Ok...I've done quite a lot of research. I wanna lift my truck at least 6" yet wanna keep it reliable as a daily driver as well as make it a mud monster. What I've come up with is to replace it with ford axles due to the front lockers avail. And ease in swap but have NEVER done anything like this. It's gonna take me some time to come up with the parts but maybe someone can critique my judgement and give me better options. My goals, 6 in lift, 31's that don't rub, lockers and posi so slipping isn't an issue when playing in the mud and able to maintain at least a semi partial daily driver aspect. I don't care if I have to swap different axles and all that...just looking for the best possible outcome. Personally I'd rather maintain the front independent suspension but haven't seen that being much of an option with my goals. Feel free to offer your input due to my ignorance and thank you in advance. I got nothing but time to make it happen.

 

Wow you need to do a bit more research bud! Theres no such thing as a "mud monster" and reliable daily. Yes you can have both but you are going to have to give and take on both sides. Theres alot of different options on the axles and you can't use just any ford axle. Ford used Dana 44s or 60s and what trucks came with what axles can be found with a google search. 60s are full width and are totally doable but look into your local laws cause they are a full width axle and will stick out alot. The ford 44s are also full width. What you want is a d44 (preffered by most for mild build due to cost and availability) with a drivers side drop. The most common source for these is a jeep wagoneer. The spring perches are already mounted in the correct locations and they are the correct width. Another google search will net which years work best. There are also tons of other options as well. 6" of lift with 31s will just look dumb sorry! You will need around 33s to look good with that height. Check out KM346's build he did an sas and it looks amazing with 33s and minimal lift. IMO there is no such thing as ease of an sas swap either. Every one of them is different and needs different tweaks and things to make them work. Oh and you may have a lot of time but you better have a lot of money to go with that time or you won't be making anything happen. A budget sas swap is still an easy $1000-1500 and thats if everything goes smooth and works like it should. Then you have to throw the cost of tires on top of that so be prepared to spend some cash!!

 

Well I appreciate the info...not knowing is why I asked for input. I've been looking on the forum for days tring to get some info. What about the g80? From what I read its a direct swap from the zr2 and falls into the arguable "locker" category. I have never delt with 4x4 or lifting or any of the sort.. I am a certified MMI grad, i run my own motorcycle repair business and can tear a bike engine down in a matter of hours so mechanical stuff comes comes easy...it's the fitting the pieces together to achieve the desired result is where I can't come up with answers in the 4x4 world. I do want to learn...but hate being called "bud" because ignorance is much more acceptable than stupidity. Thx again

 

if you want to look at alot of s10 version options check out

s10extremist.org

or

Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum - Powered by vBulletin

around here we have some lifted rides but are mostly daily driver. those other two sites might give you a little more guidance.

 

s10forum also has a lot of solid axle swaps.

only advice is start looking for parts, read as many build threads as possible and try to figure out how much work you want to put into it.

 

Please don't take offense to me calling you bud! Everyone I talk to is bud or buddy! To me it's the same as saying bro or homie or any other term you want to use. Like the guys said above check out the other sites for more info and read thru the build threads. But be warned if you ask a question that they feel is dumb or should be known they will flame the hell outta you!