First off hi! I have done a lot of research on this board, but haven't got involved with the local chapter. Hopefully this will change. I have a Isuzu 44 from a 94 I think it was. I have wanted to see what it would take to get it under my XJ. I'm talking more specific stuff. Thought I would ask if anyone here in Co. has done this swap. Trying to figure out how cheap I could get it done for. Feel free to e-mail me. Thanks in advance.
Have any locals done a Isuzu 44???
- Thread starter Powerman
- Start date
Yucca-Man
NAXJA Member # 683
- Location
- Castle Rock, CO
The first issue is going to be the lug pattern - Isuzu used a 6-lug with something like 5.5" center, if I remember that measurement correctly. So you're either going to have to have separate front and rear wheel/tire combos or will need to re-do the front to match.
I'm trying to remember who was selling an Isuzu D44 on here and Co4x4 last year; they'd know more about the pitfalls of that axle under an XJ.
I'm trying to remember who was selling an Isuzu D44 on here and Co4x4 last year; they'd know more about the pitfalls of that axle under an XJ.
Hey Yucca! I've talked to you before, but you probably would't remember. Obviously there is more. I have a Waggy 44 too that is going up front. It will take a while to build them and get them under my Jeep. A friend mentioned putting a lunch box locker in my D35 for now. That got me thinking... The ZU 44 has 4.10s. My jeep has 3.73 and 32's on it now. I could put in the 44 with a lunch box locker. I would have to use adapters to make the wheels right. I could regear my D30 with 4.10s and a trutrac. I don't want to do things twice, but the end result would be 4.10s on 32's with disk brakes, a locked rear and a limited slip up front. I could run on that for a while until I got the front ready, which would take a while.
- Location
- Thornton, CO
Yucca-Man said:
That was me, then I sold it to Chris (xj-grin), he then traded it off I believe. Sounds like you don't mind having to use the adapters to get it in. Which will be the better way to go since you will be swapping in a waggy 44 with the matching pattern later on. So since that issue is taken car of, all you need to do is put perches and shock mounts on it and it's good to go. One more thing I just remembered. The brake line fittings are metric and the jeep lines are not. There is a way to fix this, though it eludes me at the moment. Pm xjnation here on
, he has this rearend under his MJ and has solved the brake issue. Good Luck........... :thumbup:
xj-grin
NAXJA Member #1096
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
Nope DJ, I still have it, and it will be going under the rig in the next few weeks. I have heard of people using 6 on5.5 adapters to 5 on 4.5, but have never actually seen them. Stock is SUA, so you will need to weld perches and shock mounts. The metric brake fittings are available at NAPA (reminds me I need to go pick some up). The width of these things was discussed in an earlier thread, and varies alot between the years. Mine is 58.5 WMS to WMS, and I am using 1.5" spacers to match the width of my waggy front. Gearing is either 4.10, 4.30 or 4.56, and all are "thick" Rubi style gears on the high gear carrier. I picked up a set of 4.30's used cheap on the Pirate Isuzu board for my Waggy 44 front, so I am not having to regear the rear. You will need to pick up a standard 1310 yoke, as Isuzu uses flanges... That's all I can come up with for now... 
Thanks guys. I pm'ed xjnation. So I have seen a lot of discussion, but no hard answers. Threre is debate about what yokes will or won't work. I will probably do the same thing as everyone else and go to the parts store. I wanted to just get one out of the junk yard. Yes I know how hard they are to get off. How much do they run new? Also, brake lines. I will just have to go to NAPA since everyone says that is where they got there's. My lines thoughy were a central line that came to the center of the axle and then split. I don't need that obviously. I wanted to just hook up the flex lines to my existing lines with an adapter. Could I have new flex lines made with a standard end? It would be more expensive, but would take care of extended lines later on.
Also Grin, I just Googled "wheel Adapters" A couple of companies came up. The problem is from what I saw was that they had to make 2 and put them together for 2" total on both sides. I was going to call them today. I was going to use 1" spacers later anyway so maybe I could use that part and not waste money. They were $130 for the pair. What would be wrong with re drilling? I could just go to the yard and pull extras for later.
Also Grin, I just Googled "wheel Adapters" A couple of companies came up. The problem is from what I saw was that they had to make 2 and put them together for 2" total on both sides. I was going to call them today. I was going to use 1" spacers later anyway so maybe I could use that part and not waste money. They were $130 for the pair. What would be wrong with re drilling? I could just go to the yard and pull extras for later.
xj-grin
NAXJA Member #1096
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
Dirt Surfer said:
As to the yoke, I used a standard D44/D30 peice of of my old Scout 44, works fine, but you will need to get a new crush sleeve to set the pinion torque right, as the Isuzu doesn't use shims (and a new seal). For brakes, I am using the extended RE line I got with my original lift kit, fabing new hard lines from there with standard thread to the RE peice, and metric to the transition to the isuzu soft lines. If you have a brake flaring tool, this is pretty easy. Be aware though, the brake parts for this axle are WAY expensive (i.e. $250 for a pair of rotors). For spacers, give Performance Wheel and Tire a call over at Oxford and Santa Fe in Denver. They do custom spacers and might be able to do it thinner than 2 inches...
creeperjeep
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Cape Cawd
correct me if im wrong but isnt a waggy (6 on 5.5) and the japanese 6 lugs are the same?
xj-grin
NAXJA Member #1096
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
creeperjeep said:
good reminder. The Isuzu lug pattern is the same, as stated above, but the studs are metric. since you will be using spacers, you won't need to re-stud it, but you will need small metric lug nuts for your spacers -- tell that to whoever you buy them from....
xj-grin said:
Really??? Wouldn't have even thought about it. So what about re-drilling my shafts? I do have the Waggy 44 for the front, but it will be some time before that goes in. Buy a couple of steelies, use adapters, or re drill the shafts? What to do what to do.
