what can i do

[veteransamurai]

Hi everyone, new here. Just bought a 71 wagoneer, and I was wondering some things about it. I know its a narrow track, was a 360 (now has chevy 350 2bbl carb etc) I think the origional tranny was used, and I know its got a dana 20 t-case in it. axles are dana 44 pax side drop in the rear, and a dana 25/27? closed knuckle in the front with drums all around. with it i found bits of the original owners manual, and the factory warranty booklet with the purchase date, dealer and 1st owner of the truck.

will the gm 10 bolt axles from a late 80s to 90s k5 blazer fit under the narrow track without modifying the spring perches? would it require fender cutting due to wms measurement changes? will the rear work without heavy mods to the fuel tank skid plate or relocation of the fuel tank? i know it moves it from a rear pax side drop to a centered diff, but how much does that change the angle of the drive shaft? has anyone done this?
would 200 bucks for a matching pair of gm half ton axles in pretty good condition be a good deal?

[Tad]

Welcome,
That's going to make you SOA but, onto the answers, or at least some of them.
will the gm 10 bolt axles from a late 80s to 90s k5 blazer fit under the narrow track without modifying the spring perches?
Front bolts up fine, rear needs perches moved.
You will have all the same steering needs as any SOA FSJ + a newer style pitman arm (your has a smaller TRE opening and not a lot of meat to ream out)
would it require fender cutting due to wms measurement changes?
Yes, the axles will be right under the fender openings.
will the rear work without heavy mods to the fuel tank skid plate or relocation of the fuel tank?
Some folks get away with the stock tank, was way to close for my '70, I moved it to the rear (S10 tank).
but how much does that change the angle of the drive shaft?
I'd measure to be sure, it's going to swing the shaft back to center.

You're what we call a post mount rig (rear springs on posts) so matching the front SOA gets a bit trickier/more involved.

That link in my sig, the "It's Time" one goes to my build (long, lots of pic's and data).
Lot's of stuff in there I can barely remember I'm sure.

[WaggThis]

I have a 1971 wagoneer and I did the axel swap from a 77 chevy pickup it was a direct swap front and rear so there was no welding required.
this is what it looks like (pics below).

The axels are alot wider, it is a GM 12 bolt rear and dana 44 up front. The gas tank will be in the way if you do this set up but you can move a gas tank to the rear.

Are you sure it is a chevy 350 and not a buick 350? the 1971 wagoneers came with Buick 350 stock. the oil filter is in the front passenger side and the valve covers have 6 bolts

Here is some pics of mine you can use to compare. I switched to a np205 t case but you get the idea.
If you want some more pictures from different angles just say so :thumbsup:
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m143/Sidina_Rockwell/100_1985.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m143/Sidina_Rockwell/100_1984.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m143/Sidina_Rockwell/100_1983.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m143/Sidina_Rockwell/100_1982.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m143/Sidina_Rockwell/100_1981.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m143/Sidina_Rockwell/100_1980.jpg

[firecaptain13]

My 71 had a 360... change over year to AMC from Kaiser IIRC. If you have a 350, then the tranny was changed to the GM from the AMC bell housing TH400.

[veteransamurai]

i know for sure its a chevy 350, came out of a monte carlo. I cant remember the year, but i have the title for it somewhere around here.

would the bj's DPA adapt the pitman arm work for the aplication. Also since it is already SOA would i need anything reguarding high steer or crossover steering.

in the rear, with the post mount, would i also need some sort of blocks with the shackle flip kit or would just a shackle flip pretty much level it out in the rear

I dont really intend on using the chevy springs because it already has the bj's 4" spring lift kit.

on the subject of the fender trimming, the rears have been cut probably 1.5 or 2 inches the lip was re-bent welded seamsealed and painted. as far as i know there are different front fenders for a wt jeep, is this right? would the axles still be too wide to fit those or would that work out in the front? the front fender is pretty bashed up on the driverside, but i really dont want to hack on it too much so i can keep the jeep looking fairly original as far as the body goes.

[AlsChopShop]

yeah, you can run widetrack fenders up front but the bigger flares will not match the rear. i would just cut back a narrowtrack flair unless you were concernet about fender width and your local laws.

you will need at least crossover steering to do it right.


**waggthis.... you should swap out for chevy shackles up front. the ones you have are scary! the chevy shackles will give about the same amount of lift and be a lot more stable. :eek:

Al

[Tad]

would the bj's DPA adapt the pitman arm work for the aplication. Also since it is already SOA would i need anything reguarding high steer or crossover steering. Yes, the BJ's arm will bolt right up to the steering box. Not sure about TRE's for the 10-bolt front. I went full hi-steer with Part's Mike 1-ton stuff, but there were not too many options back then

Crossover or full hi-steer (link is at top of archives),BJ's also has a nice kit, not sure how it works with a front 10-bolt, you might want to check with them, they figure out lot of things.
I'll preface that by saying there are folks out there in FSJ's running just a DPA and longer drag link. Some say it hits, some say it doesn't.

as far as i know there are different front fenders for a wt jeep, is this right? would the axles still be too wide to fit those or would that work out in the front? WT fenders up front will work fine.
I had some and gave them away since the rear looked to labor intensive to scab on (obviously I'm not a body work kind of guy).
It's probably just a look thing for me but WT fenders in the front and NT wheel wells in the back just look sort of silly.
Several folks have done both, couple of great pic's up towards the top on GenDisc rght now (or as of Monday morning).

[Stuka]

Sorry dude, GM never made a 360cid V8. That includes Chevrolet, Olds, Buick, Pontiac, caddy, etc.

It may be from a monte carlo, but its not a 360 (Ford, Chrysler, and AMC made 360's)

[veteransamurai]

Sorry dude, GM never made a 360cid V8. That includes Chevrolet, Olds, Buick, Pontiac, caddy, etc.

It may be from a monte carlo, but its not a 360 (Ford, Chrysler, and AMC made 360's)

fixed, that was just a typo

[bushwood44]

I think the 44 in the rear would be stronger than 10 bolt just get a 44 for the front

[WaggThis]

**waggthis.... you should swap out for chevy shackles up front. the ones you have are scary! the chevy shackles will give about the same amount of lift and be a lot more stable. :eek:

Al

yeah alot of people say that, but it is really stable and it helps with stuff like this :D
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m143/Sidina_Rockwell/4GoldenSpike-GoldBarRim131.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m143/Sidina_Rockwell/4GoldenSpike-GoldBarRim130.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m143/Sidina_Rockwell/4GoldenSpike-GoldBarRim129.jpg

[veteransamurai]

waggthis not to jack my own thread, but is that bump steer from all that right side droop or are you turning into that

[WaggThis]

i was turning into it