LUVTruck.com

Hi all...
I'm just finishing up the 350 engine build and will be getting it into the Luv soon. I've been juggling rear end ideas for a while.
I have a 58 inch isuzu trooper rear end but can't find 3.73 or 4.11 gearing for it.
I have a 2003 Mustang 8.8 rear end with 2.73 gearing and it's longer than 58 (so it would need to be cut).
A local guy is selling a Bronco 8.8 posi 3.73 that has been built, and what I've found online it says 58 inches...

What would you say is the maximum width I could go?

Thanks

_________________
1980 Chevy Luv (SBC350 and TH350 mounted!) front suspension install, trooper rear end with 4.10 gearing, needs driveline, brakes, and getting it running!
1968 Datsun Roadster - happy as ever!
1991 Nissan 300zx Twin Turbo (daily as possible)

A '88-'95 2wd Isuzu pickup with the 2.6 4cyl engine will have the same 12-bolt Isuzu rear end as your Trooper axle but will have 4.10 gears, the complete 3rd member is a bolt-in swap to the Trooper axle.
A stock LUV axle is 54" WMS to WMS, so a 58" axle can be fitted by using wheels with enough positive offset so that the tires will tuck but not rub. I would think that finding wheels with the proper positive offset might be a problem for an axle much wider.

_________________
'78 Chevy LUV,1.9,4sp,headers,31's,SAS Dana 30,Dana 20,SOA rear w/Aussie Locker, rough body, bought new 12/4/78.
'87 Trooper,2.3,5sp,headers,31's,ball joint flip & spacer,Aussie Locker rear,Superwinch hubs,brush guard w/5.5K winch,more to come.

Just to make sure I understand... I could just throw the Isuzu pick up rear end in? Or I'd need just the gears/3rd member and put them in the Trooper be rear? Sorry, noob questions... found an Isuzu pick up for cheap just now
Appreciate it!

_________________
1980 Chevy Luv (SBC350 and TH350 mounted!) front suspension install, trooper rear end with 4.10 gearing, needs driveline, brakes, and getting it running!
1968 Datsun Roadster - happy as ever!
1991 Nissan 300zx Twin Turbo (daily as possible)

Most pickup 12-bolt axles will have discs but some may have drum brakes rather than the Trooper axle discs, other than that the axle assemblies are identical, the 3rd members are interchangeable.
Be aware there are two other axle options in pickups of that era- an Isuzu 10-bolt and a GM 7.625" 10-bolt that came in 2wd 2.3 4cyl-powered trucks. Both these axles only came with drums and are lighter duty than the 12-bolt axle. Make sure the pickup you're looking at has the 2.6 engine, not the 2.3 or it won't have the same 12-bolt axle as your Trooper axle. The 8th integer in the VIN is the engine identifier, "E" for the 2.6 engine, "L" for the 2.3 engine. Also 2.6 engines are EFI, 2.3s were carb'd until '95 model year.

_________________
'78 Chevy LUV,1.9,4sp,headers,31's,SAS Dana 30,Dana 20,SOA rear w/Aussie Locker, rough body, bought new 12/4/78.
'87 Trooper,2.3,5sp,headers,31's,ball joint flip & spacer,Aussie Locker rear,Superwinch hubs,brush guard w/5.5K winch,more to come.

Thanks! That makes sense. I'll check it out. The guy says it's a 2.6...

Another question... Is there a good place just to get the internals needed online?

In other words, can I not just get the gears from a pickup and out them in the Trooper rear end? I can find them on eBay... Or is the size different so I have to swap the whole 3rd member?

_________________
1980 Chevy Luv (SBC350 and TH350 mounted!) front suspension install, trooper rear end with 4.10 gearing, needs driveline, brakes, and getting it running!
1968 Datsun Roadster - happy as ever!
1991 Nissan 300zx Twin Turbo (daily as possible)

Swapping the 3rd member is a 2-3hr job for two people with basic tools with the axle assembly in the vehicle: pull both axles out about 4", unbolt & remove the 3rd member from the axle housing, replace it with the new unit, reinstall the axles.
Swapping gears requires special tools & knowledge to set pinion depth & preload & ring gear backlash plus probably new bearings, something best left to a professional & can get expensive.
Make sure your 2.6 pickup donor is 2wd, a 4wd will have either 4.30 or 4.56 gears. If the 2wd axle assembly also has disc brakes it is identical to your Trooper axle assembly except it will have 4.10 gears, so you can substitute the entire assembly or exchange the 3rd member or swap the R&P, your choice.

