SAS Axle choice.

[Jrgunn5150]

Ok, of the three that I have been able to find, (ChevyCrew, Dirty Anton, and now Cable810's), everyone is using the Ford 36" spring width axle.

In ChevyCrew's thread, he mentioned this was for oil pan clearance, as a 44's pumpkin is offset more to the center of the axle, and would likely interfere with his oil pan.

So... I'm going to ASSume, that this is why Dirty Anton and Cable810 followed suit, which is fine, I have a 89 kingpin 60. But I also have a 78 HP44 HD, and... My Trailblazer is a 5.3. There's like, a million 5.3 oil pans out there, with sumps all over the place.

So, long story short, is the oil pan the only reason you guy's are choosing the wider 60?

[navigator]

I think the oil pan was a big part of it. Also those guys are all I6 so like you mentioned, you have a lot more options. The bad part is I don't think ChevyCrew or Dirty Anton are on very much. Caleb will be sure to help as much as he can. You might try to email the other guys as well. They have wheeled theirs a good bit, they might have some recommendations to things they might do differently if they had to do it over again.

[Jrgunn5150]

Just from eyeballing their trucks, and half arssed measuring mine, the framerails are a lot closer to 32" apart than 36". I got a great deal on a POS beater to drive to work, a 95 GMC, it run's really well, so my Trailblazer has basically been retired from DD duty now.

[ErikSS]

Pumpkin location is part of the equation. In my opinion, a dana 44 is too light duty. The dana 60 is a far stronger axle. They are very common as well. There is a SAS TrailBlazer with a dana 44. He was advised to use a dana 60. Then he bitched because it didnt hold up.

[Jrgunn5150]

A D44 could be... I'm on the fence with that. Since I really only want to run a 35-37, I would like to be lower than they all are. And narrower. But you are right, even open, a 44 is on the edge at that tire size, with our weight.

But my thinking is, if I can use the narrower spring spacing 44 now, I can use the narrower spring spacing 60 later. If I need to step up, everything is in place to bolt in a HP 60, which I'm sure I'll come acrossed at some point. If I'm not mistaken, their oil pans are the reason they specifically aren't using the normally desirable 78-79 Dana 60's.

[ErikSS]

If I do SAS Im going to build something I at least believe will hold up. For the record, dana 60 is the lightest duty axle Im even considering. Im a fan of the AxleTech. Just not a fan of how big and heavy they are.

[v7guy]

axletech?


I'm only half kidding, I'd fit the biggest axle you can find for a reasonable price. I wouldn't even consider a 44, I'm luke warm on putting a 44 in the firebird and it's not gonna be bouncing off ledges with big lugs on the tires grabbing whatever it can and shock loading the drivetrain. These are heavy trucks and I think you can start at a 60 and be comfortable knowing it's probably going to be very happy with a 35 or 37 and not even blink. Reliability is big!

The rear sump pan is pretty huge as far as space goes... you should be able to tuck it up pretty nicely. You don't have a body lift, but with that you could space the motor up a bit to gain more room as well. All are options. At the end of the day, how wild do you wanna get?

[Jrgunn5150]

My reason for doing a SAS isn't that I want the most badass rock bouncer on Pirate 4x4, it's that I just want something more durable and easily serviced.

Honestly, I'm really on the cusp of not needing one at all. I'm rarely thwarted due to a lack of ground clearance, traction is another issue. Even with my Detroit Locker in the rear, there's times where I have a front tire feebly spinning in the air.

I want to maintain good road manners, so I can continue to take long trips in it. If I need a tow rig, I'll pull the motor and trans and stick them in a TJ frame and tub lol.

[Jrgunn5150]

And as far as 44 strength goes, we have S10 diff's now, and people have them locked on 35's lol. So a 44 is a substanial upgrade.

[Cable810]

If I'm not mistaken, their oil pans are the reason they specifically aren't using the normally desirable 78-79 Dana 60's.

Spring perch distance is much narrower and wont work. (See quote below) Our frame narrows at the front. So I made a cross member like Mike and Steve did to allow the leafs to be in the right location. I would never consider a D44 Jason summed that up pretty well.

78-79 F250/F350 kingpin drivers reverse leaf 69.25" internal 35 / 30 31.5" dual piston 5
85-91.5 F350 kingpin drivers reverse leaf 69.25" internal 35 / 30 36.5" dual piston 5 about 3.5" more to drivers side than 78-79
92-99 F350 balljoint drivers reverse leaf 69.25" internal 35 / 30 36.5" dual piston 5 about 3.5" more to drivers side than 78-79

[Jrgunn5150]

Is the spring spacing the issue? Or oil pan placement? I believe ChevyCrew said he picked the newer Ford axles specifically to offset the pumpkin more so it would clear his front sump pan.

[Jrgunn5150]

I'm getting this idea from this post,

Here is a major problem for those also considering this swap. A Dana 44 will require MUCH more lift. While my Dana 60 has the diff offset to the drivers side a good amount, a Dana 44 diff will sit underneath the oil pan, my closest point is the drain plug to the top of the axle tube. The 60 diff clears to the drivers side of the oil pan.

[Cable810]

Correct. Quoteing that messed it up wow.... I'll correct when I can get on my computer. The 78-79 has the perch distance of 31.5 and latter 60s have 36.5

[Cable810]

Actually that quote was fine lol just looks different on a phone. Basically the 78-79 is the same as later year in terms of overall axle length, only difference is the perch distance. I've seen 1 78-79 and it looks a lot smaller than a later D60.

[Jrgunn5150]

Well, in all my reading on Hummer forums for our upcoming DD purchase, I've noticed those guy's have no issue whatsoever doing linked, low SAS's. And they prefer the D44..

I bet you guy's could adapt the 3.7 pan to a 4.2 with some clever welding. As for me, the Alpha has a rear sumped 5.3 pan...

[v7guy]

It was relatively simple to just hack the bottom of the stock oil pan off and weld on a rear sump.

Sounds like you wanna do the 44, so go grab one and let's get this show on the road!

[Jrgunn5150]

It was relatively simple to just hack the bottom of the stock oil pan off and weld on a rear sump.

Sounds like you wanna do the 44, so go grab one and let's get this show on the road!

I have one I just have to retire it from DD duty first, which means I need to make up my mind on a vehicle for my GF, and then go find one in a color scheme she likes lol