1983 Cj7 Rear Axle Swap Dana 44 Corp 20

I may pick up a new project. I have located a 1983 CJ7 rust free and nice looking. Appears to have some sort of lift and a Chevy ZZ4 350 and turbo 350. I asked about the transfer case and the owner did not know which one was in his Jeep. The transmission blew out after 750 miles with his 375hp small block. He is willing to part with the CJ minus the engine, transmission and transfer case. At first I was thinking I could use my Dana 20, and small block stroker engine I own. But now I think it is best to pay a little xtra for the blown transmission and Dana 300. I have read that Willys Wagon came with a centered 44. As for the width of these, it is top secret and not to be found in most reference articles. 55 Maybe? Early ones would be two piece 10 splines? Would that hold up to very strong V8 engine?

 

I think you should either get it without any drive train and build your own, or get the blown trans and d300 if he will let it go cheap. The 300 on its own wont be very worthwhile if its been adapted to the TH350 (not sure how that adapter works) and the TH350 is only good for someone who is running a D300 or some of the NP transfer cases. I'm not sure what this has to do with the title of the thread though. If you're worried about blowing up the Model 20 rear behind that drivetrain combo, you've got options. A Model 20 can be set up to survive behind that drivetrain combo with a truss and a one piece axle conversion. The actual gears and case of a D20 are stout, just ask any Humvee.

if you do want to go to a d44 an; 83 is still narrow track correct?

if so a 72-75 cj5 d44 rear would be the best bet. 30 spline, flanged axle shafts. Going with an older 10 spline with the the splined hubs might only be a marginal upgrade from the AMC 20, and you're still left with same weak point as the 20.


Finally, there is no reason you couldn't use a D20 transfer case if you had the trans to match, but the 300 and the 20 are not interchangable.

 

'83 should be wide track, so a '72-75 CJ or Commando axle will be too narrow. Last year for narrow track was 1981, IIRC.

JMO - a Willys Wagon axle (tapered 44) will be more problematic than the wide-track M20 you'd already have. Some '86 CJ-7s were delivered with Dana 44s, which would be the ideal donor. Otherwise, get some Wagoneer axles if you want a near-replacement; a '74-79 Wagoneer open front D44 can be converted to 5-lug with Ford hubs. The '68ish to '72 ('73 with the D20) Wagoneer flanged 44 rear is centered and 5-lug. Lots of discussion of this in the archives.

 

Yes lots of information out there if you know how to search correctly. I am getting schooled quickly. I actual spoke with our local "The Jeep Guy" this morning. He had a quick summary of what would be mine best choices if I did decide to upgrade the Corp 20. Perhaps just use what you got, but be keen on what you need to be on the look out for.

 

If he have a widetrack axle, any Inter scout II rear dana 44 will do the job, he will need to change the gear but the wms is around 58-58.5" just like a widetrack axle. They are pretty easy to find to. Also any early broncos 9 inch rear will work too.

 

If you're talking about widetrack CJ axles they are around 55"-56" depending on which resource you use so the the Scout 2 is wider. The Scout 2 is darn close to Wagoneer narrow track width.

 

So I have a line on pair of International Scout axles. A 1974 with disc brakes. May not be perfect but appears they will work.

 

The big thing about scout axle is not fiting the rear axle, but fiting a front one.

For the rear you just weld new spring angers and the job is done.

The front you need to outboard the spring. Also scout have a 0 degree caster, jeep need 6 degree of caster to steer right. Giving it without un welding and turning the knukkle will bring the pignon to face down. It can be a done but it's some work for having done it in the past.


From there, there is still two sollution if you want to keep the dana 30 front you curently have. You can buy 1.5-2 inch spacer for the front so it will have the same wms as the rear scout one. The other one, you can find a rear dana 44 from an 72-75 cj and again buy spacers for it to bring it to the front wms.

A front scout dana 44 will have the ring/gear and the inner axle shaft of a dana 44. Outer shaft, hub, manual lock are the same as a dana 30 from a cj, so it's not the big upgrade people trend to look for. You can upgrade the outer using a mix of part from gm/ford but could be pricey to do.

