Cj rebuilt with ZJ axles

[Funnyjeeper]

Hello together,
A friend of mine starts to rebuilt his 85 CJ7 .
He wants to swap to ZJ axles. Rear the Dana 44 and in frond the Dana 30 .
He is into the ZJ setup because of the discbrakes in the raer.
I think the Dana 44 from the ZJ is not doing any good with his LT1 engine with about 300 to 350 HP.
What do you think and does anybody have done this swap?

What would be another option? Ford 8.8 or wide Dana 44 from 86?

Thanks a lot in advance.

Frank

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Hard to find fault with a Ford 3/4-ton truck 9", in the rear.
BTW-60+% of your braking is from the front axle.
LG

 

[Petescj]

Hello together,
A friend of mine starts to rebuilt his 85 CJ7 .
He wants to swap to ZJ axles. Rear the Dana 44 and in frond the Dana 30 .
He is into the ZJ setup because of the discbrakes in the raer.
I think the Dana 44 from the ZJ is not doing any good with his LT1 engine with about 300 to 350 HP.
What do you think and does anybody have done this swap?

What would be another option? Ford 8.8 or wide Dana 44 from 86?

Thanks a lot in advance.

Frank

That's an odd axle swap. Why would he want a Dana 44 with an aluminum center section? The axle tubes are known to spin and worse yet I hear they eat bearings after flexing off road. And their set up for coil springs. The Dana 44 wide track you mentioned is a direct bolt in and the easiest swap. The Ford 8.8 is also a popular swap and will have the rear disc brakes if he really wants them.

 

[js5020]

Very odd combination indeed, I have a ZJ and honestly I don't think I would be gaining anything over the stock components by doing such a swap other than the 4 wheel discs. The front driveshaft is on the wrong side for the stock T case. Love the ZJ brakes and the select-trac T case though.

 

[Peanut Butter]

Just a thought, but guys he's in Germany. Maybe finding the parts is a really big deal for them.

I have to agree with the other guys recommendations, if you can find those parts it would be a better way to go. One question would be is he trying to stay with leaf springs or going the coil spring route?

Good luck with your buddies build.

 

[Greenwithenvy]

Why not look into a Chrysler 8-1/4" out of a later Jeep XJ? There are lots of them around the world. In my opinion, it is a better axle than a Ford 8.8.

 

[js5020]

Ummm, didn't catch the Germany thing. Also no description on the intended use, wheeler or road wagon? I also don't think the ZJs have aluminum center sections at least my 95 doesn't, or they made aluminum that a magnet sticks to? Biggest obstacle I see without taking any measurements is the front prop shaft, its on the opposite side.

As with most things however if there is a will there is a way, and with enough time, effort and cash one can do just about anything.

I cant say I haven't thought about doing this also, I like the disc brakes on all 4, and the select-trak of the ZJ. Love the ZJ its a bit more comfort and luxury over a CJ for sure . My ZJ is getting tired though with 200K+ miles and the Transmission is doing the normal "ready to puke" thing again,,, what I would really like to do with the ZJ is get rid of the 4.0 and the 42RE in favor of an OM617 or other oil burner and another slush box,, but I would prefer another CJ and drop a OM617 or other oil burner and a manual Transmission into it, just cant beat a CJ for simplicity, durability or adaptability, and with all the parts available in the US a CJ can be kept alive for longer than its owner.

 

[Greenwithenvy]

Thought this might help!
Default Jeep Axle Spec's
Axle Width Data

Factory tread with is not WMS to WMS. It's center of stock tire on stock wheel to the same on the other side. It depends on offset of wheels and several other factors. Tread width is usually narrower than WMS to WMS because of the off set the center of tire is farther inboard than WMS. Use this chart for comparison.

CJ8s can have both wide and narrow factory axles

The J-10 axle is wider than a NT and narrower than a WT.

'41 to 45 Jeep MB: 48.25"
'46 up CJ2a , CJ3a : 48.25"
'49-65 Jeep Utility Wagon: 57"
'49 Willys Jeepster 2WD 57"
'52 up CJ3b : 48.44"
'52 M-38A 49.19" (Military width)
'54-71 CJ5 48.44" (so called early narrow axle)
'55-75 CJ6 48.44" (so called early narrow axle)
'47-65 Pickup (the classic) frnt-56" rr-63.5"
'63-69 J-200, J-2000 65.5"
'63-69 J-300, J-3800 65.75"
'70- 72, Gladiator J-2000 frnt-63.5" rr-63.81"
'70- 72, Gladiator J-4000 frnt-63.8" rr-64.38"
'73 J-2500 frnt-63.5" rr-63.8"
'73 all other J trucks frnt-63.9" rr-64.4"
'74-75 J-10 frnt-62.9" rr-63.8"
'76-87 J-10 frnt-63.3" rr-63.8"
'74-75 J-20 frnt-62.9" rr-64.4" with disc brakes: frnt-63.0" rr-64.4"
'76-84 J-20 frnt-64.9" rr-65.9"
'63-72 Wagoneer 57"
'73 Wagoneer frnt-57.3" rr-57.5"
'74-75 Wagoneer frnt-59" rr-57.5"
'74-75 Cherokee (full size) frnt-58.8' rr-57.5"
'76-91 Wagoneer, '80+ Cher frnt-59.4" rr-57.8"
'76-79 Cherokee (full size) frnt-59.2" rr-57.8"
'76-78 Cherokee S frnt-59.5" rr-58.5"
'76-80 Cherokee Chief 2 dr. frnt-65.4" rr-62.3"
'81-83 Cherokee Chief 2 dr. frnt-65.3" rr-62.3"
'67-71 Jeepster C-101 50"
'72-73 Commando C-104 frnt-51.5" rr-50"
'72-83 CJ5 , frnt-51.5" rr-50" (so called-
'76-81 CJ7 , CJ8 ('81 only) frnt-51.5" rr-50" narrow axle)
'82-86 CJ7 frnt-55.8" rr-55" (so called- wide axle)
'82-85 Scrambler, CJ8 frnt-55.8" rr-55" wide axle )
'84-87, 93 up Cherokee XJ 58"
'88 up Cherokee XJ 57"
'86-92 Comanche, 57"
'87 up Wrangler, YJ/TJ 58"
'93 up Grand Cherokee, ZJ/WJ 58"