CJ7 axle swap

seajay7

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 23, 2005
Location
Cary
I'm sure this has been covered before. I just need some advice about swapping axles in my 84' CJ7. I just installed a strong 304 V8 in my Jeep and I am running 35" tires. The axles are stock with a locker in the rear AMC 20. I really need a different gear ratio and I would hate to spend that money on the stock axles without considering an upgrade. I have a set of Scout-II dana 44's that I was going to swap. After some research, I'm intimidated with the front swap. Apparently, I need to adjust the caster and mount my springs outboard. I now have the opportunity to get the axles from a 1988 grand wagoneer. How hard is it to swap out the front axle from the waggy? I don't care about the extra width since this is a URE vehicle only.
Thanks,
Ben
 
the 88 waggy will be driverside drop where your jeep is passenger side... so you can do it, but you will haveto flip your transfer case, and outboard your springs...

are you going SOA? If not, you may be ok with the stock scout caster, esp if it isnt street driven...

you might be able to find a set of axles out of a 70s waggy or other FSJ that would have the diff on the right side...
 
Yeah, I'm going spring over. Dang, I wish there was a simple dana 44 swap for the front of my CJ. With all the trouble for swapping a 44, I might as well start looking for a dana 60. Maybe I will just swap out gears in my stock axles for the time being. I already have one piece axles in the amc 20 with a locker. I just didn't want to spend the money for new gears in stock axles. Thanks for the advice on the drivers side drop. I forgot to look when I checked out the waggy. I'm thinking about getting it for the 360. I recently bought an old CJ5 that I need to drop a motor in for my son to drive. He is 15 and wants a URE rig. If I get the waggy, is anyone interested in it after I pull the motor?
 
The rear axle on that 88 waggy will work but you would need to find a front one out of a early 70's through to 79.
 
Yeah, I've figured that out. Plus, I think the early waggy's had 5 lugs so I wouldn't have to swap out the wheels. So I guess I will look for an older wagoneer.
 
Get one of the rare D44 rear axles that came in some 86 CJ's. For the front, just upgrade to a set of chromoly shafts and the larger spicer u-joints. Bolt in swap!
 
I like the wide look. I'm already running 1 1/2" spacers. I said earlier that I had stock axles. I actually have one piece axles and a locker in the rear AMC-20. I just have a stock gear ratio. If I upgrade the front with chromoly shafts and heavy duty U-joints as you mentioned should I just install new lower ratio gears in my stock setup? I'm sure having trouble coming up with an better option. I can install the gears myself. I've done it a few times successfully. I just liked the thought of dana 44's.
Thanks
 
By the way, I have a pretty heavy right foot ;>)

I tear a lot of sh%#t up on a regular basis!
 
seajay7 said:
By the way, I have a pretty heavy right foot ;>)
I tear a lot of sh%#t up on a regular basis!
Click to expand...

If you tear stuff up on a regular basis, you would have broke/swapped out the D30 by now :lol:

What gear ratio do you have and what are you going to? Unless you have the 2.73, you can reuse the same carrier in the AMC20. If you cross between 3.54/3.73, you will need a new carrier for the D30.

I wrestled with the same decision you are now faced with, decided to polish the turd and see what happens. I pulled the narrowtrack 3.54 axles and replaced with 4.10 widetracks from a later model 4cyl CJ,and added lockers. The bigger brakes front and rear from my '77 ended up on the widetracks, along with the 5 bolt lockouts. Everything was fine til I swapped a granny low tranny that tore up U-joints. that is when I added the choromoly Superior shafts with the 760x joints.

I'm no throttle jockey, but there have been numerous times I've said "this is it, my D30 won't be able to handle this". Its survived unscathed.

seajay7 said:
I like the wide look...
Click to expand...
seajay7 said:
...I don't care about the extra width
Click to expand...
make up your mind :shaking:
 
I may try polishing the turd as well. I am just installing a T-18 so I'm sure the D30 will need upgrading. One of the u-joints is loose already.

Thanks for the info on upgrading the gears in the AMC 20. I probably have the 2:73. I don't really remember exactly what gear ratio it is. I just know it's pretty high. Everything I do seems to cost the most it possibly could!

When I said "I don't care about the extra width", I meant that the extra width did not bother me. In fact "I like the wide look."
 
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