ok so i picked up a 83 pickup for cheap+ a junk fourwheeler, my question is has anyone put a chevy or amc small block in their "toy"

also im considering full size jeep axles(d44s) but some one told me that stock axles are just as strong, if not more than a dana 44, but yes im building a light,fast ,multi purpose toy to literaly beat the #### out of over  and oer again and still drive it 75 miles to the nearest playground(below the grand lake dam in Disney,Oklahoma

oh ps any other suggestions?

First Question:  Yes you can install a small block Chev, Ford, dodge or AMC in your TOY.

TOY axels have a 8in. ring gear and the Dana 44 has a 7. somthing ring gear so they are compairable in strength. The TOY third member's are easier to rebuild because of the way that the case berrings are adjusted. The TOY front has birfields at the knuckles that can be beefed up or you can carry spares with you. I have seen TOY axels with 39.5's on them and they have held up fairly well in the rocks.

My cousin put a Chevy 350 in his Toy, and I am about to swap one in mine. The Toyota rear axle can stand up to V8 power and some claim 37's. I am goin to run this set up in mine and see what happens. I will likely stick with a narrower tire though. A chevy 4.3 V6 will also fit nicely. The inner fenders must be trimmed and my cousin had to cut his hood and put a hood scoop on his truck because the air filter hit the hood.  

First, Dana 44's have an 8.5" ring gear, not a 7.something. So they are larger than the Toyota 8".

Toyota axles are strong, but what makes them this is the size of the truck and the engine they come with. Start putting larger things on them and their strength goes down. (relative)

What I would do, is leave the front axle for now, swap in a 31 spline Ford 9" in the rear and have fun with your small block until the front breaks.

That is what I would do anyway.  

(and yes, I know this thread is old, hopefully it may spark an idea in other people)  

I have run 38s on mine for about 3 years now. I am running 5.29s with 4.70s in the case. 20R with stock 5Spd. ARB in the front and Lock Rite in the rear. Yes, I am getting good at changing Birfields...