CJ axle swap. Advice needed

Baker

Baker

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2010
Location
Suffolk, VA
alright so I have a 78 Cj 5 with amc 360 and stock drivetrain. I picked up a Dana 44 front and ff 14 bolt rear both geared 4:56 and welded (came like that), I also have a t-176 4 speed and a Dana 300 case to swap in. I'm looking to comp cut, stretch the wheel base, do the drivetrain swap and run about a 38" ish tire. I'm not really sure how I want to set up suspension (on a bugget) Any input or advice is greatly appreciated. I'm still learning. Thanks in advance.
 
XJ rear springs on the rear are often used to do a rear stretch. Wagoneer front springs can bee used front or rear for smaller amounts of stretch. Both of these springs have offset center pins. For the front you will want to study "outboarding the front springs".
 
4-link rear with XJ/TJ etc coil springs
3 or 4-link front with XJ/TJ etc coil springs
110-115" wheelbase
 
I used bastardized chevy 1/2 ton springs in rear (around 56" in length of i remember correctly) and CJ rears up front with custom brackets. Ended up around 92" wheelbase without having to do a complete comp cut. Be careful that you don't stretch the front to far and mess your steering up, that was my biggest issue.
 
I've used toyota springs on the rear of two jeeps now, and they both worked great. I want to say it's good for a 5" stretch?
 
drkelly said:
4-link rear with XJ/TJ etc coil springs
3 or 4-link front with XJ/TJ etc coil springs
110-115" wheelbase
Click to expand...


Do you have an idea of what that'd cost? Any pics?
 
amcjeepman said:
XJ rear springs on the rear are often used to do a rear stretch. Wagoneer front springs can bee used front or rear for smaller amounts of stretch. Both of these springs have offset center pins. For the front you will want to study "outboarding the front springs".
Click to expand...


Would you recommend keeping it SUA or switching it to SOA? I've got a set of stock yj front springs at the house would those work for the front? I'll look into what all outboarding the front springs entails. Thanks
 
A spring over will yield around 5-6 inches of lift generally. How you do the spring mounts and condition of the springs can effect this. But a well done spring over will ride, handle and perform better off road then a comparable spring under in my opinion. Given the likely hood that the 44 & 14 bolt are set up for spring over this would be the easiest way to go. YJ front used to be very popular for spring overs when no stretch from the spring pin was being sought. Rear axle wrap will definitely need to be addressed with a spring over and XJ springs (any rear spring for that matter.)
Let me dredge up an ancient thread that has a small amount of related info.
CJ Spring Over / Outboard
 
I'm planning to do XJ rear springs in a soa set up with my 14 bolt. Seems common for people to insert a second main spring with the eyes cut off to help with axle wrap. The XJ springs give around 5" of stretch. Then I plan to do the waggy springs up front and keep the shackles in the front for around a 2" stretch up front. Of course you have to outboard the springs in the front and decide how you want to do your steering. My plan is to set up the front first and match the height of the rear to where the front ends up.
 
If I were to just link the rear for now what is a good suspension setup with a triangulated 4 link on a cj5? I eventually want to do a 3-link up front with hydro assist but that's not in the budget at the moment. I know coilovers would be awesome but I need options. I've never owned a linked rig before.
 
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