Scout Dana 44's

A local person has two 1979 Scout Dana 44's (front disk brake) both for $300.
Would these work on my 61 CJ 5? (currently stock drivetrain).
I'm guessing they are wider, but how much?
I'm also guessing they have a center rear differential.

 

I was interested in doing this to my 79 cj7. I asked a few people about it and they said they are wider and you have to mount them to the outside of the frame. I have heard they are a few inches wider than the 76-86 cj's with the wide track axls. I ran into a guy at a local store that had them on his cj and they looked good to me, they didnt look too wide at all. I have a 69 cj5 now and want to do this to it also. I think our frames a narrower then the 76-86 jeeps but not sure. the rear diff will be centered but if the scouts ever came with a auto (again not sure) tranny then those would have the off-set rear diff and would work with our spicer 18 cases. I know that another popular swap is to use jeep waganeer dana 44's and they did come with auto's with the off-set rear. Ive heard its the same set up for mounting them. I didnt answer the exact quastions u had but this is all the info I know of. hope it helped some.

 

Front has to be outboard springs since the pumpkin lines up with the frame more or less. Or you could cut 4 inches off the long side and have a new axle put it. At least these are the reasons I didn't grab one when I saw it in the u-pull it yard years ago. Nickmil talked me out of it.

 

Thank you very much, guess I'll pass.

 

The biggest issue with using Scout 2 Dana 44's is they come from the factory with 0-1* of caster. If you want them to drive and handle well you have to cut and turn the inner knuckle "c"'s and add caster in. Couple that with the very long steering arms on the knuckles and these are not the best choice. Plus as mentioned, you must outboard the frame mount the front springs. The rear springs do not need this. Scout 2's all had centered rear pumpkins regardless whether they had an automatic or not.
'79 and older Wagoneers had offset rears. The ones used with the Dana/Spicer 20 transfer case had rears that were "more" centered. Ones used with the full time 4x4 Quadratrac (BW 1339 iirc) transfer case had rears that were more offset.
Many Waggy's had auto's but the 20 transfer case so you can't go by whether it was an auto or manual trans. You need to go by the transfer case or check the rear axle directly.

 

Nickmil, thanks for taking the time to explain everything. It helps me as a novice to changing/improving as I rebuild/restore my jeep.
Any suggestions are greatfully appreciated.
I feel like my goal is to have a V 6 with an automatic. No serious off roading, back trails possibly, go and STOP well.