_________________
'78 Chevy LUV,1.9,4sp,headers,31's,SAS Dana 30,Dana 20,SOA rear w/Aussie Locker, rough body, bought new 12/4/78.
'87 Trooper,2.3,5sp,headers,31's,ball joint flip & spacer,Aussie Locker rear,Superwinch hubs,brush guard w/5.5K winch,more to come.

Thanks so much for stepping me through it. My knowledge of the rear ends is minimal...

_________________
1980 Chevy Luv (SBC350 and TH350 mounted!) front suspension install, trooper rear end with 4.10 gearing, needs driveline, brakes, and getting it running!
1968 Datsun Roadster - happy as ever!
1991 Nissan 300zx Twin Turbo (daily as possible)

Guess I'll have to keep an eye open, the truck was sold already...

_________________
1980 Chevy Luv (SBC350 and TH350 mounted!) front suspension install, trooper rear end with 4.10 gearing, needs driveline, brakes, and getting it running!
1968 Datsun Roadster - happy as ever!
1991 Nissan 300zx Twin Turbo (daily as possible)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/EXCEL-from-Ric ... SwXeJYCiGo

Does this look like it would fit into a trooper 12 bolt rear end? It says it would fit a 2.6L Isuza pick up... thoughts?

_________________
1980 Chevy Luv (SBC350 and TH350 mounted!) front suspension install, trooper rear end with 4.10 gearing, needs driveline, brakes, and getting it running!
1968 Datsun Roadster - happy as ever!
1991 Nissan 300zx Twin Turbo (daily as possible)

58 inches with 96 Rodeo 16x7 and 225/50s

Thanks durty,

That gives me a good visual!

_________________
1980 Chevy Luv (SBC350 and TH350 mounted!) front suspension install, trooper rear end with 4.10 gearing, needs driveline, brakes, and getting it running!
1968 Datsun Roadster - happy as ever!
1991 Nissan 300zx Twin Turbo (daily as possible)

No it won't fit a Isuzu 12-bolt, this is for the GM 10-bolt that was in some early '90s 2.3 powered pickups (never 2.6 or 3.1 engines) & certain early Rodeos.

_________________
'78 Chevy LUV,1.9,4sp,headers,31's,SAS Dana 30,Dana 20,SOA rear w/Aussie Locker, rough body, bought new 12/4/78.
'87 Trooper,2.3,5sp,headers,31's,ball joint flip & spacer,Aussie Locker rear,Superwinch hubs,brush guard w/5.5K winch,more to come.

dang it... i'm struggling to find the gears... thanks anyway

_________________
1980 Chevy Luv (SBC350 and TH350 mounted!) front suspension install, trooper rear end with 4.10 gearing, needs driveline, brakes, and getting it running!
1968 Datsun Roadster - happy as ever!
1991 Nissan 300zx Twin Turbo (daily as possible)

http://www.car-part.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi
If your not set on using the Trooper axle look at a mid-'90s Rodeo/Passport. It's a heavy duty leaf sprung Dana 44, drum or disc brakes, clutch type LSD was an option, 59.75" WMS-WMS. Came with 4.10, 4.30(most common) & 4.56(rare) gears. The firewall option plate will give the gear ratio (GT5=4.10, S7C=4.30, HC6=4.56), locking or open option (G80=LSD, GQ1=open).
Some '91/'92 Rodeos had the light 10-bolt GM rear axle, about '98 or so the D44 got wider (63"), some 2wds had 4.78 gears.

_________________
'78 Chevy LUV,1.9,4sp,headers,31's,SAS Dana 30,Dana 20,SOA rear w/Aussie Locker, rough body, bought new 12/4/78.
'87 Trooper,2.3,5sp,headers,31's,ball joint flip & spacer,Aussie Locker rear,Superwinch hubs,brush guard w/5.5K winch,more to come.