Fell down a rabbit hole on the inter webs. Dropping a Comanche and plan to notch a 2WD beam for clearance to the oil pan and lower the UCA and LCA mounts on the beam to maintain suspension geometry. Here is where the WJ comes in. I plan to run some of the nicer looking WJ wheels on the Comanche, something in a 17" flavor, want the wheels flush with the flare. I am thinking of starting with a WJ 2WD beam, cut the mounts off and narrow it. Seems simplest way to change bolt pattern, upgrade to bigger brakes, and crossover steering. Have to cut all of the mounts off and narrow it, but I would have to cut the mounts off the MJ axle and notch it anyways. Thoughts/experience?

Here's my next thought, is the back spacing on the WJ wheels greater than the MJ/XJ setup that when combined with the WJ axle width gives you an equal overall width? If so, then I wouldn't need to narrow it, only rework the mounts.

Plan to go to Pick N Pull tomorrow armed with a tape measure. Looking for insight on measurements I need to take, anything I have missed. Also looking for any experience swapping axles between the two. I know the WJs are 5x5 while the XJ/MJ are 5x4.5. The 5x5 will accommodate the WJ wheels I want to use anyways. The rear axle is the variable I will then have to sort. Will be swapping in something stronger than the D35 to live behind the SBC, so will sort the rear axle bolt pattern then.

 

 

If everyone lifts them and puts big tires on them, that gets boring. Trying to keep it interesting. I already have a lifted XJ.

 

Do you have a MJ beam?

If not, sure, grab the WJ one and narrow it.

Otherwise I'd say just put the WJ knuckles on the MJ beam.

WJ axles are wider, wheel offset is similar. The WJ tracks wider since it's just bigger in every way than the XJ.

That said, this depends what look you're going for, along with tire size and drop. You could widen the track up and probably get away with it, assuming you're willing to do a little reworking of the sheetmetal.

One way or another you'll want a wider rear axle since the MJ one was too narrow to begin with anyways.

 

The MJ is a 2wd, so I have the beam in it. I thought the WJ knuckles had to be modified to work with the XJ/MJ beam, that's why I was looking at narrowing a WJ beam. I am not going to rework the sheetmetal on the MJ, I hate sheetmetal work. I work structural steel for a living, so I usually end up bashing the sheet metal up working it. The finesse needed to work sheetmetal escapes me.

As far as end goal, I am looking for 3-4" of drop and an appropriate sized tire to fill the wheel well nicely. I would like it to look like a factory option, thats the reason for the stock Jeep wheels. My overall plan for the MJ is a fun cruiser. Will take it down to the 1/8th mile track occasionally. Use it for hauling bulky items from Lowe's, I have a F250 for the heavy loads.

 

So what is the WMS of the MJ axle and of the WJ axle?

You could just use the MJ axle and 1.5" wheel spacer/adapters to go from 5x4.5 to the 5.5.

 

I believe they bolt on. Guys modded them to be able to use XJ unit bearings and stick with the useless 5x4.5 bolt pattern.

 

He has a D35 and wants to put a V8 in it. That's enough right there.

 

Went to the junk yard today. The WJ is 63.5 while the XJ is 60. I was hoping the 3" difference was in the center. But it is not, the difference is between the spring and the knuckle. That means I would have to cut the spring buckets off and move them. That means it will be more work to use the WJ beam. I'll mod the MJ beam and bolt on the WJ outers. From there I just need to find a rear axle with a 5x5 bolt pattern around MJ width. Leaning towards an 8.8 out of an Explorer with wheel adapters. Cheap and comes with 4.10 gears, LSD, and disc brakes. Hard to beat the deal.

Unless someone knows an axle of comparable strength, similar cost, and abundance.

 

The Liberty 8.25 might be an okay choice. They're a little wider than the 8.8 is, which you're going to need, even with adapters. Similar otherwise, various gear ratios, disk brakes, limited slips, etc.

Otherwise I'd say a JK rear. There's enough out there that they're fairly common now. They're also a bit wider, again that's not a bad thing. You wouldn't need adapters though, so they might not actually be wide enough. The MJ has a very wide frame compared with the XJ and it causes all sorts of clearance issues unless you go wider than stock, unless you're planning on running narrow tires (I hope not).

FWIW the brakes on the 8.8 are undersized by any modern standards.