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So you've decided to do the SAS huh? Here's my Q&A:
- How much does it cost?
- Where do I get my axle? What vehicle?
- I found this neat ford axle...
- Do I need to lengthen my rear shaft?
How much does it cost?
Well let me return with a question: How much of the work are you doing yourself? If you're going
to drive into a shop and drive it out a month later, stop reading. This page isn't for you. Now
if you plan to do a lot of the work yourself and you don't already have tires/lockers/gears then you
can expect to spend between $4-5000. The price can go down by $1500 if you're already locked and loaded.
Most people tend to make estimates on their SAS and forget that they need bolts to hold their springs up.
They forget that the gas to the junkyard wasn't free, yes, brake fluid costs money and hey, so does
welding wire/rod. So expect to spend between $4-5000 assuming you do a lot of the work yourself.
Where do I get my axle? What vehicle
I got mine from a local self-service junkyard. $183 with tax and crap. A 1980+ wagoneer works great but
other axles will work fine. Check here
(http://www.wilsons4x4.com/dana444153.jpg) to
see what years you can find this beloved dana 44 in. If you want a dana 60 you can also get
info from wilsons.
I found this neat ford axle...
Ok. Buy it. Your only problem with this axle is that it is a tad wider than stock. By tad I mean
highly noticeable. If you're reading this FAQ you'll probably want to cut it down to match the rear
more closely. I recommend cutting both tubes to fit to the same length as a waggy front end. You could
possibly, for instance, only cut the long side. Then use the waggy long side and the ford short side.
This would probably yield a slightly wider front end. It's up to you. The idea, however, is to
get the sides in check so that you can use junkyard-available axle shafts as spares. Instead of having
to get custom made (i.e. high $$$) ones.
Do I need to lengthen my rear shaft
The simple answer is no. It certainly couldn't hurt to do so. But no, you don't -have- to.