you have to ask yourself:
What gear ratio do you want?
How much is fabricating a new driveline going to cost you?
How much is replacing the transmission with one with an open driveline output going to cost you?
How about doing the welding to make new spring perches?
If you have answers to these questions that either total less than $400 or you want a ratio other than 3.55, then you can do it. Otherwise it doesn't make economic sense, unless your present rearend is trashed, which is rare.
While that could be true for some people, I think there are lots of other benefits to switching the rear axle. The cost of either option (old axle with new gars, or new axle) will be similar in price, but the added benefits of switching the entire axle can be worth much more.
The biggest benefit to swapping the entire rear is gaining an open driveline with more and better transmission choices that are then easier to install or swap. Better brakes are a good benefit too.
Grigg
