This came up some time back when a feller was balking at the $1200 or so price for a D60 front axle. He was going to convert. IIRC, the "no" comments were 3 or 4 to 1 against.

You got a lathe? Foundry? Broaching tool?

By the time you buy the parts you can't cut/weld/hammer at home, you might as well buy the real thing.

You LIFE depends on that axle. Why try to cut corners for a few bucks?