1984 GW vacuum activated front axle

[MonsterMash]

I'm sick of vacuum activated equipment! Can someone tell me if I can change part of my vacuum activated front axle to make it all mechanical (ie. like a full time set-up). I've pulled the inspection cover and studied the mechanism, which is really quite a clever set-up, and the passenger side axle looks normal as do the gears. The driver's side however is a shorter than normal outer axle shaft with a vacuum activated collar that moves via a vacuum activated fork linkage to engage a very short inner axle shaft which meshes with the side gear. Has anyone ever done or heard of replacing the two axle shafts on the drivers side and the collar with a one piece axle that goes from the hub to the side gear like a normal full-time Dana 44? Any thoughts or speculations are welcome!

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'84GW360--"Spinner"
Bigger tires and better stereo but pretty much stock
Most everything works some of the time!
1st Annual Jefferson FSJ Mud Run:

http://home.earthlink.net/~worthservices/index.html

[fulmetal]

I made the vacuum a full time unit. I set screwed the actuator rod so the lock will be enguaged at all times. I have Warren hubs so I can unlock them as needed. I carry a set of spare axles just in case. Man have you actually seen the size of the short axle, it is huge. Even with the atlass I am not affraid of destroying the front axle. Good luck with the mods

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84 Grand Wag
360, soa, headers,
33 bfg,on board welder,air
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=187566&a=11248759&f=0

[JEEPRZ]

I was lazy, and just ran a vac line straight to the manifold. This keeps the axle engaged all the time. I picked up another selec-trash vac switch, which im gonna use to engage or disengage the front axle manually.

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Dave
83 GW
360/727/229
tow rig for 85 CJ
3"lift, 31s, 3.31s, edlebrock intake (TBI in the works), cam, custom DIY exh, rebuilt trans shift kit and factory aux cooler,modified 229 (no viscous coupling, *improved* vacuum system), lotsa squeaks, leaks, and rattles

[MonsterMash]

Well, I've found a Dana 44 left front axle shaft from a non-Select-trac (Vac-activated) rig. I think it will slip right in and replace the two piece axle and collar that currently reside in my front end. Can anyone tell me why this replacement won't work before I buy the axle shaft?

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'84GW360--"Spinner"
Bigger tires and better stereo but pretty much stock
Most everything works some of the time!
1st Annual Jefferson FSJ Mud Run:

http://home.earthlink.net/~worthservices/index.html