Just made some minimal progress here. I got my pass sode knuckl machined for only 20 bucks(i live in mexico). I got my stuff in the mail from rockauto and i quickly installed the balljoints onto the knuckles. By the way, this axle had the nastiest hackjob ive ever seen!!! I also scored a set of used premium warn hubs at the yard, but i then found a secon pair of hubs. These are non premium warns which only need 1/4 turn to engage and are very soft and easy to engage, they look practically new. I believe these came stock on some fords. I will be fabbing my front crossmember shortly but i think i might run into some issues with the shackles (rear) because of the curved chassis of the monty. Keep in ming guys that i am very new at this, my first ever build in fact. So please let me know if you wanna share any tips with me. Here are a few pics:

Junk pile


Eeewww


These arent even flat tops... Looks like welds on top of welds then grounded "flat"


The right way!





I will be using this steering linkage with tie rod ends instead of these old looking heims




Im pretty much reusing only the diff cover, housing and shafts from the old diff.

Again thanks guys for any advice in advance!

So as i read on i see that this is way more work than i thougt <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />
But i believe in trial and error and learn as you go. Looks like i will be cutting and turning the inner C's. I will end up with a lot of lift but i will try not to, maybe with my shackles outside the frame rail instead of under but ill see how it turns out. My front driveshaft angle will be problematic maybe..... Has anyone done a hack and tap on a montero t-case to run a cv shaft( those who have done a sas)?

Are you talking about cutting your axle housing, and rotating stuff? If so, what in the world for?

To be able to change pinion angle and have correct caster angle. Only if needed, im just thinking ahead. First i will install the leafs and see at what height it leaves me but im assuming the driveshaft angle will not be good. In that case i would have to point my pinion angle at the tcase output and run a cv shaft( at this point my caster angle would be horrible). Caster angle reffers to the angle of the line drawn by the upper and lower ball joints. When doing SOA its almost mandatody to cut and turn, or so ibe read.

I'm aware of what caster angle means.

Look at my setup... It's fine, and I run 36's (which touch the leafs in a factory configuration.

Going SOA is going to be a HUGE pain, and very difficult. I would avoid it at all costs. The diff housing is part of the drivers side mount.... to go SOA, you're going to have to outboard the springs... which are going to interfere with your tires when you turn.

You can build as much lift as you need into the spring hangers.

I would recommend a shackle reverse setup also.

And not actually cutting the housing, just the stock welds to turn and reweld.

See what I'm saying? Just lower your spring hangers. You can also get lift springs, and use those.

As for your driveshaft, I am unsure. I run a Tom Woods 10 inch Slip with 60 degree joints in it.... So the slip is not in the transfer case.

Also if you change your pinion angle to point at the transfer case, you're going to have to run a CV Style driveshaft.

I can weld onto the cast and have a flat surface for the springs without outboarding the shackles. I do plan on shackle reversal. I dont want my leaf mountings to hang really low, i would like to keep those as high as possible to make up for the SOA so im not crazy tall. I also already spent time and money on crossover/ high steer set up and if i go spring under all that is useless. I want CLEARANCE. oh and i see that you dont have tcase slip yoke cause you have a completely different drivetrain than stock.... I probably did open a can of worms and i really appreciate the advice. I will go with a cv shaft but that will be later because im broke. But i want to set the pinion angle for it now. I wont be weeling it untill i get all that. I do want to eventually do the 4.3 swap like yourself but thats in the far future. Im curious if anyone has hacked and tapped on stock mitsu gear?
BTW your ride is bad <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" />

Landraider: i was looking at your pics and it looks like my leaf spring would hit the pitman arm under compression if the leaves are up high <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I was planning on doing a shackle reversal since the beginning, but how bad would it be ti go with the shackles up front to get more clearance to avoid hitting the pitman arm? I know shackle reversal is better but how much bettter? Thanks.