<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> I currently have an 87 Toyota pickup std cab with 32x12.50 and nothing else really done. It is an IFS and I was looking and have been pricing out a SAS kit and that's around 1300-1500 and not including the axle or part of the drive line for the front diff. I then started browing some older truck's that have a Solid Axle and looked at what it would just cost me to purchase the vehicle. Considerably less then the SAS and less headache in a way. I know I would need to then do some minor tweaking to the vehicle itself such as tires (which i would probably steal off the current vehicle). I know then I would need locker's and so on, but it comes to my attention that it would be more effective and less costly IMO to do this then taking my current rig and going through all of it to get to the same state. If you possible know pro's/con's to this I would greatly appercaite your input. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

if you do buy a donor truck, make sure to go over every piece on the front end for wear. little surprises always come up.

Just some random thoughts...

If buying a SA truck, I 'd think you'd want an 85 for the EFI.

Know that you will want to swap the steering.

I was in the same boat. In the end, I did the SAS. The 85 I had was nowhere near as nice.

No regrets for me.

There is a difference between an SAS'd suspension and a modified stock. With the dropped hanger you can run flatter springs, the shock mounts are more " real ", longer springs, superior steering...What I mean is, to get a 85 suspension to perform like an SAS'd one, you are going to replace a number of components. With an SAS, BOOM, you're done. Well, not really BOOM, it's work, but you know what i mean. Like I said, for me, no regrets. I'd do it again.

Though in theory a SA truck would be less expensive, you still have a bunch of work to do. Crossover steering and new steering box, beefing the front hangers, leaf springs to actually be able to take advantage of the articulation, you will really want better brakes (which requires widening the axle somehow - either wheel adapters, or another wide-axle kit such as the one Sky sells which was originally developed by Front Range Offroad Fabrication). Then you need a wider rear axle to match - or put wheel adapters there too. Either will need revised shock towers; Ford F250 $12.50 towers are hard to beat. Either requires cubic dollars or the ability to weld yourself, take your pick.

You would be well advised to go with beefier birfields with either option, but this can be deferred. Until they bust in the middle of the night in the rain. But that's the same with either option.

You can see that about the only difference is, the SA truck comes with the axle, and offers more up-travel. Everything else is just about as much work. Axles run around $200-350 hub to hub, so there is not much cost difference. Clean, "low" mileage EFI '85s are getting rare as hen's teeth; not so much later IFS rigs in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Take your pick, basically.

Hope that helps. Look to spend between $2K-$3.5K or so total. More if you want hell-for-stout, plus high pinion, plus ...