What would you do?

[COfsthun]

I have a 79 J10 with the QT and Dana 44's so what would be the best route to go? Should I change the axles to Dana 60's and then later upgrade the Diffs to lockers or keep the 44's and get ARB air lockers with the SOA and shackle flip to get about 6" of lift and running 35" tires. I'm looking to do some crawling and some hill climbing mostly with slower speeds but probably using a rebuilt 401 and 4.88 gearing

Any and all input would be great. I'm just looking for the basics because I have a year to research all this before I move back to where the truck is.

[JeepNOFEAR]

I wouldn't put any money into dana 44s. I'm going with a Chevy dana 44 and 14 bolt for my future setup. I'm only using the chevy 44 b/c I can't afford a Front dana 60 at this time and when I can afford the Dana 60 the 44 can go into one of the other Jeeps. Plus it already has soa and its 8 lug to match the rear. The only money I've used on the chevy 44 was buying it and it came with drilled and tapped flattop knuckles with high steer arms. My quadratrac does fine but before I go to a dana 60 I plan on installing a stronger transfercase, mainly b/c I have plans for the quadratrac in another Jeep.

[COfsthun]

So it would be better for me to find a pair of Dana 60's and install them stock without any locker with the Quadratrac?

What all Trucks can I find the good Dana 60's on front and rear?

[crazydog]

Just see if you can get a front Dana 60 and 14 bolt out of a M1008 there at Dyess. I doubt the motor pool will miss a couple. While you are at it, just grab a 205 and a 6.2 and you will nearly be set. I would then grab a NV4500 from a junk yard to finish it off. If you find some extras let me know.

[COfsthun]

Well what's an M1005 and I'll see if I can get one at DRMO that they could possibly be selling. Then I'd have to figure out how to transport them all the way to Washington State to put on my Jeep. I wish it was here so I could start taking everything apart and rebuilding the motor.

What Trucks Can I get a good rear Axle? Is the 14 bolt the Dana 70 and what comes in an F350 rear end. I know there are Dana 60's in the front of a lot of F350's. I saw something about a 10.25" rear end in the Fords so What would work out and still accept the Detroit Lockers?

Thank you everyone for the help.

[rustywagoneers_com]

if you are gonna wheel on 35's, throw a lunchbox locker in the rear, and run it til you are breaking stuff... then go with big axles and big t-case... if you are looking at 35's the 44's will live if you are sane at all with the skinny loud pedal... if you are ready to go 37's, then that is at the limit for 44's, but i know of several who are doing just fine... one in particular with 5.38's just finally had to go with alloy front shafts and ox joints because dragging his truck through pairs of boulders on it's side has proven to be more work than when he was wheeling it on 35's and a D30 up front... get it on the road, get it out in the dirt / rocks / mud, and see what you break with your driving style, and when it is time to go big, a set of axles from an M1008 (the army version of the chevy full size pickup) is very hard to beat...

i think 35's and any degree of mechanical sympathy will keep 44's alive a long time...

IMHO

peace
Dave

[COfsthun]

Oh is a lunchbox locker the one that anybody can install or the full locker. I'm very easy on my trucks because I'm always afraid of braking parts. I love to take on weird obsticles like rock formations and funky hills so I guess I could try it and see what happens.

OK my other question is if I install Locking hubs can I run a Detroit locker all the time in the front with the hubs unlocked? I was reading on 4wheeloffroad.com and they said something about doing that and having a Detroit Locker in the front would be ok.

[JeepNOFEAR]

You might also want to look into a parttime converstion kit for your quadratrac, it will save your front u-joints. A previous owner had installed one in mine but for the price of the kit you could buy a stronger case.

[COfsthun]

I was also thinking about trying to find the NP208 T-case since it's supposed to be better but I was also just thinking about using the stock one till it breaks.

[janie]

I was also thinking about trying to find the NP208 T-case since it's supposed to be better but I was also just thinking about using the stock one till it breaks.

The NP208 is a better case but it is not a direct bolt in t-case. Our rigs are definitely specific to the TH400/q/t and anything else is gonna require major mod's and money.

[COfsthun]

Well I found an ad where someone had a Th400 tranny and an NP208 T-case so I was thinking about picking it up.