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Building my Axles

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Building my Axles
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dizenman

Jeeper
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Location
Burlingame
Vehicle(s)
76 cj7
So,

I've got a 76 CJ7 , and its one of the seemingly rare ones with a factory Dana 44 rear instead of the AMC20 , plus the normal Dana 30 front. im looking to run 35s on it, and im trying to upgrade as much as possible on these axles without having to go through the craziness of swapping in new axles.

The Dana 30 up front is pretty easy, but I have been having the toughest time finding any info on these Dana 44 rear, or even available parts. The extend of what I've been able to find is that it is 30 spline, and i likely have it with a quadra trac Transfer Case .

anyone have any insight or anywhere I can search to find parts to build this to handle 35's?

Thanks
 
My comment would be that no Dana 44 came factory in any 1976 CJ.
If in fact if you do have a Dana 44 and it's proper width and factory, it might have come from a 1986 CJ7 ; with that being said, the last year for Quadra Trac would have been 1979 (from factory)
So maybe pictures of what you have could be helpful, but so much time has passed now that in reality your Jeep could be equipped with almost any drive train combination imaginable.
You could have an offset flanged 44 from a 70-71 CJ, or a centered flanged 44 from a 72-75 CJ.
Or a cut down 44 from a Wagoneer or Truck.
The list goes on and on.,...
 
I was starting to think the same, then I found this:

https://www.jeeptech.com/axle/d44.html

Per that link “ After '76, the AMC20 was the the only axle used in CJs with two exceptions. Some CJ-7s with the Borg-Warner Quadra-Trac Transfer Case came with a 30 spline, one piece shaft, offset, narrow track Dana 44 . The other exception is in 1986, when CJ production was coming to a close AMC 20s were in short supply, so they used wide track Dana 44s in some of the '86 models.”

I believe I fall into the first category
 
Myth/non-truth.
Believe what you want.
 
Is there a way to identify it?

It is offset to the driver side. It is definitely a 44, but if what I found there is a myth, the either my Cj is 75 or earlier, or someone in the past swapped it.

I just don’t know how to tell
 
Like Hagar said...could be anything. May be as simple as you actually having a '75 that was not titled right away.

It could be that it's been swapped. Easiest way to tell would be to measure...'75 would be narrow track (50.5), '86 would be wide (54.5). anything other than that would most likely be wider and would probably suggest either non-CJ donors or tube length mods.

Parts abound for the 44...what you put in it will largely be determined by what you intend to do with it

You'll be far more Limited in capability with the 30 anyway...35s are pushing it for that axle, especially if you intend to wheel it to any extent
 
If you do indeed have a QuadraTrac all wheel drive system, it will have a automatic Transmission (GM Turbo 400 ) mated it and the rear diff will be offset to the right. The QT was offered in the CJ7 from 1976 to 1979. The CJ5 was to short for the QT. Look in the glove box it should have an Emergency traction selector for the QT.
From what I can find on the Dana 44 it was the FSJs with QT but not the CJ. But it would have to be narrowed to fit in a CJ.

On edit: 1976 to 1981 the axles are narrow trac and the rear measure 50" backplate to backplate.
 
Last edited:
Mine is a manual so it can’t be a Quadra trac then. It is also a CJ7 so it has to be 76+, i was told 76 when I purchased it but I haven’t actually checked the vin.

It definitely has a Dana 44 though. It’s offset to the left. So someone did a swap some time on the past. That has to be the only possibility.
 
Soooooo..... a QuadraTrac will not have a Transfer Case shifter to the right of your gear shift.

There were some earlier D44s that were passenger offset and mated to Spicer 18s if memory serves.

You’re describing a driver offset rear end of which I’m completely unaware of in. CJ.

As you’ll often hear on this site....pictures please...
 
In stock form the 76 to 79 CJ7 came with a 4spd (T-18 ) or 3spd (T-150 ) mated to a Dana 20 xfer case. Which had a centered rear diff. With a 6 cyl or a V8.
As 007 said we like pics.
A good source for info other than here is jeeptech.com
 
so, Im thinking it is a Dana 44 out of a 72-75 CJ7 . it is about 45 inches wide, and im actually wrong, it is centered. the front axle is offset to the passenger side. what threw me off is that there is a hose coming out of it that is plugged off. it appears a previous owner may have had some sort of cooler or something installed maybe? im not sure.

heres a terrible photo.

https://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/photo_popup.php?e=vB_Editor_001#
 
Your pic didn't work.
I'm wondering if the "hose" you see isn't the vent line. If it is it should NOT be plugged off.
 
TnCJ said:
Your pic didn't work.
I'm wondering if the "hose" you see isn't the vent line. If it is it should NOT be plugged off.
Click to expand...

I think it is the vent line. it is plugged though. the things ive found on this jeep would probably astound you.

if you look in my gallery, it is one of the images uploaded there.
 
hagar said:
No, first year for CJ7 is 1976.
If could be a 44 from a 72-75 CJ or even 72-73 Commando; who knows ?
Click to expand...

Realized that after the fact. I’m thinking it’s from a 72-75 CJ5
But every time I try to do anything on this car I find more weird :dung: the old owners did so I have no clue
 
dizenman said:
I think it is the vent line. it is plugged though.
Click to expand...

The vent line from the diff will have what looks like a plug in the end but if you take a close look it should have a very small screen on it, it's just a small filter so dirt does not get into the line. Leaving it completely open (un plugged) would allow road grime inside there and we don't want that.
 
j6824 said:
Like Hagar said...could be anything. May be as simple as you actually having a '75 that was not titled right away.
Click to expand...
This. This is what happened to me with my '99 ('98) Chevy Silverado. It was registered as a '99 but when I went to buy a manual for it, the picture on the front was of a newer one. It took me a few minutes to realize that my truck was built with leftover parts from the '98 body style etc..
Yep, you've a '75 CJ.
 
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