OT- More Wrangler ?'s. Axles this time

[learfxr]

I have a 89 Wrangler with 3.5" BDS lift. Running the 258 6cyl, 727 (soon) and maybe NP208. Working on putting the 727 from a 80 Wag into the YJ. The axles are stock, 30 and 35. The front is vac actuated and the rear is c-clip style. I want to build a fair trail rig to run 34" Swamper LTB's. That is my plan. I have the 80 Wag parts rig that I thought about using the 44 and 20 axles and putting them on the YJ, but they are stock with 2.73? gears. So, I will definately have to pay for gears in both to even get started, then think about lockers of some type. Will be mostly a trail rig that gets trailered, but I want to be able to cruise town and make Hummer yuppies jealous :thumbsup: . Should I keep the Wag axles, or look for another pair that might be a better set from the start. Any donor vehicle to look for? Anything come with gears in the 4's that would save me money to get mobil quicker??? I'm new to most of this stuff. I just want to have a fun Jeep to play in. I need to know if I should keep the axles from the Wag or get rid of them when it goes to the scrapper.

[Lindel]

If you want to make Hummers jealous, get your J-10 and jump a couple of curbs. The front axle (or what passes for one) is stupidly weak on those things (the H2, anyway).

The Waggie axles shouldn't be too hard to adapt to the YJ, but you'll definately want to regear it. Believe it or not, a set of 4.10/4.11 gears will be about the cheapest gear set you can buy.

[RicoBlaster]

You will be able to run the 34" LTBs on the stock setup. If you are a "skinny pedal rules!" kind of guy, you'll eventually hurt them.

Just like any Jeep, it becomes an addiction - sooner or later, you'll want to run bigger tires. You will need beefier axles. I'd look for a D44 for the rear - the 20 will work fairly well, but you'll want the D44 later. If you are gonna spend all the money for a regear, you might as well do it right the first time.

Or go with D60s...heh, heh, heh...

[Bama Burden]

If you're hoping to find a set of strong axles that already have a reasonably deep set of gears, your best bet is gonna be wide-tracs from a pickup. A 10bolt/FF14bolt combo would be a cheap option but you end up with a really wide stance which has its own pros and cons. I say put the waggy axles in there. The AMC20 is plenty strong (many on this board will argue stronger than a D44) for a 34" tire. I have 33" TSLs (really closer to 34") on my '86 and I've never had a problem. Regear the axles and stuff in some lockers and you can ride happy knowing everything is fresh.

[The PIG Smith]

The talk of swapping Waggie equipment into a Baby Jeep has reminded me of this funny story:

The fellow I got my NP208 transfercase from, pulled it from a YJ.
The YJ he was parting out was powered by a entire drivetrain from a Wagoneer, strong 360 V8, TF727 and NP208.

The PO owner did a four burnout and broke both the rear Dana35 and Dana30 axles.

[Josh D]

I swapped '86 GW D44's into my YJ and they are holding up well to 35's with a 4 banger and 5.38's

http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/files/Users/josh/rrledge.jpg



http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/files/Users/josh/onrockpose.JPG

[derf]

Unless you're going huge on the tires, the 44/20 combo will be perfect for the YJ.

On the front 44, if you stay at 3.73 and (numerically) lower, you can keep the carrier. Anything from 3.93 and (numerically) higher, you have to replace the carrier.

On the rear 20, you will have to change the carrier no matter what you change your gear ratio to.

When it comes to changing carriers, you can buy an open carrier for around $300. You can buy a full carrier locker/limited slip for $400-$600. Or you can buy a full spool for $100-$200.

If I were building that YJ, I'd put a full spool in the rear and weld the tubes to keep them from spinning. (If you don't have a welder, I do and you can drop by and I'll weld it for you.) In the front, I'd spring for an ARB or an Eaton E-locker (http://www.traction.eaton.com/prod1.htm). And I'd do gears and lockers at the same time. That way you only have to pay for labor once.

[learfxr]

Part of my prob with the Wag axles is they are geared at 2.72or 2.73? That means the carriers are gonna have to go. I'm hoping I can sell the internals to someone who wants to gear up for more mileage. I don't have a prob with a spool in the rear, not sure about spending the money on a ARB in the front. Those babies are high.

[learfxr]

Started researching prices and parts. When I order a new carrier for the front 44, do I need one loaded or not? Can I use the spiders from the original? I'm looking at 4.56 gears, spool in the rear AMC20 and open in the front 44 for now. I'll figure out what to do up front later when $ is around. I'm spending a fortune on this rig already.
Found so far:
D44 gears $130.95
gear kit $82.95
loaded carrier $104.42
AMC20 gears $144.95
spool $180.95
kit $82.95
Total $727.17
plus shipping from the parts places.

[learfxr]

Josh, I notice you are SOA. Are those stock springs?
I bought mine with a 3.5? BDS lift on it. It's plent high for me, so I plan not to do SOA. Your's looks great! Hopefully I can get mine driving before I go crazy trying to build it.
http://www.geocities.com/learfxr/DSC00743.JPG

[mudslider]

i think it would be safe to put the m20 and 44 axles in. the amc 20 is stronger than a dana 44 rear imo. you can run 35" with no problem, i have 35x14.50 on my j10 and went to the eci for four days of pretty good trailing with no problems. the vehicle weight difference will make a huge difference with the axles as well. think about it, when the axles are on a wag thats alot of wieght on the axles plus most of us run 33 or so on them too, if you put those same axles on a baby jeep there is half the vehicle weight on the axles so you can wheel those same tires harder.

i also agree with you bama thats a good cheap combo. it would be worth it.

[Bama Burden]

Josh, I notice you are SOA. Are those stock springs?
I bought mine with a 3.5? BDS lift on it. It's plent high for me, so I plan not to do SOA.
This is just my opinion so it's not worth much, but I think you may want to consider going SOA with stock YJ springs. The springs can be had for cheap or you could trade your BDS springs to somebody for their stock prings and a little cash probably. I think you'll be happier with the flex from that. Either way you go, you're gonna have to change a spring perch b/c your AMC20 is already SOA. Just my $.02:D

[Josh D]

Josh, I notice you are SOA. Are those stock springs?
I bought mine with a 3.5? BDS lift on it. It's plent high for me, so I plan not to do SOA. Your's looks great! Hopefully I can get mine driving before I go crazy trying to build it.
http://www.geocities.com/learfxr/DSC00743.JPG

Up front I run JCW HD rear 6-leaf packs. In the rear I run a modified stock rear leaf pack (added one full leaf under main, and two shorter leafs on the bottom of the pack to control axle wrap for a total of 8 leaves). They've lasted about 5-6 years so far of some pretty technical wheelin. I also used Tad's SOA spring perches and I HIGHLY recommend them if you do go SOA. I have a bunch of pictures of the swap including what I did for the steering if your interested.

[Bama Burden]

Josh, I'd like to see the pics you have of your steering setup. I've got a wild hair to build a baby:alc:

[Josh D]

Josh, I'd like to see the pics you have of your steering setup. I've got a wild hair to build a baby:alc:

PM me your e-mail addy and I'll send a zip file.

[Bama Burden]

pm sent

[letank]

you can browse thru this site

http://www.jeeps-offroad.com/yj-technical-discussion

I may end up w a YJ w the squirrel cage.... and use the 85 as a donor