I can get a real nice front axel (axel, 4.10 geared, disks, manual hubs, ect) for $300 from my bud who owns an offroadin company. Is that a good price? And also he quoted me that if I wanted him to slap it on there for me (haven't read much bout doin the swap myself...) it'd be about an 11 hour job (and chargin me $70/hour) it will end up being about $1100 up and running (not including getting new gears for the front to match my 4.88s I already have). But he can get me 5.29s (or just 1 4.88 gearset to match what I already have) for $200/per and install both front and rear for $150. Good, bad, ugly? Dunno yall, my mind's flitterin around like I got addhd, cause I got money (yay tax return) and dunno what I should do! AHH!

Also has a 8.5" taco rear axel (rated at 3/4 ton I think?) that he'd give me for $200. Anybody done that swap on a 1st gen runner? Good/worth it?

Sorry my ramblins are floatin around so much, I just caint think straight right now!

 

$1100 isn't that bad for the labor but he forgot to tell you about the $1000 you need in pieces to install it. You'll need some sort of SAS kit for the front hanger, springs, shocks, shackles, steering..ect ect ect... Not to discourage you just be prepared when you open the SAS can o worms.. it taint cheap no matter how you look at it.

 

He is your pal and is charging you that much per hour? I would ask if I could help and make sure we had all the other pieces to do it up front.

 

Well the thing is, this was his baby before it was mine. Was hurtin for a vehicle real bad bout a year ago and he sold it to me dirt cheap. He's had all this stuff for it, and has wanted to do it for a long time now. He's gonna be doing alot for me. 5" front leafs, 63" chevy rears, ranchos all around, fab me up the shackles and hangers, and a whole lot of other stuff. All he's makin me do is buy the axel, new brakepads, drag links, heim joint, and pay for some labor. Will probably end up buyin his custom square drive shafts cause I dunno if I want to use the one he has layin around for it.

Dunno, wouldn't mind doin it myself, but then I wouldn't get alot of the stuff i need pro bono, and honestly haven't read up on whats all involved and what I'd need. I guess back to my origional question, if I did end up doing it myself, is $300 for the axel alone a good deal, then just slowly mass all the stuff I need, and do it myself some week when I have free time, sound like a good idea, or just cough up the ~$1100 and have it all done quick and professionally?

 

well in washignton at least 300 bucks is aout the average for a complete axle. Id say ya its abotu an average deal, nothing special but a decent price id jump on it for 300

 

the Taco rear is about 6" wider than yours.