front axle to tranny

[bret nelson]

i have a 1980 jeep cherokee laredo! It has a 360cid and a T.F 727, I recently swapped the stock axles for 3/4 ton axles out of a 1975 j-20 to my surpise after getting the axles,in the jeep the transfer case and front pumpkin are on the opposite sides of jeep. There a transfer case that will bolt up to the t.f. 727 and send the front drive line up the passenger side rather than the drivers which is the wrong side,

[scotty]

if you want to sticj with your 727 and a transfer case that you wont have to modify,you can use a jeep d300,or a dodge 205. both will have the round mounting pattern.and a 23 spline input.

with the d300 you will need sufficient lift(prolly a minimum of 4") ni order for the driveshaft to clear the 727s big fat pan.even then youll be limited in front drivesahft diameter,and need to extend the bumpstop on the pass side. you can prolly gain alittle extra room by rotating the d300 clockwise(viewed from the rear) on the adapter,and drilling some new holes.

with the 205,i dont believe youll have any issues,but ive never done it,so couldnt say for sure.

im either case,the transfer case will occupy the same approximate location of the catalytic convertor,so some exhaust work will also be needed.

but youre installing 3/4 ton chebby axles,so you expected to have to fab some stuff,right? ;)

[jeepguzzi]

Uhhhh, Mr. Scotty,,,he put in J20 axles.

[ May 31, 2003, 07:13 AM: Message edited by: jeepguzzi ]

[Max Power]

yup, they switched the front drop from passenger to drivers side in '80. You'd have a MUCH easier time if you got the axels from an '80 and up j-20. But with the help of the guys on this board, anything can be done.

If you decide to get rid of the '75 axels, I'm sure someone here might be interested.

good luck,
Robert

[scotty]

Originally posted by jeepguzzi:
Uhhhh, Mr. Scotty,,,he put in J20 axles.oops,had forgotten the donor while typing the response. you get the point,tho. even when the axles "bolt in" there is still usually fab work to be done smile.gif

[jeepguzzi]

Originally posted by scotty:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by jeepguzzi:
Uhhhh, Mr. Scotty,,,he put in J20 axles.oops,had forgotten the donor while typing the response. you get the point,tho. even when the axles "bolt in" there is still usually fab work to be done smile.gif </font>[/QUOTE]True, but it may be less work to find a post 1980 front J20 or Chevy axle with the diff on the driver's side than to find, alter, and swap the transfer case and driveshaft.

Is there that much advantage in the axles between the D44 and the D44HD??

[robselina]

Originally posted by jeepguzzi:
Is there that much advantage in the axles between the D44 and the D44HD??To my understanding, a 44HD is pretty much axle tubes and shafts from a D60 with pumpkin from a 44. Seems pretty ideal to me, more clearance than a D60 but good strenght at the same time. Not sure how acurate this is though, someone should correct me since I'm probably wrong smile.gif

[Max Power]

I think/hope you're right rselina, plus you get larger brake rotors, FF, & 8 lugg, makes a good deal even better.

My question to any who have done this is what size rims did you go with? my '80 tsn sez 16.5" rims were OE. Couldja get 16" rims on there w/ minimal caliper/brake drum grinding?

tia,
Robert

[Will Morris]

As far as I know, the HD Dana 44s axle shafts are Dana 44 size and not Dana 60 sized.

Bret, I think you can probable swap knuckles, rotors, outers and hubs from the HD 44 you can "convert" your Dana 44 into an HD44 with a driverside diff. The axle tubes won't be thicker, but you'll still have a 3/4 ton Jeep with the parts you have at your disposal. I read an article in Peterson's a while ago on doing this to a Chevy, so I'm not positive it will work, but since all it takes is a little wrenching and no money, it's worth a shot.

Will

[Stuka]

Originally posted by rselina:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by jeepguzzi:
Is there that much advantage in the axles between the D44 and the D44HD??To my understanding, a 44HD is pretty much axle tubes and shafts from a D60 with pumpkin from a 44. Seems pretty ideal to me, more clearance than a D60 but good strenght at the same time. Not sure how acurate this is though, someone should correct me since I'm probably wrong smile.gif </font>[/QUOTE]Your thinking of a D50. D44 dif with bigger axle tubes, axles hafts, and axle stubs. Along witht he bigger disc brakes and such. They have been used on super duty's.

The D44HD has thicker axle tubes, bigger disc brakes, larger bearings. Basically designed to hold more weight.

[ May 31, 2003, 05:38 PM: Message edited by: Stuka ]

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Most likely the J20 axles were out of a Q-Trac, rear axle Diff will also be offset to the Pass side. The other option is to swap in a TH400/Q-Trac

[Midnightwagon]

or a t-18 and a d-20 or a d-18 they are both pass drop. but imho id just swap over the outside components on the hd44 to your old 44 then you have a 5/8 ton frontend, lol itll make them all 8 bolt wheel pattern and will keep the big brakes too.

[scotty]

staying with a driver side also leaves the door open to use a reverse cut ford front d60 smile.gif

i personally think a pass side diff gives you more options for a decent transfer case,but the best thing for the poster will depend on what he does with his rig,and wht hes willing to modify,among other things. if the goal is a FF rear with matching lug patterns with minimal driveline/exhaust fabbing,id agree just swap the 8 lug outers and gears into his driver side axle.

i swapped in a d300 after going thru a 219,a 207 and a 208 and just plain not wanting to screw with aluminum chain drive transfer cases any longer.swapping in a pass side front diff is a decision ive never regretted smile.gif

[scotty]

Originally posted by Colonel Angus:
I think/hope you're right rselina, plus you get larger brake rotors, FF, & 8 lugg, makes a good deal even better.

My question to any who have done this is what size rims did you go with? my '80 tsn sez 16.5" rims were OE. Couldja get 16" rims on there w/ minimal caliper/brake drum grinding?

tia,
Roberta friend of mine ran 8 lug hubs/rotors off of a 77 j20 on a NT driver side 44 in his xj. he ran 10" wide,15" wheels with standard offset with a fair amount of grinding in the calipers. not enuff to make them thin or unsafe,just a fair amt of work with the grinder ;) he never had a prollem with them.

i wouldnt think youd need to grind at all to use a 16 incher,and you may not have to grind much,or at all,to usea 15 incher with 2" of backspacing instead of the standard 4".

a 15" rim should fit the rear d60 drum with no prollem.

[ June 01, 2003, 05:52 AM: Message edited by: scotty ]

[Max Power]

thanks scotty good 2 kno. I can't wait to do this swap.

Robert

[bret nelson]

Hey thanks for all your replies, but i decided to go another route but i have another question check it out please!!!!