Either way, I have to decide on a rear axle. I know everyone says 9 inch. I agree, but they are getting hard to find in the wild and building one up is getting costly. I've been looking to build two for my truck. I was a bit shocked when I priced out everything at near $3000 for a basic 9in rear using mostly stock parts from reputable suppliers. I have settled on using the early 7.5 or 8.8 from the early S10 based or Ranger based vehicles. Here's the but, THEY ARE THE UGLIEST REAR AXLES ever produced. What could be done to dress them up? I know I can smooth out the axle as much as possible and weld up a fancy dog dish cover. I can use those stick on bolt head covers, but I hate those things. They always seem to pop off over time.
I commented about this in my other thread. It's been hinted at, for the lack of a better term, that I consider a Toyota or Mazda small truck rear axle with the drop out 3rd member. I have owned several B series Mazda trucks from the 80's. I have to admit, I never had an issue with any of those axles, even after hundreds of thousands of miles. I never checked or changed the oil in them. I just kept brakes on them and ragged the crap out of them.
My wheel and tire choice is 15x7 with 205-65 and 235-70. The other possibility is 15x8 on the rear with 265-60 tires. I'm not going with the pro street look. I'm going a little more mellow.
Here is a '87 B2000 rear dressed up in black. It's not as bad looking as an S10 or Ranger rear.
Here is a '81 Toyota SR5 4x4 rear axle. It kind of looks like a 9 inch.
Are there any other small and plentiful axles around? I don't foresee my bucket ever being repowered with a high HP engine. It won't be while I own it.
If I was going that way, I'd go all out with a Winter's quick change.