1/2 Chevy axle swap anyone?

[Turbobu]

Hey guys I'm new here, I just purchased an '88 Grand Wagoneer. Not my 1st 4X4 by any means but my first JEEP. Anyway it has 2.72 gears and a broken rear spring so I'm thinking lift! I've got a '77 chevy rolling chassis with a flat top knuckle D44 front and a 12 bolt rear w/3.73 gears. The Front spring spacing is exactly the same between the chevy and Jeep, it looks like any easy SPOA swap to me. Put a high steer arm on the pass. side and custom drag link and the right shocks and brake lines, possibly drive shaft and it's done in the front. In the rear move the spring perches, shocks, brake line, drive shaft, springs and blocks and the rear would be good to go.

So has anyone done this? I don't plan on serious wheeling so the 1/2tons and 3.73 gears would be fine. Am I over-simplifying this swap/lift?

I have a samurai that I completely built ever part of the suspension mounts and steering from scratch and did a 4.3/auto swap in, so I far from a newbie when it comes to fabrication work.

[CHICOWAGGY]

The Chevy axles are wider, so your tires will stick out way farther. And your 44 is a little bit stronger than the 12 bolt and doesn't have C clips.

But if you like your tires sticking out the sides of your fenders, go for it

[CHICOWAGGY]

Oh yea I built a Samurai just like that, too bad its in heaven now.

[Turbobu]

the chevy axles are around the same width as wide track axles aren't they 64"-65"? I'm aware of the differences between the 44 and 12 bolt, and the c-clip issue is the only concern I have and if serious wheeling was my priority I wouldn't consider it, I'd go straight for a 60/60 or 60/14bolt combo but then my Wife would be PISSED! If I get to the point of breaking axles with 33's I'm wheeling it too hard.

[ClovisMan]

Another hurdle is that the front Chebby axle is passenger-drop and the 88 is currently Driver-drop. You will have to do a case-swap.

[Turbobu]

Well S**T I knew that, I don't know what I was thinking. I had a rusted out '78wagon that I salvaged for the axles under my sammy and it was Quadtrac, I guess I had pass drop on my mind because of those axles. I feel stupid now!

[CHICOWAGGY]

Well S**T I knew that, I don't know what I was thinking. I had a rusted out '78wagon that I salvaged for the axles under my sammy and it was Quadtrac, I guess I had pass drop on my mind because of those axles. I feel stupid now!

DOH! I freakin totally brainfarted that!

[Cecil14]

For the rear get a shackle flip kit from Tadsal and you'll be set on springs.

If you want to go with the chevy front axle grab a D300 from a CJ and bolt it in. It's pass drop and should clear fine as long as you're going to be running that much lift anyway.


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[Turbobu]

D300 will bolt right up to 727 without changing adapter? I've also got a th400 out of a '78 wagoneer that I would prefer over the 727 (which is acting up a little shifting into 3rd).

[ClovisMan]

D300 will bolt right up to 727 without changing adapter? I've also got a th400 out of a '78 wagoneer that I would prefer over the 727 (which is acting up a little shifting into 3rd).

You have to change the output shaft of the AMC Turbo400 to the Chevy output shaft to use any transfer case besides the quadratrac.

[Cecil14]

If you switch to the TH400 just keep the QT. It's a good case, just keep the chain fresh.

Otherwise yes, the D300 will both right up to the TF727 you have. To clear the lump in the pan you have to be running at least a 4" ?? lift, though, which shouldn't be an issue for your plans.


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[TPICherokee]

the chevy axles are around the same width as wide track axles aren't they 64"-65"? I'm aware of the differences between the 44 and 12 bolt, and the c-clip issue is the only concern I have and if serious wheeling was my priority I wouldn't consider it, I'd go straight for a 60/60 or 60/14bolt combo but then my Wife would be PISSED! If I get to the point of breaking axles with 33's I'm wheeling it too hard.

The widetrack and the GM axles are just about the same width... but you don't have a widetrack.

[Turbobu]

+2" per side on axles and flares isn't that the main differences? pardon me for my ignorance. I'm a hillbilly I like tires sticking out of fenders. LOL!!!

[TPICherokee]

+2" per side on axles and flares isn't that the main differences? pardon me for my ignorance. I'm a hillbilly I like tires sticking out of fenders. LOL!!!

It is more than 2" on each side, more like 3.5" - 4" on each side..

[duncanstives]

If you DON'T want the tires sticking out get some flares... There is no getting around the fact that wider axles will make your rig more stable and thus safer and more capable.

EDIT: it will also giver you better flex with the increased mechanical advantage (similar to inboarding the springs).