Just a little more . . . . . continues.
Got a 2001.5 DANA70 with stock/OEM disc-brakes. Got it stripped-down and removed the OEM 2001.5 shock-absorber mounts. Got to remove the OEM 2001.5 spring-perches next.
Now's the time to consider adding any mods . . . . if it needs it.
- The absolutely caveman basic, bolt-on ladder-bars . . . . . haven't really given me any problems the years I've had them on. They pretty-much don't allow any diagonal ditch crossing . . . . at all. Because of the factory lift-blocks, I don't see how Caltracs would properly attach. I could weld on some basic 4-link plates, and . . . . something. I see where . . longer . . . spring-perches can be had. Potentially reduces spring-wrap . . 7" long vs typical 3 ~ 4" long types.
Make a replacement for the stupid tall spacer/bump-stop. Make one with a bar coming out front with a snubber, like the old-school cheap bolt-on "Traction-Bars".
Crap!
I need to get all this potential welding done before the final straightening of the housing/tubes assembly as the heat of welding will distort the tubes. As I'm not well skilled at properly/soundly welding 1/4" and more thick, somewhat critical points, I'm gonna farm this part out. I gotta figure out where to put the X's.
The assembly will also need to be narrowed by about 2.5 inches per side. Shortening the tubes thus reuse my existing '93 shafts. Tires fit in the wheel-wells. Get it all done at once, then properly straightened.
As such, it'll end-up being a '93 DANA70U (32 spline shafts), with 2001.5 dual-piston caliper disc-brakes. I got the assembly complete with the brake-rotors, calipers, parking-brake cables (it appears they'll simply plug into my stock PB cable thingy
). The rotors need to be replaced. The calipers appear leak free. Might reuse them ($65ish core value each). The parking brakes look very lightly used.
It appears the main drive-shaft universal-joint will plug right in the yolk of the newer axle. Uses the same lug-bolts.
There might be a chance that since i'm putting in a new locker something, I can up-size the shafts to 35 spline units. Maybe.
I think I can reuse the new Spicer ring & pinion I just put in the old axle. While the new carrier-bearings appear pristine, they're the ones who's races spun in the housing.
Crap.