Is wide track worth it?
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Pull the front axle and swap it, then get a set of the good ($$$) wheel spacers and match the 44 up to the front.
Or just get it for the disc brakes.
Or just get it for the disc brakes.
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2,280 Posts
The weak link in the AMC 20 wide track 1984 CJ7 rear end is the the two piece axle design. If the price of the CJ7 is fair enought, maybe the price of a AMC 20 one piece axle conversion might be an option? The weak link the 1984 CJ7 Dana 30 front end is the 5 bolt locking hub design. The early narrow track front ends for the CJ7's (from 1976 to 1981) used a much stronger 6 bolt locking hub design. The aftermarket support for the factory axles used in a 84 CJ7 is really good, should you decide to upgrade later. As far as the brakes are concerned, the 84 CJ7 axles are a good improvement over the Jeepster brakes. It's also possible, there might be a need to change to the Jeepster brake master cylinder when converting a Jeepster to disc brakes.
dave
dave
the AMC 20 rear is not a bad axle, if you throw one piece axles in it, weld the tubes in the housing, truss the tubes and reinforce the cover. then i'm sure, being out of a 84, they probally have 2.72 gears. if it's a good deal, scavage the breaks, if you want to go wide, find some scout or waggoneer housings.
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4,287 Posts
I'd do it. I took mine out of an 86 Cj, put the 6bolt hubs on the front and had no problems with the front. I have the wide 44 rear and I twisted the axle shafts on it, so just recently put warn full floaters on it. The stability difference is amazing with the wide track. I used the old Jeepster master and had no problems with the brakes. I've had them in for at least 4 years now. I'd do it again, but I'd start out with the 6 bolt hubs and stronger rear shafts.
Ok, thanks.....looks like we will go for it. I've got the parts to convert the front end to six bolt and I'll convert the rear to one-piece axles later. It's a good deal too, $150 for both complete axles, ties rods, everything ready to bolt under. They are 3.31 ratio and the rear has a trac lock in it. Low miles too.
I'll keep looking for waggie and scout axles in the mean time. I visit "Crazy Ray's" junk yard (pick-in-pull) on a regular basis. They get $60 for axles - any type!
I'll keep looking for waggie and scout axles in the mean time. I visit "Crazy Ray's" junk yard (pick-in-pull) on a regular basis. They get $60 for axles - any type!
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2,319 Posts
Lee, I have the 3.73's from my AMC 20 that was in mine if you want to go a little lower with the gearing. Don't want him running 90 mph down the highway!
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2,280 Posts
Something I remembered about my 69 Jeepster when I was building a custom Dana 44 end for it, was the spring pearch center-to-center spacing. I seem to remember the CJ (76 - 86) spring pearch center-to-center spacing was about a 1/2" different than my 69 Jeepster. I don't remember the exact measurements, but I'm thinking the spring pearch spacing center-to-center on the CJ (76 - 86) is about 29" and my 69 Jeepster spring pearch spacing center-to-center was 29 1/2". I know a 1/2" is not much of a difference, but I went ahead and built my custom Dana 44 rear end for my 69 Jeepster to fit the Jeepster measurement, NOT the CJ (76 - 86) measurement.
dave
dave
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