Uhrinator

So I have access to a 1979 Ford f150 with a dana 44 front and a ford 9" rear axle. My question is, are they worth it to try and put them under our jeep? So far it is bone stock and we are getting ready to do a 5.5" lift with 35's. I want to have bigger axles to run the tires, so, is it worth the effort? Or should I just wait till I can find a 44 from a cherokee? Thanks
Ben

RkyMtnH

The ford D44 would be nice in the Cherokee. You will need coil spring perches, trac bar mount, upper and lower control arm mounts welded to it. I would definately get it. I can't remeber of hand if that year was HP or LP housing? The 9" rear is ok. They too can get pricey. You will still need to have new shock tabs and spring pads welded on too. Depends on how much wheeling you are planning on doing ? If yopu HD on the rear and front, like anything else, it will cost you. Only benfit to a 9" is the accessability to changing the gears in it. That and the disc brake conversion. my two penny's worth though.

Black00XJ

It's totally up to you. Sounds like a good deal on axles and what-not, but fabrication will have to take place to get them under your XJ. But I believe you'll need more lift for 35's or very long bumpstops

RkyMtnH

BTW. Stock D44's can run 35 - 37 in tires. They get my vote for F/R under the XJ. It also depends on fab skills, time and money too.

Uhrinator

Thanks, It helps a lot.
I'll be doing a lot of fender trimming.

xjmarc

Look close at the 44, most 78-79 models have cast wedges. That means you can't cut off the wedges like the welded on versions. It will be a HP version. If it has cast wedges you can adapt the ford radius arms to work just like aftermarket long arm/radius arm setups which work quite well. The 9" is way tough and if built right is stronger than a Dana 60. 79 will be the big bearing 31 spline version. Only weak link is the factory cast housing but I have an uncle that runs one in his 8.5sec. pro stock Mustang and it seems to hold up fine.

posjeepxj

so what year/years would be best to get the axles from. do i want a 150 or a 250 ford?

xjmarc

76-77 are good choices and the F250 44s are slightly beefier on the housing. They are 8 lug but the knuckles and such will swap over. The F250 were leaf sprung so less time grinding off a bunch of garbage but people think they are worth more for some reason.

OnlyInMyXJ22

x2