Rear axle- CJ5

I have a 78 CJ5 with 304/T18/D20.
I'm planning on a 4.5" lift. Rear axle choices are Wagoneer AMC 20, Ford 9 inch, or Dana 60. The AMC 20 would work, I have the CJ version now with the 4" lift. I'm concerned the 9 inch pinion is too low and would make a ridiculous drive shaft angle at that lift.
My big question is the Dana 60 (low and high pinion). Does anyone have experience with a CJ5 with this setup?

 

Driveshaft angles are solved with a double cardon shaft and rotating the axle so the pinion inline with the shaft. TOM WOODS DRIVESHAFTS website shows what I am talking about. My CJ 5 is set up this way and works great .

 

I have a cv joint setup now on my AMC20.
What rear axle do you have?

 

I have the 20 at this time. I have had no problems with it. I do have a 60 that needs to be narrowed in the future, but the 20 is working so it stays until I break it.

 

Dana 60 seems waaay overkill for a CJ with a 304. Plus you will lose a lot of clearance under the pumpkin with a 60. Ford 9 is a great axle for a CJ though. Or why not just use a CJ 44 that you can just bolt in? If you plan on 400 hp engine for the future the 60 might make sense otherwise it's just extreme overkill. Just my .02

 

I just installed a Ford 9" in the rear of my CJ and used a Currie High Pinion carrier unit. It moves the pinon up about 3 inches higher that a standard Ford 9" and about 2.5 inches higher than a Dana 44. It was a bit pricey but it's a sweet set up.

 

I got the 60 (custom built by MARK WILLIAMS) with a detroit and moly axles with 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern for $300. The price was right so thats the reason I have one.

 

Wow, 4.5"? That'll be a huge rig. How about D44? Great offroading axle.

 

The Corporate axle from a Wagoneer is a good axle. Unlike the M20 axle from a CJ, the M23 Wagoneer axle has one-piece axles (actually 2-piece that are welded on the back of the hubs) and thicker axle tubes. It would be a fine choice if you want that width, and are ok with a 6 on 5.5" bolt pattern. Too bad they only come in 3.31, 3.07 or 2.73 ratios - not very appealing.