CJ7 hp passenger drop 44

[Toad]

Little bit about the Jeep first. Dana 30 front, ARB, Warn internal hub conversion, 4.56 Superior shafts, 760 joints, 3/4 inch wheels spacers to match rear. Rear Scout 44, ARB, 4.56 gears Moser 35 spline. 4.2 howell efi. Awesome t5 transmission on 3rd or 4th one. Dana 300 Tera 4-1. 35 inch MTR Kevlar.
Sitting in the garage is a 2003 5.3 LS. Going to adapt AX15 5 speed. Reuse dana 300. The jeep is fine in the rocks. It has plenty of gearing to make up for being so damn gutless. Driving anywhere else sucks!!! I am concerned about the front 30 surviving. So I have been thinking about options. I want a HP44. I realize my only option is retubing a Ford axle. So is this doable? I have never done any sort of custom axle build. I would be looking for someone that can build this for me. Jeep is still spring under. Tips? Suggestions on who can build this?

 

[mbryson]

Didn't "Team Fred" Carl have one of those for sale a week or so ago?

 

[Jinx]

The only issue I can see would be the spring under.

Most Hp 44s are spring over on the casting. Maybe you could make the short side tube longer and mount a spring perch.

A second thought might might be buying the axles Team Fred has for sale.

After you you fix the Dana 30 with a V8 situation you might want to look at the Dana 44 rear. The big shafts are awesome but it's still a small ring gear.

This is build sounds awesome. Post pics!

 

[Pike2350]

I have a resleeved Ford HP D44 under my Rodeo. It was built by Outerlimit years ago (before I bought the truck) I'm not sure on the width, but it's doable. My truck is linked, but if you were to replace the trackbar/link mount, I think you could fit a spring pad on the bottom side.

As for who could to it (since Outerlimit is defunct) I bet Sexton could. I actually had him do some work on this one after I was concerned of it not being straight. They have since put a spacer between the upper link and track bar bracket, to make it more solid......I picked them to do it because they had an axle jig and true bar to make sure it wasn't bent....so I assume they could do it fairly easy.

Mine is set to be about 63" wide since it should use stock Wagoneer shafts.

 

[mbryson]

https://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.php?112582-Full-width-locked-axles&highlight=high+pinion+d44

Here's the Team Fred link. Not sure if it's still available or not? Conveniently setup for a CJ

 

[UNSTUCK]

I built Scout II dana 44's for my old v8 cj7. Loved them. Sprung under. You may have to adjust the caster and they work better if you run ford or chevy knuckles. But they are a valid option.

 

[Jinx]

Ok, follow up question, any particular reason it needs to be a High Pinion?

I agree they are cool, but my wallet and my brain fight things out like this all the time and usually my wallet wins.

I run LPD60 under my CJ and, knock on wood, haven't had any issues in the last 15+ years...

 

[Toad]

I thought about doing the high pinion for strength. But yes the cost definitely has to be considered. The dana 30 is low pinion and has not been a problem at all. I will run the 30 till it pops. I know a fair amount of guys that run V8 power CJs without a issue so who knows.