83 Type 17 Cherokee NT?????

[Fsj83]

Here's one for the experts out there:

I have a 1983 Cherokee 2 door - evidently it was the last year for the 2 door model. It has the large fender flares and white wagon wheels typical of the Chiefs, and is a Type 17 according to the VIN. It's had two previous owners - the last of which knew and did very little to it during the 10 years he had it. I have always wondered why my FSJ had a front Dana 44 axle with the vacuum disconnect, yet had the factory Warn hubs and the NP208 complete with the appropriate Command Trac lever markings and dash. Today my trusted Jeep shop mechanic told me that according to his tape measure my FSJ has the NARROW TRACK axles in both the front and rear!! Strange as it may seem, the Jeep never looked unusual with these axles.

Would it be possible that the DSPO had swapped out the Type 17 WT axles for a rear NT axle and front NT Selectrac axle? Did AMC run out of WT axles near the end of the final year of the Type 17 and used extra Wagoneer axles? Should I have my head examined?????


Thanks

Ray
83 Chero WT ( I think)

[YaZahX]

WELCOME TO THE CLUB!!
the DSPO did the same to my rear...now i change it! http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/mad.gif
but just make sure that it is NT and that the mechanic is not wrong measurement should be NT http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/frown.giffront/rear) 59.4/57.8. WT: (front/rear) 65.3/62.3

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John Z.
My 82 Larado (http://www.virtue.nu/yazahx/jeep1.htm)
YaZahX@aol.com
"Yes that is a Real Jeep, yes the Jeep is older than me."
1982 Cherokee Larado
Edelbrock cam
Edelbrock intake manifold
Holley Projection
31” BFGoodrich

[joe]

It's a DPO thing. If AMC did happen to run out of std axles and had to substitute a vac axle they would have just built the Chero with the 229/Selectrac x-case option and sold it that way.

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Regards,
-joe
63 2-dr Wag, 72 J-4000, 73 J-4000, 82 CJ-8

[UnkleMunky]

One thing to consider about AMC "running out" of WT axles is that they "continued" to build the J-trucks for a few more years! Weren't the WT axles on the WT Cherries the same as on the J10s? If so, "very" unlikely that running out would be an issue, as they'd have to have kept up production for the J10s long past '83, OR "justify" running out on some J10s as well!!!!

Good consideration on the running out possibility though...the timing would have been about right otherwise to think something like that. I just think that unlikely due to the J10s staying alive past '83, but do fill me in if anyone thinks elsewise.

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Michael(UnkleMunky)
'78 J10: 258, 4 speed, longbed, topper
'76 J10: Honcho, 360, TH400/QT
'89 Plymouth Reliant(PluggerMobile)
J-Pages(some of my auto pages) (http://www.eskie.net/superior/j-pages/index.htm)
unklemunky@eskie.net

[joe]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by UnkleMunky:
Weren't the WT axles on the WT Cherries the same as on the J10s? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Michael the truck axles were different than the WT Chero axles. But the truck axles are only about 2" narrower than the WT's as compared to the NT's being 6" shorter so if AMC did run out of axles yes it would have been a closer match to use truck axles rather than NT's.



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Regards,
-joe
63 2-dr Wag, 72 J-4000, 73 J-4000, 82 CJ-8