OP... your not going to find any axle strong enough to run 38's and keep the same width... not only that you'll want a full width to run 38's so u don't have to go so dang high to fit them... and your talking about spending several $3 or 4k AT LEAST in a axle swaps...

 

I'm going to get 8.8 and a 44 front. I don't see myself even coming close to that amount. I say $1500 tops

 

You can run a 14bff rear axle from a delivery van with the dually rear has a 63.5 WMS to WMS width. You would have to custom build a Ford Dana 60 by cutting the axle tubes and getting a set of builders shafts. That is if you don't go with the Explorer 8.8 & a Dana 44 front.

Didn't see your last post before I posted this, since you stated you didn't want to run a 8.8, d/44 combo, I was trying to give you an option. For what you're planning on the 8.8 d/44 combo will be the cheapest and easiest.

 

Doubt it


And even if it did, it would be an such amazingly rare occurance that it probably couldn't be repeated.

I've never seen/heard of it, and AFAIK neither has anyone on any of the forums

 

That'll never happen... lol

 

Unless your buddy hooks you up with a D44 and ford 9" for $300 for both like my buddy is doing for me

 

That's about the going rate... maybe alittle better... most I see are $400 a set... but your still gonna go over... I bought a Dana 44 front from a 79 Ford that was already built... once I realised they share the same axle joints as the Dana 30 and people bust them left and right on the 30's I found it pointless to go Dana 44 and sold it... now installing a Dana 60 from a 05 f250... its not in yet and I'm already at your $1400 limit... and I got the front for $250 and the rear Sterling from a 06 for $350... custom cross member... control arms... brackets for the axles... brackets for the frame... frame stiffeners... wheels tires... coils... leafs... heims... tube adapters... brakes... brake lines... custom driveshafts... SYE... all this goes into a axle swap.. and more... lol... not gonna happen

 

Had no Idea the D44 used the same axle joints as the D30.. interesting...

 

the u-joints aren't really the weak point in the dana 30 from what i've found. yeah they use the same u-joint, but the 44 has bigger shafts, a stronger housing, and a bigger ring gear (which is the major weak point in the dana 30)

 

Ya most people don't... its the same ones as the larger joints the Dana 30's have but still junk... everything else is stronger but I figure if the strength doesn't make it from the tire to the diff then what good does the different make in strength? Only way to get buy it is to upgrade the Dana 44 to 35 spline axles which cost a ton and I think the knuckles gotta be machined or something as well... makes it as strong as a 60 but lighter... but not worth the money to me or most...

 

Pretty sure the outer shafts on a 44 are the same as a 30... and if you ask anyone that wheels "for real" with a 30 at some point they have busted a axle joint... well most anyways...

 

i've busted a couple cheap brute force u-joints, but now i run spicer 760's w alloys and have yet to have a problem. but of course now my chinsy little ring gear becomes the weak point

 

Hmmm defiantly going to have to look into getting a D60 maybe then..
thanks for the info!

 

The 05+ Dana 60 is said to be as stout as the 78 and 79... if you read over my frugal 2 axle swap in the Fab section it'll show you how easy its actually going... spring perches are practically already there... shock mounts are in right location... sway bar would be if I used them... hard parts steering like always... 1.5in axle shafts... 35 spline inner and outer shafts... yatta yatta... lock out hubs... OEM radius arm mounts on the axle are perfect already... same width as the xj frame! Going nicely! Just not many of them around yet... one here in GA for $350 on Cl right now though...

 

I'll read it over. now Ima have to keep my eyes out for a D60 in my area :P