Chris Scotty's Claton Breakage

[BMFScout]

I was just curious what is wrong with american axles? How many people out there are running a small block chevy through toy axles? Every other guy might be, I'm ignorant on the subject. It seems to me that would be the way to go, but I'm not into toyotas either, except for the one I drive every day

[AggieTJ2007]

if you want to do a 203 doubler i have a friend that has a 203

[8Runner]

So why not fix it cheap for now, 2 welded 4.10 thirds (or lock-rite front), then swap those gears over to your ARB chunks when you get time/money for the 203 doubler and shafts (though the 203 should only run, what fidolla ? $300 for the adapter, and your out less than $100 for the two 4.10 thirds, then a hundred or so to get Jesse's dlines extended/shortened?) You've gotta do something about your front shafts regardless, another $635. You should be able to do everything but the ARBs...correctly...for under $1500.

I don't want to change my gears until I get the doubler, it would crawl like crap. My drivesafts are high dollar custom Tom Woods jobs, so changing lengths locally and cheaply is probably not cool if I want to keep my warranty's. I also really do not want to run a welded front end - I have enough trouble turning the wheels without it locked (my next project, before the doubler, is a steering upgrade).

I was just curious what is wrong with american axles?

I may do this eventually, but for now, I have too much money in the toy axles to switch them. (Driveshafts, ARB's, all the fab work...). Nothing is ever simple on this truck!

if you want to do a 203 doubler i have a friend that has a 203

How much? Maybe I'd buy it and keep it for later.

Here is what I am thinking:

Now - Longfield Super axles and stay with 5.29's, maybe setup a spare welded thirdmember to compensate for the weak gears. (~$1500)
Next 6 months - Steering upgrade $500???
6-18 months - Doubler
18+ months - new axles (maybe next time I break something major).

[stx4wheeler]

the 203-205 adapter is around 465 or 500 last time i looked, and a 203 is gonna run you a hundred at minimium, but prolly more like 200 with shipping so add a few more bucks to that, scenario eric.

i also like eric's idea about staying with 4. 10s right now to save money, cause lets say you dont even get the doubler stuff together or in by April, you will still havea working and wheeling vehicle, that will probably be less prone to breakage, jsut my .02

[AggieTJ2007]

you can have the 203 for $125 and I will deliver it to you (its in dallas) for free

[Graystroke]

sell it and start over.

[BMFScout]

what is left of the toy axles, didn't they self destruct? How much fun is it going to be when you drop 1500 bones or more in them, and then they self destruct too. I just think with the amount of damage you had on the last run, it is the size of the axles, not what they are made of.

[Shaggy]

you can have the 203 for $125 and I will deliver it to you (its in dallas) for free

is this a ford 203... cause if it is ill take it... ill give you the money right now if it is... i really need one

[Busa]

Everyone talks like toy axle is ****. I like my toy axle. I have put them trough some of the hardest trail around and they have done me well. I have broken my share of parts but I am very hard on my yota. I am going to stay toy as long as I can. Chris does really need to get away from the toy axle because his truck is so heavy.

[BMFScout]

I like the toy axle with a 22re, not with a 350.

[CRaSHnBuRN]

face it, with a rig this size, he needs D60s. Scotty, have you ever weighed that thing? I think a toy truck with some measures done to lighten it up a little could survive the 350 and his driving style with upgraded toy axles, but that 4runner body adds a lot of unneccesary weight. As for other domestic axles, I would really question a d44 under the front of that thing. Sure you can try to build it up, and try to make it survive, but its like the arguement everyone keeps making about upgrading the toy axle, why do it? Keep the toy axle and upgrade since its already there, or go to the 60.

Okay, here is an idea. Why not just junk the body and build a formula toy? That would help alot with breeakage due to weight reduction, it would be much easier to keep cool, and it wouldn't have to be so damn tall. You could resell the body to recoop some of the costs. And think what kind of fun a 350 would be in something as light as a buggy?

[TxCruzr]

Okay, here is an idea. Why not just junk the body and build a formula toy? That would help alot with breeakage due to weight reduction, it would be much easier to keep cool, and it wouldn't have to be so damn tall. You could resell the body to recoop some of the costs. And think what kind of fun a 350 would be in something as light as a buggy?

Unless you want to be able to drive it on the street or really want a full bodied rig that would be a great idea to look into. You could wheel the piss out of it and not have to worry about body damage and the toy axles should last a lot longer under a lighter weight buggy.

[CRaSHnBuRN]

well, I'm not entirely positive, but I think you could make it street legal. I've been doing some research for my buggy, and it doesn't look that hard. I even talked to one of those little hometown inspection stations, and the guy asked if I meant something like a dune buggy, so i said yeah, and he said sure you can get them inspected. As for full body, yeah its not as nice as the 4runner, but with enough lexan, you can give one a fairly decent body. Look at the first f-toy that was built, with all the paneling it has, it probalay provides just as much protection from the weather as an old jeep or cruiser.

[eight]

Well, you've got $1500 to spend. Should be able to pick up a d60 and 14 bolt or such for about $1200. Ebay the toy ARBs, for what? $500 each? And about $100 for each set of 5.29s? Probably get another $200 out of what's left of the rest of the axles. So there's about $1400, so lets say $1200. Leaves $1500 to spend on the axles.

[8Runner]

I really don't want to make this into a huge project right now - I just went through 2 years of huge project and now I want to wheel! I did a little bit of asking on the axle swap thing and minimum I am looking at 3k and a lot of downtime. In addition to paying for the labor (I don't have the time or skill), I would need new wheels (maybe tires if I go 16.5), steering, gears, lockers, etc....

While I can appreciate the buggy idea, this is not my goal for this truck. Maybe someday, I will do a buggy, but it will be in addition to this rig. My goals for this vehicle are for it to be unique, decently capable, comfortable, and good looking - in that priority order too. I am not looking for an extreme crawler and know that the truck will always have it's limitations due to my other goals.

Don't get me wrong, I am frustrated putting $1500 of good money after bad in toyota axles that I know I have outgrown. I am thinking at least I can keep these running and wheelable for a while and then sell what I haven't trashed to put toward D60's or something similar.

edit: I saw Eight's post after typing this - while financially that looks a bit better, it leaves out a few costs (wheels, steering, etc...) not to mention downtime.