Solid Axle People - What housing are you using...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 869
Likes: 1
From: Bradford Pa
Solid Axle People - What housing are you using...
...and what would you say if i saidi had a Dana 44 Solid Axle housing laying around from an International Scout with a set of gears and a posi already installed? do you think that would be adequate enough for my purposes?
I was looking on summit for universal 4 link kits and they really arent that bad. i could use them as a "template" and make my own brackets if i had to. the coilover kit is ~300 bucks and the 4 link kit about the same - the housing is free and i need to buy rod ends but this looks to be a very economical route for me to take. i could do it myself using the existing D44 solid axle housing and set it in place for under 1000 dollars. so far a can determine from the web the width of the housing is about ~58"
OH...PAGING SKI - you have yours apart yet? i've got alot of free time coming real soon and wouldnt mind dropping in to learn a thing or 2 about this before i take the dive...
I was looking on summit for universal 4 link kits and they really arent that bad. i could use them as a "template" and make my own brackets if i had to. the coilover kit is ~300 bucks and the 4 link kit about the same - the housing is free and i need to buy rod ends but this looks to be a very economical route for me to take. i could do it myself using the existing D44 solid axle housing and set it in place for under 1000 dollars. so far a can determine from the web the width of the housing is about ~58"
OH...PAGING SKI - you have yours apart yet? i've got alot of free time coming real soon and wouldnt mind dropping in to learn a thing or 2 about this before i take the dive...
Last edited by Fubar569; Feb 5, 2007 at 04:41 PM.
Pro
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 635
Likes: 6
From: New Jersey
I just started my fabrication this past satuarday with the 9" , I trying to use factory mounted brackets for shocks. I wown up needing longer trailing arms which I order next day today and I made a crossmember for the trans. I had a rear fab from a guy in Johnstown Pa. last week I went to pick it up[IMG][img=http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/1851/1000871xp2.th.jpg][/IMG][IMG][img=http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/1851/1000871xp2.th.jpg][/IMG]I have a few pictures
Randy
Randy
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 869
Likes: 1
From: Bradford Pa
I just started my fabrication this past satuarday with the 9" , I trying to use factory mounted brackets for shocks. I wown up needing longer trailing arms which I order next day today and I made a crossmember for the trans. I had a rear fab from a guy in Johnstown Pa. last week I went to pick it up[IMG][img=http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/1851/1000871xp2.th.jpg][/IMG][IMG][img=http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/1851/1000871xp2.th.jpg][/IMG]I have a few pictures
Randy
Randy
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 914
Likes: 1
From: Redding Ca
There were a number of years (I think after 1973), but I do not know for how long, Jeep used a 2-piece axle
. Back in my "Jeep days" the big deal for Jeepers was to get a 1-piece axle. Mine was a 1973 so I was okay.
. Back in my "Jeep days" the big deal for Jeepers was to get a 1-piece axle. Mine was a 1973 so I was okay.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 869
Likes: 1
From: Bradford Pa
according to what i see, these scout Dana 44 solid axles used all 1 piece axles and are a very desirable swap for late model jeeps...
i always wanted to go D44, but never thought i'd have the shot at doing it as a solid axle...lol
i always wanted to go D44, but never thought i'd have the shot at doing it as a solid axle...lol
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 869
Likes: 1
From: Bradford Pa
if you dont mind, go ahead and post them up...or if you prefer email me at: fubar569@verizon.net
like i said, at this point it is a given i will need a solid rear of some sort. A D44 solid should be plenty strong in this application...and best part is i have one for free...
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 869
Likes: 1
From: Bradford Pa
that QA1 kit looks like its mounting to the same brackets as the upper and lower link rods, but on the back side. the kits im looking at are from competition engineering and come in 2 seperate pieces. the parts for the 4 link, and additional brackets to weld to the tubes for the coilover package...
i take it it really would make little difference...
i see you're using at least the factory batwing mounting points for the coilovers, correct?
that all looks really clean though...good work!
i take it it really would make little difference...
i see you're using at least the factory batwing mounting points for the coilovers, correct?
that all looks really clean though...good work!
