Solid Front Axle Thread

[1993blazerlt]

I have been working on a SFA swap for a few weeks now and i just got the front some what done. I will start to put as much info here as i can about this swap. Heres a few pictures for starters

[94BlazerV8]

Right on!
My goal is to do a SFA next spring. I am going to look into Fabritech's kit, but am open to all ideas. Keep us posted with lots of pics and details.

[Tink]

Awesome! What axle are you using?

[1993blazerlt]

for the font im using a D44 eight lug with 4.10's, the rear is going to be a 14 bolt.

[1993blazerlt]

When lifting a S-10 you have several options, if you are looking to run around 31’s you can do a cheap and easy body lift, for a little bigger tire you can buy a IFS lift which keeps the stock style front end, but if you are looking for the most strength and the ability to run larger tires with less wear on the front end then a SFA conversion is your best option. A SFA lift does require a good amount of fab work and the ability to weld, cut and grind steel, if you want to design your own like I did. There are kits out there to do a conversion but, they were to expensive for my budget. I started off by taking a lot of measurements and deciding on what springs I was going to use. The springs that are used are very important because they determine the position of a lot of the suspension. I ended up using springs meant for the front of a K-5 Blazer. I had a few different sets lying around so it was a easy decision, plus they are a pretty short spring so I would be able to keep the stock look somewhat. After knowing the spring lengths I decided where I wanted the rear spring mount to be. Then I took the measurement ad decided to extend the front of the frame by 4 inches to give a good solid mounting point for the new cross member.

[1993blazerlt]

update

I ended up switching to a set of springs from the rear of a S-10, the advantages are they are longer and more flexy than the full size springs, they also help with the postion of the axle by moving it back. The sprigs are actually so flexy that i need to make longer shackels so they dont bottom out on the frame

[1993blazerlt]

update 12/7/06

I haev been working on the steering desgins and have decided to go with a crossover hysteer type steering. I am making my own steering arms for the axle using cold rolled 2x2 steel bar stock, I will post some pics later of the progress, I also got a hummer rim in so i can test fit it to see where the tire is sitting, becasue i used full width axles im looking to try and tuck the tire as much as possible to avoid having to run huge fender flares, Hummer rims are around 7 inches of back space and are double beadlocks. Below is a prelimnary drawing of the drivers side steering arm done on Solidworks

[1993blazerlt]

Its been a long while but i actually have some updates, i have gotten a bit done on this project so i figured i would post a picture of how the Blazer Currently sits on 36 inch hummer tires and beadlock rims
3132

[87wildside]

Cool! Whenever I get this truck done I would like to do a SFA.

[TreasonAgainstCaesar]

Very nice! That thing looks huge! So I assume this is purely an off road toy? What further plans do you have?

wildside, I thought you were doing a lowered street truck? What is the benefit of a SFA in that case?

[87wildside]

haha...I meant my next project

[Tink]

Those are 36s!? Freakin awesome!! Are you going to run any fender flares on it? Have any pics from the front? With my D44, my truck looks like a roller skate with the tires sticking way out.

[TreasonAgainstCaesar]

LOL, oh... I guess that would make more sense. :o

Yeah, let's see some more pics!

[1993blazerlt]

Those are 36s!? Freakin awesome!! Are you going to run any fender flares on it? Have any pics from the front? With my D44, my truck looks like a roller skate with the tires sticking way out.

the tires do not stick out that far at all, the front is a D44 and the rear is a 14 bolt ff, the trick is the hummer rims have close to 8 inches of backspacing which for most is there issue but for me it is a good part, not to mention there cheap 5 tires and rims 75% tread for $250 and there double bead locks so i should never loose a tire

[Tink]

Sweet. I've changed my backspacing as much as I could with the 10" rims - if I go anymore I'll be rubbing the steering knuckle. I guess the Hummer rims are what, 17s?

[1993blazerlt]

Sweet. I've changed my backspacing as much as I could with the 10" rims - if I go anymore I'll be rubbing the steering knuckle. I guess the Hummer rims are what, 17s?

nope there the good old 16.5 rim, yea i had to desgine custom steering arms to clear the rims, it had to be high steer to allow the clearance needed

[bowtieordie]

I was looking at the fabritech kit also, but i could not find a price?? anyone know what it is for and 02 pickup??????

[1993blazerlt]

I was looking at the fabritech kit also, but i could not find a price?? anyone know what it is for and 02 pickup??????


i have no idea what there kit price would be, the work i am doing is all custom made by me, i did all the computer modeling and stress analysis myself

[boxcarracer963]

that blazer looks nice

[Slacker1357]

To repeat '1993blazerlt', they are 16.5
I have to look at them all the time when Im playing Army for a weekend or a couple weeks. I'll get to see them more when I go over to Afghanistan in a couple months