guts: 1/4-inch plate front spring hangers, 3/8-inch plate shackles, graphite-impregnated polyurethane bushings.
Information: Front Range Off Road, 970.881.2418, www.frontrangeoffroadfab.com Marlin Crawler
Applications: '86-'95 Toyota
The Guts: Yields up to 21 inches of travel using a '79-'85 Toyota front axle, Marlin front springs, all hardware included, Bilstein shocks, high-steer arms, pitman arm, shock hoops, spring hangers, crossover steering system, and new brakes and brake lines.
Information: Marlin Crawler, 559. 252.7295, www.marlincrawler.com Rusty's Off-Road
Applications: Jeep Liberty, new IFS Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Guts: TBA
Information: Rusty's Off-Road, 256. 442.0607, www.rustysoffroad.com
Toyota Tacoma Research
Being one of the most popular cars in its class, the Toyota Tacoma offers good performance and quality. The V6 standard engine in the Tacoma gives you 236 horsepower with an estimated 18 mpg. It comes with comparable warranty coverage to other vehicles in its class. You may also be interested in the Ford Ranger and the Jeep Liberty.
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