94 Ford E-250 rear axle?

[Jeffsj]

Sooooooo, I am still trying to come up with a good low budget rear axle assembly with a centered diff. I understand the early 90's Ford vans had Dana/Spicer Semi-floating rear axles. I found one of these on e-bay for $400 delivered. Has anyone used, or heard of someone using one of these in their Jeep? What I like is that it came with 3.54 gears to match the front diff I have now. What I don't know is how wide the axle is, or if I can get new axles to swap to the 6 lug pattern? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

[AwesomeJ10]

$400 for any rear axle is expensive.

What are you planning to do? What about the front?

[Tad]

Van axles (E250 is a Ford Van) are usually pretty wide for stability.
I can't picture it being cost effective to have 6-lug shafts made for a $400 axle just because it has the correct gearing.
I guess my question would be why the swap?
Are you wanting something wider or just a full float rear axle?

[carnuck]

We did that on my son's '83 Cherokee wide track that was stolen. New spring pads, swap the front to 8 lug (just need the knuckles from an 8 lug D44) but that price is crazy.

[Stuka]

Converting full float axles to 6 lug is not cheap. There are no used parts that you can grab from a junk yard. You need a whole new hub assembly and brake disc/drum. Axle shafts can stay the same. Then you need 6 lug wheels that have the larger 3/4 ton center hole. Which most do not have. And that axle is going to be a lot wider than you want most likely.

Are you planning on going with larger tires?

EDIT: I just noticed this is a D60-2 you are looking at. In which case, why? It is an upgrade over a D44, but not a huge one.

[Jeffsj]

I'm going to attempt to answer everyone's questions here. The whole reason I'm in this fix is that i have an off-center Dana 44 in the rear of my 79 Cherokee Wide Track and after my 5.3/4L60e/NP 241 swap and Tad's SOA/Shackle Flip kit, the angles are a no go. I need a centered diff. I have unfortunately already paid a ridiculous $600 to have all new bearings and seals put in the front Dana 44 and that is why I am trying to find something with 3.54's for the rear. The reason I was attracted to the 94 E-350 Dana 60 is because it comes with those gears PLUS it has the semi-floaters, like the Dana 44, instead of full-floaters. I am thinking this could make the axle switch to the 6 lug a feasible option? As far as the width goes on the van axle, I have found some info on that axle and it said it is 67-1/2" WMS-WMS. If this info is correct, that is about 3" wider than my stock wide-track, which puts it close to the same width as my front axle.

[AwesomeJ10]

Converting full float axles to 6 lug is not cheap. There are no used parts that you can grab from a junk yard. You need a whole new hub assembly and brake disc/drum.

Not entirely accurate Landcruisers have a FF 6 lug rear axle with discs and lockers. They are offset to the passenger side though.

[AwesomeJ10]

I'm going to attempt to answer everyone's questions here. The whole reason I'm in this fix is that i have an off-center Dana 44 in the rear of my 79 Cherokee Wide Track and after my 5.3/4L60e/NP 241 swap and Tad's SOA/Shackle Flip kit, the angles are a no go. I need a centered diff. I have unfortunately already paid a ridiculous $600 to have all new bearings and seals put in the front Dana 44 and that is why I am trying to find something with 3.54's for the rear. The reason I was attracted to the 94 E-350 Dana 60 is because it comes with those gears PLUS it has the semi-floaters, like the Dana 44, instead of full-floaters. I am thinking this could make the axle switch to the 6 lug a feasible option? As far as the width goes on the van axle, I have found some info on that axle and it said it is 67-1/2" WMS-WMS. If this info is correct, that is about 3" wider than my stock wide-track, which puts it close to the same width as my front axle.

Grab a J truck / WT D44 rear D44.

Or maybe a stock Chevy 10 bolt rear.

[REDONE]

That's exactly what I was going to say, look for a Chevy Express van with the 6lugs.

The 10-bolts "c-clip" reputation is not well earned. Yeah it's got c-clips, but it's a beefy chunk of tool steel, not the flimsy little poo stamp like in the D35. 10bs are real easy to rebuild compared to a D44 too, and the since the c-clip handles all axial force, the wheel bearings are FAR less prone to failure than our stock D44s.

All in all it's a wash since it's still a 1/2 ton semi-float axle, but it's not a step down like many web wheelers will say it is just because it's got c-clips.

Also you might get lucky and find a D-20 or NP208 cherokee with the centered D44 or M20 that would be a direct zero-mod swap...

[rocklaurence]

If you cant find a J10 axle then a Chevy 10/12 bolt will work. Some of the 4x4's and heavier trucks had the better 12 blt.

[jaber]

Hey Jeff. cruisin craigslist the other mornin I saw this set of '81 Dodge axles. The rear looks centered in the pic.

http://prescott.craigslist.org/pts/4103498490.html

The front is a 44 so your bearings and such will swap, matching set of gears, and I would find some 16" rims.

Dont know if this helps, just saw a cheaper set, closer.

[AwesomeJ10]

He said he didn't want a full float

Looks like a good deal on those axles and the front knuckles are flat tops! The front is already SOA and the rear perches are at the correct width for a FSJ (not necessary the correct angle though).

I think those axles would literally 'bolt in' to an FSJ. I did almost the same swap on my '88 GW (except I used a front D44 HP).

EDIT - by 'bolt in' I mean that you could physically install the axles. New steering would need to be made as well as a host of other minor things done to complete the job.

[Jeffsj]

Thanks Jeff! I may just have to check that out tomorrow if it's still available. Looks like a great deal! Thanks for the info too Blake!