Axle advice requested

I finally jumped off the fence about adding a disk brake conversion to my old --D25---front axle, and decided to go with a D30 with disks already on it from the factory.

Has 3.73 gears, which wont play well with the 5.38 rears

I am leaning pretty hard toward keeping the 3.73s.

So, I am faced with either changing out the front or rear gear set, or getting a newer rear axle with a 3.73 gear set already in it. Side benefit of flanged axles potential here

As I already have a D18 xfr case that I am planning on using, I will need an offset pumpkin----and when you throw in the flanged axle, well, that seems to be not too common of an item.

So, after a lot of searching the archives, it sounds like I have a couplethree of choices-----

1. Just re gear my stock 1960 rear end.

2. Keep looking for the correct offset rear end with 3.73s.

3. Go to a rear end with a centered pumpkin, and switch out the D18 for a D20.

4. Give up on the 3.73s, and just re gear the front end to 5.38. And then put in an OD.

I would like input from the collective mind on this, pro and con for the different choices.

Cost is a big factor in my final decision. Makes choice 4 look pretty bad.

Additional info.....1960 cj5, will be running a Chevy 4.3 v6, sm465 trans. Tires in the 31"-32" ares. No extreme off road craziness/rock crawling. Will be a daily driver.

Thanks in advance, you guys have been a great help for my previous questions.

P.S., I am looking at keeping the rear axle in the same width area as stock, or at least not any wider than the D30 up front----53".

 

# 2 per cost
# 1 if all else fails
used 3.73 gears for a tapered 44 shouldn't be that hard to come by.
# 2 shouldn't be that hard as well.
just my opinion of course

 

I'm looking at the same issue, I need a Dana 20 also.

If you want to go wide and keep your D18m, offset axles from some FSJ's may be of interest.

 

If your runnin 33s tires you wont like the 3.73s gotta slip the clutch to start off. also on the trail your movin about 10 15 mph at idle pretty fast on the rough stuff. I have em and I'm going to 5.38s

 

V6+sm465, think the 3.73 will work just fine, especially if you are not into hardcore crawling. 60:1 CR is not bad, considering the stock T90A and T90C CR's were about 37 and 44 respectively.

 

I guess I forgot to mention that I do not want to go wide.

The 30 front end is about 3" wider than stock, I want to try to keep the rear no wider than that.

 

With the granny low on your transmission and 33" tires maximum, I think you would be fine with the 3.73's. I run 4.88's with my 33" tires and if I didn't have the OD it would be too low for DD/Highway Cruising. My .02 would be to stick with a 32" tire and the 3.73's

 

Anybody know if a AMC 20 from a 79 CJ7 would be a good unit for what I am after??

I have found one that is the correct size, pumpkin offset etc.

So far, all I have been thinking was Dana 44-----Is the AMC 20 worth even looking at??

Thanks

 

Like you said, if you aren't doing any serious wheeling, and it will mostly be a DD, light wheeling machine. I think a QuadraTrac model 20 rear would work great. There is ton of aftermarket support for the model 20, I don't know if the one piece axle kits, etc. are available for the offset pumplin model 20 though.

 

Not too worried about the two piece axle, as you say, for my use should work fine.

What do you think the chances of it being a 3.73 ratio---
from a 79 cj7 with auto trans. I found the list of the codes for this axle, but the seller cant find where the code is stamped on the axle.

Thanks to all who have responded, anybody else got any input??

Nick?

 

most likely will be 3.54

 

Just my $0.02 but I'm staying with the D25 and using disk brakes from http://www.naors.net/. Then I'll add an overdrive. It's all kind of pricey but they look like straight forward upgrades.

The D30 option just looks like a can of worms to me.
1. Find the correct front D30 that is in okay shape and isn't too much $$.
2. Go through the work and hassle of swapping the front axles.
3. Realize that you can't find matching gear ratios.
4. Look for another rear axle that you can get gears for and isn't too much $$.
5. Go through the work and hassle of swapping the rear axles.
6. Look for new gears for the rear axle that aren't too much $$.
7. Go through the work and hassle if swapping the gears in the new axle.
8. Realize that now your D18 won't work with your new axle.
9. Look for a D20 that is in okay shape and isn't too much $$.
10. Go though the work and hassle of swapping out your transfer case.
11. Reaize that your rear drive line will no longer work with the D20 and new rear axle.
12. Look for another rear drive line that is in okay shape and isn't too much $$.
13. Give up looking for this elusive drive line and have a custom one made for more $$.

This may be a bit of an exaggeration since many people have done these upgrades, but you get the idea.

 

Dana 30s with 3.73 and 3.54 gears are everywhere. Not an issue at all. If you want to get 5.38 gears for it they are $150 and set-up. A overdrive costs??? You can make it hard if you want to, but it just doesn't have to be.

 

To me the issue is the rear axle with the 4.88 gears. Finding and installing a matching rear axle to match the front is what looks like a can of worms to me. I just don't want to change out the front axle, rear axle and possibly even the transfer case just to get front disk brakes. Again, this is just my opinion. There are other benefits to changing out the rear axle that may persuade someone, such as getting away from the tapered shafts.

 

I have a great idea, why don't you give me an offer on a flanged 44 from a 70, come pick it up and regear it?

 

Deja uv here.

I went through pretty much the same thought process, finally decided to bite the bullet and do the D30 swap.

I must admit that when I made that decision, I was still just a bit optimistic in my thoughts as to what it would take to change the rear gears in my existing D44.

I do like the idea of a later rear axle, and a D20 xfr case---but as you say, lots of work, and $$$$.

Thanks to all for the input, keep the ideas comming.

 

YEP---but I decided to go that way, too late now. Long hard decision process.

No extravagation, you hit it pretty much 100%.

 

The saga ends.

My search for the answer to my problems ended today, I just got home with a narrowed D44, offset pumpkin, PowerLock and 3.73s, complete 11" brake setup-------and Rancho springs, shocks, and shackles.



$300......

Life is good

Thanks to all who came forth with a bit of input to this thread, it is good to have the access to the group mind, and all the knowledge that is available.

 

Time to get out the jackstands and bolt it all up!