2023 Dana 44 F/R on 1989 J10?
Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2024 12:03 am
Hey everybody.
Title says it all. I picked up an absolute peach of a 1989 J10 (Laredo package no less) with a 360. Automatic. Interior is mint. I want to drive this thing and with that I also want to do some preventative maintenance.
The factory Dana 44 and AMC 20 will be fine for around town and around the farm, but, after doing a dynatrac swap on my 2023 gladiator, I have a set of new Rubicon Dana 44 axles with no home.
Looks like the length of the J10 axles are about 63/64", and the rubicon axles should net me roughly 5" overall (2.5-3" on both sides).
My idea list is as follows:
-Cut brackets off new axles
-Weld new brackets for springs, etc.
-Get some different backspacing wheels to tuck into the wheel wells (assuming I can find some skinny wheels/tires)
-More lift if I do run into backspacing issues
-New driveshafts. Guy that does mine is pretty flexible but I'm not sure if he can make the original t-case work. I hear flanges have changed over the years.
-Maybe an ARB compressor/lockers down the road since wiring the factory electronic lockers sounds like a nightmare, especially on this old truck.
-I think the clearances for the factory axles will be similar to the new Dana 44s in terms of fuel tank/underbody room.
I think it's a cool idea, but with that usually comes lots of roadblocks but I was wondering if anybody here has done something similar. Of course all the cool, new, fully built J10 builds/mods with new products don't ever post their how-to's online.
Biggest concerns are getting wheels/tires. I feel like the backspacing necessary might be impossible to find. If I can, I will have very little up travel before I hit the fenders if those wheels do poke out. Factory JT wheels might be a good place to start. Although, since I'm full-time 4WD right now, those caps for the hubs make me wonder if the new Dana 44s won't be about that wide. I'm thinking the new wheel mounting face will be towards the end of those center caps as it currently sits.
Let me know what you think! Thanks.
Title says it all. I picked up an absolute peach of a 1989 J10 (Laredo package no less) with a 360. Automatic. Interior is mint. I want to drive this thing and with that I also want to do some preventative maintenance.
The factory Dana 44 and AMC 20 will be fine for around town and around the farm, but, after doing a dynatrac swap on my 2023 gladiator, I have a set of new Rubicon Dana 44 axles with no home.
Looks like the length of the J10 axles are about 63/64", and the rubicon axles should net me roughly 5" overall (2.5-3" on both sides).
My idea list is as follows:
-Cut brackets off new axles
-Weld new brackets for springs, etc.
-Get some different backspacing wheels to tuck into the wheel wells (assuming I can find some skinny wheels/tires)
-More lift if I do run into backspacing issues
-New driveshafts. Guy that does mine is pretty flexible but I'm not sure if he can make the original t-case work. I hear flanges have changed over the years.
-Maybe an ARB compressor/lockers down the road since wiring the factory electronic lockers sounds like a nightmare, especially on this old truck.
-I think the clearances for the factory axles will be similar to the new Dana 44s in terms of fuel tank/underbody room.
I think it's a cool idea, but with that usually comes lots of roadblocks but I was wondering if anybody here has done something similar. Of course all the cool, new, fully built J10 builds/mods with new products don't ever post their how-to's online.
Biggest concerns are getting wheels/tires. I feel like the backspacing necessary might be impossible to find. If I can, I will have very little up travel before I hit the fenders if those wheels do poke out. Factory JT wheels might be a good place to start. Although, since I'm full-time 4WD right now, those caps for the hubs make me wonder if the new Dana 44s won't be about that wide. I'm thinking the new wheel mounting face will be towards the end of those center caps as it currently sits.
Let me know what you think! Thanks.