CJ7 Dana 44

[Lumpy Grits]

There's more you have to change than just the brakes to go disc.
Don't 'fix' what ain't broke--
LG

 

[EVERYUSERNAMEISTAKEN]

Well it turns out that my new found axle doesn't actually have the gear ratio that they thought it had in it. It has 4.09 which would be ok for now but I want to go ahead and replace them with 4.88's. How can I tell if I have normal sized ring and pinion or the "thick" ring and pinion? I'm attaching a picture so you can see first hand what I have. Please excuse my ignorance. I'm just curious bc the ring gear looks thicker than I expected.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

You have the 'normal' thickness ring gear.
I would dive it some with that ratio and see how you like it.
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

Now re-gear the front end to match.

 

[EVERYUSERNAMEISTAKEN]

Thanks guys! I'd like to take your advice on driving it around to see how I like that ratio but I've already ordered a new Front Dana 44 from East Coast Gear Supply with 4.88's and an E-Locker. I think 4.88's should be a good fit for off-roading and grocery getting. I should have the axle installed in a couple of weeks. I'll start a build thread once I get going on this. Thanks again for the help!

 

[Lumpy Grits]

What Transmission are you run'n? What t'case?
Will you keep using the 36's?
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

I love it! A man who doesn't mess around with the small stuff. Need a front axle, order one to your exact specifications. It pleases me to see there are still people in the CJ world that can do such thing.

 

[EVERYUSERNAMEISTAKEN]

What Transmission are you run'n? What t'case?

Will you keep using the 36's?

LG

I'm not 100% on this but pretty dang sure:
AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l , T-5 Transmission and Dana 300 Transfer Case .

It's an 84 CJ7 that is pretty much original with the exception of 2 new motors one of them due to catching on fire. This was my dads old daily driver and has been an on going "project" for a while.

Not sure if I will stay with the 36's but for now that's what we are going to run. I know we're are basically maxing out the Dana 44 's but I just can't shell out the money for Currie 9" hybrids right now.

The jeep will be driven around town with very little time on the highway. The gear calculator had the RPM's around 2700 at 70 mph I think. Which is faster than I plan on going.

 

[EVERYUSERNAMEISTAKEN]

I love it! A man who doesn't mess around with the small stuff. Need a front axle, order one to your exact specifications. It pleases me to see there are still people in the CJ world that can do such thing.

Lmao well I honestly feel like I'm cheating by doing this but I lack the know how and time to junk yard shop for axles. I'm finding that we are pretty Limited to the things that you can just buy and bolt on to the ol CJ's. I plan on buying a mig welder in the near future and make this a real project.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

If you are run'n a 5 speed 'box' then go with the 4:88.
I love mine.
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

IMHO there is no need to feel like you are cheating. Believe me, if I had the spare change I'd rather (in some ways) write a check to have someone else do the work. One real problem is, at least for me, who can you trust to do the work correctly the first time?

That is a lot of tire. My CJ had 35's on it and it felt like driving a basketball around. In your defense, my CJ was not properly set up for that size tire.

 

[EVERYUSERNAMEISTAKEN]

If you are run'n a 5 speed 'box' then go with the 4:88.

I love mine.

LG

I'm glad to hear that!! I was a little worried that they would be a little too high.

 

[EVERYUSERNAMEISTAKEN]

IMHO there is no need to feel like you are cheating. Believe me, if I had the spare change I'd rather (in some ways) write a check to have someone else do the work. One real problem is, at least for me, who can you trust to do the work correctly the first time?

That is a lot of tire. My CJ had 35's on it and it felt like driving a basketball around. In your defense, my CJ was not properly set up for that size tire.

I know exactly what you mean about trusting someone to do the job right. I had done some research and East Coast Gear Supply had good reviews, so I figured it was worth a shot. I really wanted the Currie 9's but man that was going to be steep. I wouldve still needed to buy the out knuckle assemblies and set up the steering linkages. The Dana 44 I bought should be a direct bolt in.

The 36's are a pretty decent size tire and makes the jeep feel like a bad@ss golf cart. If I go bigger then I will have some serious fender trimming to do. I can't decide between the TNT Customs or GenRight tube fenders.

 

[Hedgehog]

With the really big tires I imagine slamming on the brakes in an emergency stop and your CJ turning into a tumbling ball going down the road. But keep in mind, I'm 57. I've skidded down the road more than once, so I simply can't ignore my little safety demon.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

The real concern I would have with 36's and the itty-bitty brakes that AMC used. Is stop'n the thing go'n forward and/or back'n down a hill. Especially, if the brakes are wet.

LG

 

[CJim7]

Im running 36's and the stock brakes seem to handle them just fine. I can lock them up if I try.

You get up to 38-40 and then it's time to start thinking larger...but then the axles that will handle that tire size have larger brakes.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

FWIW: I could just barely 'lock' my rears with the OEM '20' and power brakes run'n 33" BFG/AT's. Wouldn't lock if the brakes where hot.
The much bigger brakes on my 9", made all the difference in the world.
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

Lets not beat the OP up on big tires or brakes, I'm sure he knows what he's doing. We don't want to derail the thread, that would be bad.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Doesn't that 44 have larger brakes than the 20 did?
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

The D-44s built in the 1970's definitely had bigger brakes than the AMC 20s