1978 CJ7 Rear end issues...NEED HELP PLEASE!

[sassriverrat]

Good Morning,

I am restoring a 1978 CJ7 that has a AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l with the Quadra-Trac differential. I used the wide front axle from a '86 Laredo with the gears from the '78 as my new front end, and am now onto the rear end. My question is, the rear end of the '78 is narrow, and my new front end is wide(I have to use the gears from the narrow rear end though to match the front), and the rear end from the '86 Laredo is wide, but the differential on the axles is centered, as opposed to the '78 where it is offset for the Quadra-trac. If I were to put in the wider Laredo axle with the center differential, would it stress the drive shaft and joints too much to make that 25ish degree angle? I think it's 25 roughly, but couldn't be totally sure without a protractor.

Thanks,
Austen

 

[Old Dog]

IMO that would be to much.
You might talk to someone like Tom Woods driveshafts and be able to get a high angle shaft made, not sure.

 

[Jimbos76cj]

I think the difference between them is between 3-4". Get a set of spacers and run the stock axle. I would install one peice axles why you have it apart.

 

[sassriverrat]

I am not looking at putting in both of the wide track axles, getting a different center differential, and putting it back together. Any recommendations on things? I am a teenager(junior in highschool) with means Limited budget. I have the automatic, and was stressing to keep the Quadtrac only because I was stressed upon by friends on the importance of being able to lock the differentials. A manual would certainly be fun, but any ideas, and what mods to the engine. As I said, I need this to be very cost effective, and I currently have a GM Turbo 400 with the 1339 Quadtrac that has less than 50k on it.

Thanks for all of the help,
Austen L. Parish

 

[sassriverrat]

oh, and to help any future readers, the differential to leaf spring mounts are 11 inches on the offset, and 17.5 inches. and custom drive shafts won't work