I apparently have to break this down for the slow ones.

Get junkyard axle that will work for you: $120
Get new brakes: $200
Get an LS if it doesn't have one:$200-$400
Paint: $10
Flush and new fluid for diff: $25

This all depends on where you get it. This also depends on the brand you choose to use. This is also an educated guess on whether or not you need brakes, the axle, or paint. You will find that axles are pretty darn universal. I can swap in 10 different axles from everywhere onto my Ranger with little modifications.

And yes I am talking about doing the labor myself. Does everyone have time for that? No. But that is why I mentioned a Mom and Pop suspension/4x4 shop will come in handy. Labor would be cheap and they let you supply your own parts if you choose.

As for your comment towards the hoobyist....my hobby is not junkyard sifting. Lol. My hobby is cars and trucks. I do make a trip once a week to the junkyard and I will get a whole crapload of things. I am not scared to get down and dirty to save some money. Have you looked recently at new parts compared to getting some things from the junkyard and refurbing them? Is that not the point of the junkyard? Who says you have to buy some rusty stuff and just toss it on? When you can just drop a few extra bucks and purty it up.

I also run a side business of finding things for people. MetroForums I send Geo Metro parts to people from the junkyard. I never send a crappy part. I recently did a set of pistons. I cleaned them completely. Measured them. And vacuum sealed them in a little oil to keep them fresh.

You can skip the junkyard axle step if you have the time to shut the van down and just upgrade what is already in there. I fail to see how you have trouble seeing the math.

 

But....but....but Frozen Joker not everyone has your dedication, motivation, skill, tools and maybe suitable place to do all these steps. Keep in mind not everyone can or even wants to do much more than pay a guy to do this sort of thing.

Yeah your way is relatively cheap assuming everything is in place and time permits.

Relax----you'll live longer!

 

Crap....I forgot not everyone has access to my basement. Lol!

True true. Sorry. Lol.

If yall were near me I'd say bring that stuff over and use the **** out of my basement. I need to go get a shed so I can turn it into a coal blasting unit. I normally just do it outside in a tarp canopy. LOL! Gotta get that pesky rust off. Best way to do it right there!

 

See? Once that hand to the face of reality sets in and we understand we're a bit different from the average bear things make more sense!

I keep forgetting you've got that machine shop in your basement--buy that understanding wife any new shoes with your profits from there yet?

 

She prefers trucks and stuff to cook. HAHA!

 

My math works out to:
1. Buy van and make sure it has a rear axle in at at time of purchase (if it has LS, pat self on back and yer done)
2. Limited slip unit $200-400 (same as your cost)

And then add mom and pop or whatever labor you choose. My way saves the labor of R and R on the axle. I see no point in introducing a 2nd axle into the mix and having to bust apart brake lines, take off shocks, etc, deal with having to find another axle with same gearing, etc. And then having an extra axle in your life?

I've done and do a lot of work on cars, used to drag race, had a couple Vettes and 426 Hemi cars. And I did junkyard sifting when I needed to. I used to take in light mechanical work (tuneups, carb rebuilds, brakes, etc) in college. Been inside manual transmissions, etc.

8 screws and 3 rods in my spine make me carefully consider any work I do these days. I build bicycles and ride them--I can build 'em indoors.

Thanks for the input, though. I like the Amazon Ford Trac Loc for $250...don't you think that's a solid deal?

George

 

I corrected this with...
This is only if he gets one with low gearing and/or a messed up axle.

Yes you can just get an LS kit. I also previously stated that. It all just depends on what he gets. Its better to have all the cards out on the table. Myself personally would rebuild the axle from scratch to know that my work and pride is in it. That I KNOW it will not break. Lol. That was my meaning out of what I said. And I assume that most come to a forum to learn a new way, or learn it period.

Everyone starts out somewhere. I happened to start out on a farm with cats and old ford trucks. Lol.

Sucks about the back. Really takes a chunk of life when you have something like that.

 

We're good....you're a major do it yourselfer with tools and knowledge. I have had a range of experience working on cars and never failed to finish a job I started. Lots of stories. But we don't have many shadetree mechanics these days. Cars are way better than they've ever been, and less of the stuff under the hood is accessible. I used to modify carbs and distributor curves when I was racing. Now you get a computer chip...

As for my back, it has been a problem since I was 14 years old and I finally had surgery 3 years ago at age 59 when it gave way. My back feels better now than it has in years, but I ain't gonna heft heavy stuff around, and bending over has always hurt me but I've got less flexibility now.

I'm here because I'm a car/truck nut and I appreciate your input. And I'm pretty OCD about making things perfect when I build and maintain bicycles. I ride a couple thousand miles a year, and I don't have to bend over when I work on 'em...and I can do them in the basement.

Have a great week,
George

 

I agree that we do not have many shade tree mechanics these days. And when there is one, its some loser trying to make a buck for a minute to pay for an addiction. Not to mention they know nothing of what they are doing. Mechanical mods are the best thing to stick pride into in my point of view.

Smart man to not overwork it.

I am here for the same and to share anything I have learned over the years. I appreciate anyone else's input as well. Anything to further my knowledge. You have an advantage. I can only work on pieces in the basement. Lol. Soon I will have a big plot of land again though and I can build a pole barn for my vehicle work. It will be awesome.

 

I've got a retired Chrysler engineer bud who has 20 acres, a 30x60' pole barn where he and his son have a LOT of cars and parts, and he actually bought and buried a cheep used gas station lift in the barn. He's also got a tire changing machine, dynamic tire balancer, etc.

His property used to be a clubhouse for a motorcycle club, and he has a 1/8 mile or so dirt track out in his yard. When he was working at Chrysler, he borrowed a 4WD Chrysler minivan and took us out for some hot laps on the little dirt track which the bikers used to use on Saturday nights. We love going out there because he's got a ton of toys like dirt bikes, 3 and 4 wheelers, a hovercraft, etc.... When my son was young, his property was *the* place to lose model rockets

I would love some land and a pole barn....we have 4 cars for my wife and me, and I have a bunch of cars on my "bucket list" that we have no place to keep.

Take care,
George