1. Welcome to Jeeps.net!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Jeep discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other Jeep owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Axle sizes?

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by Widetread, Jan 23, 2017.

  1. Jan 23, 2017 at 5:41 AM
    #1
    Widetread

    Widetread [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2017
    Member:
    #854
    Messages:
    3
    Gender:
    Male
    Good morning, I am planning on 4x4 ing my 1946 Studebaker pickup and thinking a Jeep would be a good donor option for me . I need help to decide what year would have the best choice for front and rear axles. Are 44s available? Thanks.
     
  2. Jan 23, 2017 at 6:10 AM
    #2
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine Moderator

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2016
    Member:
    #2
    Messages:
    4,068
    Gender:
    Male
    welcome!
     
  3. Jan 23, 2017 at 8:13 AM
    #3
    OFFGRID

    OFFGRID Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2016
    Member:
    #317
    Messages:
    2,018
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Peter
    Houston
    Vehicle:
    1979 Jeep CJ7, 258, TH350, NP208
    Howell fuel injection, header, HEI distributor, TH350, NP208, SOA lift with YJ springs in the front & GW springs in the Rear. AMC20 with G2 1 piece chromos trussed, Dana 30 with G2 chromos and 760x ujoints and MM Stainless Hubs, Geared 4.56. Tom Woods shafts, Metal cloaks, Caged, 37" Toyo MTs.
    My two questions are what is the orientation of the axle to the springs on the Studebaker and are you Driver or passenger dropped? If you have a Spring over axle (SOA) style, you might look at the Chevy/ford trucks depending on what side you drop. If you are SUA then the 70s and 80s Jeep Grand Wagoneers, J10s and J20s, and the 70s Cherokees all Had AMC rearends and Dana 44 front axles (some are driver drop and others are passenger drop).
     
    C2T likes this.
  4. Jan 24, 2017 at 10:21 AM
    #4
    Widetread

    Widetread [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2017
    Member:
    #854
    Messages:
    3
    Gender:
    Male
    Thankyou for your response! I would find a jeep that would be a manual shift and use everything jeep from the bell housing back, so left hand, right hand front center section would not matter. I am thinking I would go with leaf springs on top of the housing to get some height knowing that I would have some cutting and welding to do. I like the width of the jeep axle under these older pickups rather than full size pickups that stick out past the fenders more than I like. I am not sue if most jeeps are dana 27s 30s 44s? Maybe this will help to understand what Iam thinking. Thanks!
     
  5. Jan 24, 2017 at 4:39 PM
    #5
    OFFGRID

    OFFGRID Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2016
    Member:
    #317
    Messages:
    2,018
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Peter
    Houston
    Vehicle:
    1979 Jeep CJ7, 258, TH350, NP208
    Howell fuel injection, header, HEI distributor, TH350, NP208, SOA lift with YJ springs in the front & GW springs in the Rear. AMC20 with G2 1 piece chromos trussed, Dana 30 with G2 chromos and 760x ujoints and MM Stainless Hubs, Geared 4.56. Tom Woods shafts, Metal cloaks, Caged, 37" Toyo MTs.
    Here is what I know about older jeep axles. '82 and older CJs are all "Narrow Track" axles (52" wide) and are probably too narrow for your application. Also probably too narrow for you is the '83-'86 CJ-7 "Wide Track" axle (56"). These are all Dana 30 in the front and AMC 20 in the rear except for the 2nd half of 86 the rear came with a Dana 44. The Dana 30 is probably too week for your half-ton truck. The 72 Cherokee and the 74-79 Jeep wagoneer and G-wagoneer have Dana 44s in the front (60" wide) and an offset AMC 20 in the rear (60" wide). The issue with these are that unless you want to run full time 4 wheel drive you won't be able to use the transfercase and rear axle, because the transfer case is designed for all time 4 wheel drive and the rear axle is very offset to the passenger side to accommodate the AFWD T-case. The 80 and newer wagoneers and G-wagoneers and J10s and J20s all had AMC 20s rear and Dana 44s front, and they are 65" wide. Still more narrow than the Chevys by 4", but you have the same problem with the T-case and rearend. I have known people to run the rearend cockeyed like that with no problems, but I wouldn't, but maybe you'll want to run the whole AFWD set up in your truck. My next build will be the 60" Dana 44 out of a 72 cherokee which I bought for $250 It is a 6lug on 5.5" bolt pattern and a Wide track 56" AMC 20 which is 5lug on 5.5" bolt. To match the widths I will use a 2" spacer/converter to make the AMC 20 60in wide and a 6 on 5.5 bolt pattern. If your asking why I'm going with the AMC 20 is because with a few easy mods it will be stronger than the Dana 44 will ever be. I bought the AMC 20 for $100. I picked up a TH350 for $250 and a NP208 for $250. So for $850 I have purchased my whole drivetrain. Summit has a brand new pre-'87 GM 350 crate motor for $1200, and all it needs is a carb and accessories to complete.
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2017
    UrbanCowboy, chris4x4 and C2T like this.
  6. Jan 24, 2017 at 4:54 PM
    #6
    OFFGRID

    OFFGRID Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2016
    Member:
    #317
    Messages:
    2,018
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Peter
    Houston
    Vehicle:
    1979 Jeep CJ7, 258, TH350, NP208
    Howell fuel injection, header, HEI distributor, TH350, NP208, SOA lift with YJ springs in the front & GW springs in the Rear. AMC20 with G2 1 piece chromos trussed, Dana 30 with G2 chromos and 760x ujoints and MM Stainless Hubs, Geared 4.56. Tom Woods shafts, Metal cloaks, Caged, 37" Toyo MTs.
    I should probably mention that all the above mention axles are sprung under and will require welding mounts on top.
     
  7. Jan 24, 2017 at 6:07 PM
    #7
    Widetread

    Widetread [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2017
    Member:
    #854
    Messages:
    3
    Gender:
    Male
    Wow! I am so thank full for you taking the time to share such great info that is really going to help me figure this out!! Thanks
     
  8. Jan 24, 2017 at 6:27 PM
    #8
    C2T

    C2T Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2016
    Member:
    #42
    Messages:
    763
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Richard
    Helena, Montana
    Vehicle:
    Jeep
    2.5" AEV Dual Sport lift, 35" Treadwright Guard Dogs, Black Rock Wheels, AEV Front & Rear Bumpers with Tire Carrier, Fuel Caddy 10 gal. Aux. fuel tank, Warn 9.5ti, 125' synthetic winch line, front axle skid, 20" LED light bar , Bilstein Shocks, steel steering skidplate,
    Nice write up OFFGRID.
     
  9. Jan 24, 2017 at 6:34 PM
    #9
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine Moderator

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2016
    Member:
    #2
    Messages:
    4,068
    Gender:
    Male
    Very good info!! I think it would be great to make these posts into sticky's for future reference.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top