 

Toyota truck axles are strong, 55" WMS to WMS and disc brakes up front...

 

,,,And gear swaps are a breeze with just dropping the 3rd member and reinstalling another.

 

Here is some good numbers for axle dimensions I just found.
AXLE WIDTHS
------JEEP------
'41 to 45 Jeep MB: 48.25"
'46 up CJ-2A, CJ-3A : 48.25"
'49-65 Jeep Utility Wagon: 57"
'49 Willys Jeepster 2WD 57"
'52 up CJ-3B: 48.44"
'52 M-38A 49.19" (Military width)
'54-71 CJ-5 48.44" (so called early-
'55-75 CJ-6 48.44" narrow axle)
'47-65 Pickup (the classic) frnt-56" rr-63.5"
'63-69 J-200, J-2000 65.5"
'63-69 J-300, J-3800 65.75"
'70- 72, Gladiator J-2000 frnt-63.5" rr-63.81"
'70- 72, Gladiator J-4000 frnt-63.8" rr-64.38"
'73 J-2500 frnt-63.5" rr-63.8"
'73 all other J trucks frnt-63.9" rr-64.4"
'74-75 J-10 frnt-62.9" rr-63.8"
'76-87 J-10 frnt-63.3" rr-63.8"
'74-75 J-20 frnt-62.9" rr-64.4"
with disc brakes: frnt-63.0" rr-64.4"
'76-84 J-20 frnt-64.9" rr-65.9"
'63-72 Wagoneer 57"
'73 Wagoneer frnt-57.3" rr-57.5"
'74-75 Wagoneer frnt-59" rr-57.5"
'74-75 Cherokee (full size) frnt-58.8' rr-57.5"
'76-91 Wagoneer, '80+ Cher frnt-59.4" rr-57.8"
'76-79 Cherokee (full size) frnt-59.2" rr-57.8"
'76-78 Cherokee S frnt-59.5" rr-58.5"
'76-80 Cherokee Chief 2 dr. frnt-65.4" rr-62.3"
'81-83 Cherokee Chief 2 dr. frnt-65.3" rr-62.3"
'67-71 Jeepster C-101 50"
'72-73 Commando C-104 frnt-51.5" rr-50"
'72-83 CJ-5, frnt-51.5" rr-50" (so called-
'76-81CJ-7(some '81CJ8's) frnt-51.5" rr-50" narrow axle)
'82-86 CJ-7 frnt-55.8" rr-55" (so called- wide axle )
'81-85 Scrambler, CJ-8 frnt-55.8" rr-55"
'84-87, 93 up Cherokee XJ ?"
'88-92 Cherokee XJ 60 5/8"
'86-92 Comanche, 60 5/8"
'87 up Wrangler, YJ 58"
'93 up Grand Cherokee, ZJ 58"
TJ Rubicon 03 (F) Dana 44 61" (R) Dana 44 60"

------FORD-------
Bronco 77 (F) D44 58"
Bronco 77 (R) Ford 9" 57"
F250 78-79 (F) D60 69.25" (driver drop, king pin, leaf spring sprung: 31.5")
F350 78-79 (F) D60 69.25" (driver drop, king pin, leaf spring sprung: 31.5")
F350 '85-'91.5 (F) D60 69.25" (driver drop, king pin, leaf spring sprung: 36.5")
F350 '92-'99 (F) D60 69.25" (driver drop, balljoint, spring sprung: 36.5")
1/2 Ton '70 (F) D44 65" (high pinion)
1/2 Ton '70 (R) D60 65"

----TOYOTA-----
'79-85 front axle~ 55.5", rear axle~ 55"
'86-95 front IFS~ 59", rear axle~ 58.5"
Tacoma & '96-up 4runner front IFS~ ? rear axle- 60"
T100 front IFS~ 65", rear axle~ 66.75"
Tundra front/rear~ ??
'90-97 Landcruiser FJ-80/FZJ-80 front axle~ 63.5"

-----CUSTOM WIDTH D44s USING COMBOS OF STOCK SHAFTS------
Chevy Dana 44 width possibilities using stock length axle shafts:
(Axle widths are, WMS-WMS - wheel-mounting-surface to wheel-mounting-surface. Perch widths are center to center)

