build up advise please!

[RabbitInTheMoon]

After a few attempts at selling one of my wagoneers I have decided to keep it and make it a more trail worthy set up. For years now I have had Samurais and a few other toys but as my kids are getting older now they love going with us offroading and 4 people in a samurai is not the most comfortable thing in the world. I am not getting rid of the Suzuki but I now have room in the garage for 2 trucks. Anyways what I am starting with is a 76 wagoneer with a BJs 6 inch kit and a 3 inch body lift. 401 with cam/intake/exhaust/TFI/ and a few other mods. TH 400 trans with shift kit and quadra whatever transfer case. Dana 44 front with a 20 rear with 456(?) gears. 35 inch bfgs. I plan on trimming the fenders a little and I would like to run a 36 or 38 inch tire. My questions are many but I will start with these. 1) Will the axles I have break if I add a (weld?)locker front and rear? 2)What benefits would putting a set of W/T axles in be? 3) would the truck do better with a soa on stock springs verses the sua and lift spring I have now? 4)I am not a big fan of my transmission. Does swapping in a manual trans make any sense? 5) what about the transfer case. Is it going to be problematic? 6) also thinking about cutting the rear section of the top just behind the rear doors to make it a crew cab truck. Any advise on all this would be great!

[Dmntxn77]

1) Most likely, especially if you go any bigger than 35"s. Thats a lot of power going to the meats.

2) W/T axles will be wider wich will allow you to stuff your tires better. However, if you are going to go through the trouble to swap axles, I would save for a bigger set from a 3/4-1 ton dodge or chevy.

3) Yes, it will flex WAY better than 6" lift springs. I will give you a bit higher suspension lift though, which will require you to have high or cross over steering.

4) I am doing it. I LOVE my T-18's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

5) It will be if you swap to a manual tranny. I dont like quadra craps anyway. I prefer to be in charge of my case. Just get a D20 to go behind your manual, or keep whatever case comes with your bigger axles. It will take some research to figure out which combo will bolt up to your 401 (except the obivous T-18/D20).

6) Search for Tadsal. He did it, and it looks GREAT. Others have done variations of this also, but I cant think of names at the moment.

Good luck, have fun, and keep us posted..

[Stuka]

Are you sure you have an M23 rear axle?? Those did not officially come into use until 1980, although a few 79's got them.

The 6" lift is cheaper and easier, but the SOA will perform offroad better.

Ditto on the T18a :)

[Elliott]

Shoot me an email if you wanna make me an offer on the T18/D20 I have here. Could save you on haveing to ship one and I could use the room in my shop. :D

[80wag]

Ive got one of Tads SOA kits on mine installed, I had to have my springs rearched because they sagged after it set a few days, they added a leaf and it still rides great. 4.56's are what I wish I had, 4.88's only allow me to go 60-65mph with a 727 tranny. I'll post pics now that I completed stage 1. Stage 2 is quickly coming around, I blew up my 360 so it's getting redone this week.

[hampton123]

do a search for "chop top" if you want pics of different style chops