This is my Solid Axle Swap/Straight Axle Swap/Conversion (SAS).
After killing the front axle with 33in tires and a strong V8 5.9 Magnum.
I got a Dana 44 driver side drop from a 1989 Jeep Grand Wagoneer.
I pulled the axle compete with brakes, leaf springs, steering linkages, shock mounts from my local U-Pull It for $180.00. The axle has full time hubs, I will upgrade to manual locking hubs sometime in the future, very easy to do. It has 6x5.5 lug pattern (Very Common).
The plan is to do this swap with the least amount of welding. I have some ¼in 2.5x3.5 angle iron. I will bolt that up to the frame and mount up the spring hangers below it, and weld in some gussets. I will have the hangers and perches and various other brackets made by a local HD Spring shop.
I ordered 4.11:1 gear ratios for the new front axle and my rear Chry 8.25 (With No-Slip Locker). I ordered from www.ringpinion.com USA Standard gears. They are to be a little noisy but with the 33 Muds I will always have some road noises.
It all started by the removal of the axle from its donor Jeep. Then comes the clean up, the engine dripped oil all over the axle. After tons of wire brush cleaning and tons of quarters at the car wash it was all clean. Then disassembly and install the new gears.
Now the disassembly of the stock 4wd components. And the cutting of all the stock mounting brackets. I used a cut off wheel and a Sawzall. When I have more time I will grind down all the welds from the brackets.
I have 2 ProComp RockCrawler Black steel wheels that I put on the rear, I had slicks mounted on them for the dragstrip. I ordered 2 of the same kind for the front with the correct bolt pattern. I also ordered some Wheel Adapters to convert the Dakota 6x4.5 to 6x5.5, so I could use a 6x5.5 spare tire all around.
After killing the front axle with 33in tires and a strong V8 5.9 Magnum.

I got a Dana 44 driver side drop from a 1989 Jeep Grand Wagoneer.
I pulled the axle compete with brakes, leaf springs, steering linkages, shock mounts from my local U-Pull It for $180.00. The axle has full time hubs, I will upgrade to manual locking hubs sometime in the future, very easy to do. It has 6x5.5 lug pattern (Very Common).

The plan is to do this swap with the least amount of welding. I have some ¼in 2.5x3.5 angle iron. I will bolt that up to the frame and mount up the spring hangers below it, and weld in some gussets. I will have the hangers and perches and various other brackets made by a local HD Spring shop.
I ordered 4.11:1 gear ratios for the new front axle and my rear Chry 8.25 (With No-Slip Locker). I ordered from www.ringpinion.com USA Standard gears. They are to be a little noisy but with the 33 Muds I will always have some road noises.
It all started by the removal of the axle from its donor Jeep. Then comes the clean up, the engine dripped oil all over the axle. After tons of wire brush cleaning and tons of quarters at the car wash it was all clean. Then disassembly and install the new gears.

Now the disassembly of the stock 4wd components. And the cutting of all the stock mounting brackets. I used a cut off wheel and a Sawzall. When I have more time I will grind down all the welds from the brackets.



I have 2 ProComp RockCrawler Black steel wheels that I put on the rear, I had slicks mounted on them for the dragstrip. I ordered 2 of the same kind for the front with the correct bolt pattern. I also ordered some Wheel Adapters to convert the Dakota 6x4.5 to 6x5.5, so I could use a 6x5.5 spare tire all around.