69" wide, 31.5" perches- stock Chevy 8-lug
68.75" wide, 31.5" perches- Chevy axle with Ford 5-lug outers
67.5" wide, 31.5" spring perch centers- stock Chevy 6-lug

65" wide, ~29" perches- long side cut down 2-3/8", use 70's Ford long side axle shaft
64.5" wide, 29" perches- long side cut down 3", use late 70's Wagoneer long side axle shaft
63.5" wide, 27.5" perches- long side cut down 4", use 80's Wagoneer long side axle shaft
62" wide, 29" perches- long side cut 4", short side 1.5", use 80's Wagoneer long side, Dodge short side.

 

Strong? yes after you put 75-100 lbs of steel to make sur the axle wont bent

It's almost the same job a dana 44 and a toyota axle.

On both of them you need to take out both axle, them you need to un screw all the nut on the diff cover/third member and you have acces to the gear.

Maybe only thing easier on a toyota axle is the possibilty to work the gear ajustment on a bench, but it's the only avantage i see.

 

Yes I understand the front is still a challenge. But I am only looking at the rear axle at this time the Dana 30 in the front will be fine for now.
Just if I can pick up a pair at a good price the front will be shelved for now.
The bad part is I think the owner has changed his mind about selling without the engine for less.
He no longer will answer the phone finally got in touch with his wife and she says he is out of town all of a sudden.

 

Sound bad to me too that....

Go with a scout rear, and put spacer on the front...

 

Here is very informative article on setting up a wide track Wagoneer axle. Just a little more than I am capable of doing though.

Dana 44 axle swap - Wagoneer Front axle to CJ-7

 

That is just a wasted of time in my opinion...the guy keep the axle/hub/spindle and external manual lock from the dana 30. External lock is the weakest point of the dana 30, and he use it on is dana 44.

 

It's really not that bad to cut down an axle. I put a 74 Cherokee Chief front Dana 44 under my 74 CJ5. I ground down the welds and pulled the outer c's off (took me about 45min to grind down both sides with a hand held grinder), I then cut the long side tube down 4 inches, put the outer c's back on and set caster to 7-8 degrees, got the c's welded back on and then put on 1985 Ford F150 hubs and rotors, and used the Cherokee chief calipers and voilla, back to a 5x5.5 bolt pattern and did not need to outboard the springs, WMS-WMS is now about 60". The only thing you need to spend money on is cutting down the long side axle shaft. I sent mine to Dutchman axles and had it back a few days later. Cost was $75. A few grinding wheels and either you know someone who can weld (free), or have it welded but should not cost too much.
Aside from the axle shaft being sent out, the rest can all be done in a day. Please feel free to ask me any questions as I just finished mine. I wraped the whole thing with some Warn premium hubs 5.38 gears and an ARB air locker.
For the rear I am keeping the 1986 Dana 44 and putting in the 5.38 gears and an ARB air locker there too.

 

Great, Thank you 4wealn. I checked today to see if the pair I found was still available. No reply yet though his ad is still up. It's not the cost of 300 for the pair but rather the total hours driving needed to pick them up. I should know better than to be buying more parts just because they might be priced right.

 

I hear ya

 

My wife and I have an 86 cj7 with a wide track model 20 with the 2.73 ratio. I also have an 86 wide track 44 which I bought for my brother years ago which I would ultimately like to use in this jeep. I have been considering swapping in a set of narrow track axles I have (dana 30 front amc 20 rear 3.54 ratio) for the better ratio and the fact that I have a new set of 32 inch tires on 10 inch wide rims I could use. I do not like the look of wide rims on wide axles. What I have been keeping an eye out for is a set of axles from an intermediate cj5. This would get me a centered flanged rear 44 (I would have to move the spring perches) and a front 30 ( I would swap the disc brakes from the narrow 30 I allready have). I would love to find a set with the 4.27 ratio but even 3.73 would be nice. I like the 300 transfer case but would consider swapping in a 20 if it gained me a more desirable transmission.