What's different about '73s ?

[ckingfire]

What is so different about my '73 Wagoneer that I can't find a SOA kit or lift kit for it? Everything I see is for '74 and up. :confused: Also, I've been told I have D44's front and rear, which would be nice, but how can I identify them for sure? Any help would be awesome, thanks!

[Tad]

First,
Welcome, I see it's you first post, this will probably get moved to the Gen Tech area, no big deal.
Second,
Welcome to the world of the post mount rear suspension.
You have shorter leaf springs in the rear, probably still 5 on 5 1/2 lug pattern (unless someone has been doing upgrades), drum brakes all around, the front may be shorter springs too, not sure about that year change.
Rear axle should be a Dana 44.
Front is most likely a Dana 30.

Link To Axle ID (http://www.nationwideparts.com/differentials.htm)

I make SOA perches for the front 44's, might fit a 30, I'll have to check on this, SOA is labor intensive, probably not worth the effort on a drum brake axle, that is unless you have tons of free time and can weld.

Rear 52" chevy springs are the same and fit our post mount rigs in the rear. They need the bushings changed out to work.

Front springs are available.

At this point no one makes an entire lift kit package for our post mount rigs although BJ's Off-Road is working on one.
There just are not enough of us to justify the mass production

[River Beast]

moved to the gen tech board...

[ckingfire]

The ultimate plan is to run 35s. Would I be better of looking for a '74+ and using the '73s for parts?

[tgreese]

The '74 and later will have a stronger Dana 44 front axle and disk brakes. Nothing wrong with the '73 as a daily driver - but the '74 and later are more desirable if you want to do a build-up.

Espo lists '62-73 on their web site http://www.espo.com/ (no prices) and says they can give you a 2" lift on most vehicles. Probably not enough for 35s though.

[ March 12, 2004, 10:33 AM: Message edited by: tgreese ]

[tgreese]

Oh, easy ID on the front axle. A Dana 44 will have an octagonal cover, exactly like the rear axle. A Dana 30 will have a circular cover with two flat spots where the axle tubes meet the housing.

[Tad]

Originally posted by ckingfire:
The ultimate plan is to run 35s. Would I be better of looking for a '74+ and using the '73s for parts?I'd say late 75-79, anything without those rear post mounted springs. Not knocking them, I have them, so do many others, they can be a pain to deal with.

I'm not sure I'd put 35's on Dana 44's and want to beat on it real hard.

[FSJ Thing]

Originally posted by tadsal:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by ckingfire:
The ultimate plan is to run 35s. Would I be better of looking for a '74+ and using the '73s for parts?I'd say late 75-79, anything without those rear post mounted springs. Not knocking them, I have them, so do many others, they can be a pain to deal with.

I'm not sure I'd put 35's on Dana 44's and want to beat on it real hard.</font>[/QUOTE]Agreed. for long term stratagy, if you want 35s and want to beat it up off road, Keep what you got running and in good repair until you save up enough to grab some 3/4 - 1 ton axles, custom springs and an Atlas t-case. then get your 35"s and wheel it like you stole it!

[ckingfire]

And another question! My "good" wag has the full-time BW 1339 t-case, and the parts wag has the dana 20(?), should I swap them or stick with the BW 1339 and ad a part-time kit? I hate not knowing if 4wd is really working. I don't know if it matters, but they both have 360s, one 3spd, one auto.

[JeepsAndGuns]

I am guessing the one that has the d-20 is the one with the 3 speed. If you want to use the d-20 with your auto you will have to either find or buy a adapter to mount it. It will kinda depend on what YOU want to do. Swaping the d-20 in will be more work and more money than just doing a part time conversion on your q-trac.