Pro
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 635
Likes: 6
From: New Jersey
The brackets I'm using are from C/E they also make a few four links packages, but the ones I have utilizes more location for sway bar and a panhard bar which you're going to need. There was a post a month ago about doing a kit for a solid rear conversion, so I started research and thinking it out and trying to use stock location points. I"ll have a better idea tomorrow when I get the longer control arms and get the angle pitch on the rear. The crossmember I came up with you can still run exhaust easily.
Randy
Randy
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 869
Likes: 1
From: Bradford Pa
going with the D44 solid axle looks to be pretty doable.
tubes are 2.75" i believe. housing is a posi with 30 spline axles. they make a bolt on disc brake conversion kit that uses either monte carlo or eldorado calipers for ~250 bucks (calipers not included, but rotors are)
i think i found my new spring project
w00t for my dad saving absolutely everything he ever owned...haha
the hardest part looks to be the crossmember. from the looks of yours you welded it directly to the frame with a section that unbolts to let the transmission out correct?
tubes are 2.75" i believe. housing is a posi with 30 spline axles. they make a bolt on disc brake conversion kit that uses either monte carlo or eldorado calipers for ~250 bucks (calipers not included, but rotors are)
i think i found my new spring project
w00t for my dad saving absolutely everything he ever owned...haha
the hardest part looks to be the crossmember. from the looks of yours you welded it directly to the frame with a section that unbolts to let the transmission out correct?
Last edited by Fubar569; Feb 5, 2007 at 08:42 PM.
Pro
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 635
Likes: 6
From: New Jersey
the hardest part looks to be the crossmember. from the looks of yours you welded it directly to the frame with a section that unbolts to let the transmission out correct?
yes, I made it so you can take the crossmember down plus it bolts in and it will tie the frame together if you want to keep the c-beam and the IRS I have pics of that too.
Randy
yes, I made it so you can take the crossmember down plus it bolts in and it will tie the frame together if you want to keep the c-beam and the IRS I have pics of that too.
Randy
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 869
Likes: 1
From: Bradford Pa
you can keep the C-beam with your design? i see no reason to with the 4 link 9" setup - and actually it would hurt you...wouldnt you have to convert it to a type of torque arm to keep it?
the housing is 58" wide as far as i can tell. what is the width of the 9" housing you are using?
the axle tubes are 2.75" - and i am having a bastard of a time finding 2.75" 4 link brackets. fortunately i have several shops around here that can fab them if i bring them an example. i could prolly do it myself too...
the housing is 58" wide as far as i can tell. what is the width of the 9" housing you are using?
the axle tubes are 2.75" - and i am having a bastard of a time finding 2.75" 4 link brackets. fortunately i have several shops around here that can fab them if i bring them an example. i could prolly do it myself too...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
FYI
QA1 shock mounting kit. # MT100K-QA1
What I am using on my 9", 4 link conversion
Not worth the fab time at this price.
$70 from Summit
$20 here.
http://speed-eng.com/store/product_info.php?
cPath=27_2095&products_id=8258
QA1 shock mounting kit. # MT100K-QA1
What I am using on my 9", 4 link conversion
Not worth the fab time at this price.
$70 from Summit
$20 here.
http://speed-eng.com/store/product_info.php?
cPath=27_2095&products_id=8258
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 869
Likes: 1
From: Bradford Pa
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 869
Likes: 1
From: Bradford Pa
Every single kit i can find is for a 3" axle tube...
is anyone aware of any brackets to fit a 2.75" tube?
if not, i may have to have a local shop make a set by providing one of each bracket from the kit and have them duplicate it but with 2.75" axle tube diameter
is anyone aware of any brackets to fit a 2.75" tube?
if not, i may have to have a local shop make a set by providing one of each bracket from the kit and have them duplicate it but with 2.75" axle tube diameter