Axle Swap or Gear Swap?

[woodstock]

I have a 1979 Wagoneer donor with Dana 44 axles and 3.54 gears that I want to swap into my 1988 GW that has D44s and stock 2.73 gears. It looks like both front and rear pumpkins are in different orientations on the 79 and the 88. So what am I looking at? I read that it is easier to swap axles than gears, but am I going to have to do more work because of the differential differences? In the end would it be easier to swap out the gears? All that matters in the end is that I get the 3.54 gears in my 88 GW. Thanks guys!

[Stuka]

It would be a LOT of work to swap the 79's axles too the 88. And it would be far easier to just swap the gears in the 88 IMHO.

[Tad]

I think swapping over the entire rear axle, providing it is in good working order would save some time. That assumes you have the space to do this. I would want to be real sure it's up to snuff before doing it though.
Your going to have to swap the gears into the front unless you really want to swap the tranny and tcase to deal with the passenger side front differential location. Not a deal breaker but it will be a fair amount more work for you.

[Stuka]

Tad: the 79 is mostly likely a quadra trac, which means it has the rear dif that is WAY offset. The factory dif is centered, sot he drive shaft would need to be a bit longer, and it would have a LOT of sideways angleon it.

[Joe Guilbeau]

Swapping gears is the way to go.

[Tad]

Hmm, didn't think of that.
Could very well be a problem.
I measured the 77 axle against the 70, and the offset is only 1" more on the 77 I have.
Both had dana 20's in front of them but I don't think the dana 20 on the 77 was stock.

[Stuka]

The D20 rigs still had an offset axle. offset 3" I belive (would have to measure my chero). But the QT's where WAY offset.

[woodstock]

Yeah, my 79 is a Quadratrack and the diffs look a lot more offset than my 88. I'm happy with the 727 and 229 in my 88, so I should just swap the gears then? The gears should swap with little trouble if they're in good condition right? They are all D44.

[woodstock]

Hey Stuka, how do you like those 3.54 gears? I looked at the gearing calculator and thought I'd by happy with 3.31 or 3.54, but I have the 3.54 readily available. Are they suitable for my daily driver? Any complaints? One thing, I realize I'll lose a little fuel economy on the top end, but what about on shorter trips around town? Thanks man!

[Stuka]

With 31's the 3.54's where perfect. With the 33's that I have now its lacks power on some of thebig hills here. But on the flats its perfectly fine.

For milage I gett great HWY milage,close to 14 with my performer carb and intake and the 33's.

[Oracle]

First swap the gears, second, what size tires you going to run? third, while you're in there swapping gears, you might consider either rebuilding the limited slip that is already in there or adding one of the stuff in little wannabe lockers if you're not going to heavy wheel the 88 off road. simple to do while you have it apart (oh and check those axle bearings and races too smile.gif

[Stuka]

The rear M20 will need a new carrier, which means bye bye trac-loc unless he gets something to replace it with besides an open carrier.

[woodstock]

That's good gas mileage (well, that's always relative with FSJs).

Right now I only have 30" BFG A/T KO on with no lift. This is primarily a road rig, so I don't see putting on anything bigger than 31" if I add a lift or just replace my stock leafs. The toughest terrain it's going to see is grassy fields and snow/ice in the winter. I've even considered a less aggressive tire during good weather. I want the gearing power to tow a boat and other trailers; and to give it a little get up and go. I'll save all the fun offroading for my Cherokee trail rig. Well, I think I'll get into the gears at the end of the month.