ok im a offroad guy. i have 2 rear 8" housing sitting in the barn and i want to throw one under my 89 because of the gearing availability. one is out of a 83 4x4 and one is from a 88 4x4. so ones wider but what one would you use?


i know the swap wont be hard but how would i get the lug pattern back to 5x4.5?

 

2 wheel drive trucks came with a 8" diff and 5 on 4.5" bolt pattern if it was either a 1 ton or if 88+ a V6 truck. If you can't find one of those to steal the whole rear axle out of any of the big axle manufacturers shouldn't have a problem building a set but it won't be all that cheap.

You could always have the hub pilot on the shafts lathed down and the 6 stud holes welded and drilled for 5 on 4.5".

Myself I'd use a 78 and prior axle, they are super common in 8" and It's 5" narrower so you can fit some fatty tires out back without them hitting the fender lip.

 

find any truck 2wd truck that originally had a 4 speed manual tranny, and you should* find a 8" axle under it. you will be able to tell the 8" apart from the 7.5" from the center casting marks on the axle hub. the 8" has 4 casting lines. the 7.5" has only 2.

find yourself this and you will be able to use the thirds out of the 4x4's.

for your info, the 2wd 8" came with 3:07 gearing.

 

ok so let me just re say this to make sure i understand what your saying (id rather sound dumb than buy something i dont need)

if find a early 80's 2wd with a 4 speed it will be the 5x4.5 and 8" ring gear. yes?

and another question. would 4.10 be a good gear to get the tires burning and still be able to drive it to work and school? i didnt think the stock rear end gears were that high

 

I'm running 4.10's with 205/70/15's and a W58. I run down the highway at about 2800 or so. I'm going to have to find a 3.07 8" diff to drop in for burnout competitions.

 

why are you dropping down to 3.07's for burnouts?

are you posi?
can you slide it hard around corners?

 

Once he's up the torque band, it'll take her to higher revs. ultimately, faster wear will churn out more smoke

 

The '88 axle is 3.5" wider as it comes from an IFS truck.

Erik's Toyota Differential info

 

i know its wider, thats why i have it. it is a spare for my wheeler (83 4x4). would the 83 4x4 rear end be the same width as the 2wd rear end? the truck came with a 4 speed