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Can you I.D. this front 44

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1.2K views 25 replies 5 participants last post by  ricochet  
#1 ·
While browsing the bone yards this weekend looking for a 75 chevy axle, I finally came across an axle on the shelf that said 74 blazer. It's a dana 44. Now my confussion is this. When I picked up my narrow trac 44 from a wagoneer I showed the guy who did the gears my new chevy axle. He then informs me that it was a wagoneer axle, the same as the one he just built for me, because it was spring under, and he claims that the chevy were all spring over. I figured I could at least use it for spare axle shafts. But when I get home and ripped it apart, the axle shafts were about 3 inches shorter than my narrow trac waggy shafts. Infact the whole assembly (even though it looks identicle, is infact alot shorter. So here it is to all you axle experts out there. It's a few inches shorter than a narrow trac waggy, spring under and full time hubs. What is this axle from? Did chevy only use spring over? Oh, my waggy axle measures 58.5 inches. Sorry to ramble, this has been bothering me all weakend.

Keith

ITS GOOD ENOUGH /wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif

 
#3 ·
yes.. what is the bolt pattern.. but it does sound like a wagoneer axle... in 1974 they switched to a 6 bolt pattern.. the 5 bolt pattern from the pre 73 era is about 2" shorter than the 6 bolt.. another note.. those 5 bolt wagoneer axles were all closed knuckle.. they also switched to the open knuckle when they went wider..

http://www.jeepgod.net

84 CJ-7 401/T-18/D20/D44/D60w/4.10&Detriots/YJ frame & tub/35x16x15 Boggers
survival is instinct, but living takes guts
 
G
#4 ·
if it is a scout axle it will have spring pads for a 2" spring, 5on5 1/2 wheel pattern, external bolt hubs, and 8 bolt spindles. i run a scout front in my jeep and i have a wag front in my garage. i have never measured my front end but the wag front is 61" from wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface.

brian wilson
80 cj5 "high 5"
stretched to 100" wb
efi351w/np435/d300/d44/d60/detroits/4.56/35tsl's/
 
2
#6 ·
maybe the other wag axle you have is not actually a wag axle?

we can verify that, measure the housing in question from top balljoint castle nut, to top balljoint castle nut, center to center.


Im not aware of any axle that is what you describe, but Id like ot know, because that housing would make the perfect CJ swap.
strange stuff indeed.



OzarkJeep

"They throw the best damn parties at the Rim of Hell"
 
G
#8 ·
The "Mystery Axle!"

I dont know what it is, but if no one can figure out what it went to, I'm sure Al Gore will take credit for inventing it! hehehehe

mikey

Give me Jeep or Give me Death!!!

(Will trade functioning organs for CJ-7 or flatfender)
 
2
#9 ·
48 inches center to center on teh upper ball joint holes?
thats exactly what my 75 or 76 wag front axle measures.
I helped cut it out of the wagoneer, so I know for sure thats what it came from.

6 lugs, flat topped knuckles, disk brakes, full time hubs ( slugs)
it was a 360th400 Qtrack truck.

what year model did your 52 inch axle come from? are you sure you measured the top ball joint bores and not the bottoms? ( sorry, just making sure!)



OzarkJeep

"They throw the best damn parties at the Rim of Hell"
 
2
#11 ·
what do you mean by full wdth waggy front end? there isnt a wide track wag.

but a wide track Cherokee or J truck is about 64.5 inches wide compared to 61 for a wag, so its feasable that you have a wide track cherokee or J truck front axle.



OzarkJeep

"They throw the best damn parties at the Rim of Hell"
 
2
#13 ·
nope, NEVER a wide track wagoneer.

there were narrow and wide track cherokees, 2 door and 4 door, but only the 2 doors were widetracke, and NEVER a 4 door widetrack.



OzarkJeep

"They throw the best damn parties at the Rim of Hell"
 
#14 ·
Well then, I think I got screwed. I bought if from a guy in my club who also redid the gears, and installed a locker already. I was planning on running it full width, but if my measurements are right, that would put the tires out about 5.5". Ok, here is the run down. Currently I have a narrow 20 in the rear with 15.5" wide tires. The front only has 12.5" wide tires. So if I install this full width front axle, it will only be about 2.5" wider on both sides correct? I guess I can live with that until I redo the rear (which won't be for a long while) What do you guys think?

Keith

ITS GOOD ENOUGH /wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif

 
#16 ·
Because money is starting to be a major factor. I was given a certain amount of money for mods by my wife. I already paid to have the other one regeared and locker installed. Sure the guy does it dirt cheap, but that money is needed for the little things such as brakes and stearing and new driveshafts. I hate doing things on a limited budget.

Keith

ITS GOOD ENOUGH /wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif

 
2
#17 ·
that blows, im sorry to be the bad news bearer.

it should cost very little just to move everything over, you could even do most of it yourself?!

have you outboarded your springs? to fit it?
would the shorter axle be centered now?

that wide axle wil be REALLY wide, like normal offset wheels will be pretty much no tire under the fenders.

but it would run and drive, so I guess it just depends on what your after.



OzarkJeep

"They throw the best damn parties at the Rim of Hell"
 
#19 ·
I'm going to give the guy a call, he said he was selling me a 76 wagoneer axle, but it apparently is not. I'll see if he can make the swap for no money since he screwed up. He's also building a t18a tranny for also, I better go and see it for myself, make sure its not a t150 hehe.

Keith

ITS GOOD ENOUGH /wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif

 
2
#20 ·
good call, hopefully he will make it right.

if that T18a turns out to be one of those darn near useless granny low versions Id be happy to help you get rid of it, ive got a good scrap yard near me. haha

good luck!


OzarkJeep

"They throw the best damn parties at the Rim of Hell"
 
#21 ·
Hey ozark, let me ask you this. Could I just shorten the long end? I can probably do that myself. And if I shorten it, I wouldn't have to run my springs outboard, right? That might me a good possibility. It would probably take less time for me to shorten the axle than it would to outboard my springs. And it would only cost me about $70 for the shortening and resplining of the shaft. This is all going to be determined if the guy will switch the gears at no cost or not.

Keith

ITS GOOD ENOUGH /wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif

 
2
#22 ·
I think you can do that, if youve got hte tools to cut, measure, realighn and weld it back properly.

the outboard brackets really arent much to fab up. after doing a set I could whip out another in short spare time piddling.

I guess your going SUA?

OzarkJeep

"They throw the best damn parties at the Rim of Hell"
 
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