Hp44 swap-help wanted

[Jeepkid8037]

So im selling my axles and buying either a hp44/d60 combo or a hp44/9" combo. Rear axle is easy enough to swap, my 8.8 was a breeze. The only problem i have is the front axle. I am in over my head when it comes to fabbing up anything for the front end, so if anybody would be willing to help sometime next week it would be appreciated. I am willing to pay for labor, if anybody wants to make a few extra $$$.

I do have a lincoln 100 flux cored wire feed welder that i have been using to make bumpers, dont know if it is good enough for the axle though, and i am planning on purchasing either the Claytons or RE brackets. I would really appreciate if anybody is available in the next couple of weeks. Thanks.


-Will

 

[CRASH]

The front axle is not a simple project. If you are doing a custom suspension at the same time, plan for some long days.

It took Jes and I twelve, 8-hour days to complete his front 44 and three link. And we have a lot of fabbing experience.

The 110 flux is not going to cut it for suspension work.

 

[Jeepkid8037]

The front axle is not a simple project. If you are doing a custom suspension at the same time, plan for some long days.

It took Jes and I twelve, 8-hour days to complete his front 44 and three link. And we have a lot of fabbing experience.

The 110 flux is not going to cut it for suspension work.

I was thinking of purchasing TNT customs long arm kit...And using RE or Claytons brackets so pretty much everything is already made, it just needs to be bolted/welded in.

EDIT: if i cant find any help ill just save mysef some money and do a leaf conversion, is really my only other option.

 

[CRASH]

Wow, sounds like you have a real definate plan of action.......and almost none of the facilities, knowledge or tools to make it happen.

Is it just me, or does anyone else see this plan as slightly flawed?

CRASH

 

[Jes]

I was thinking of purchasing TNT customs long arm kit...And using RE or Claytons brackets so pretty much everything is already made, it just needs to be bolted/welded in.

EDIT: if i cant find any help ill just save mysef some money and do a leaf conversion, is really my only other option.

I really don't get it.
You want help with something that takes almost no fabrication whatsoever and yet your "only other option" consists of something that would take a lot of fabrication to work and won't work as well as your first option.

 

[Jeepkid8037]

Guess i shoudln't of asked. Ill let you know when im done.

 

[BrettM]

be sure to check Capt. Nemo's posts about the full-traction lift with a HP D44, he had to make some modifications to the links. It's a decent plan though, I think the Full-Traction kit is the best on the market, and the RE or Clayton brackets should make it much easier, though they will probably still need some fine tuning. You'll want to do hi-steer or crossover since you'll have a D44, so you'll need to raise the axle side of the panhard also.

I would recommend buying the brackets, tack weld everything in place with your 110, then find a local welder or Jeeper that will burn them in good for a case of beer.

I have leafs up front, and if you can't do the brackets by yourself, then don't try the leaf conversion by yourself.

 

[Jeepkid8037]

be sure to check Capt. Nemo's posts about the full-traction lift with a HP D44, he had to make some modifications to the links. It's a decent plan though, I think the Full-Traction kit is the best on the market, and the RE or Clayton brackets should make it much easier, though they will probably still need some fine tuning. You'll want to do hi-steer or crossover since you'll have a D44, so you'll need to raise the axle side of the panhard also.

I would recommend buying the brackets, tack weld everything in place with your 110, then find a local welder or Jeeper that will burn them in good for a case of beer.

I have leafs up front, and if you can't do the brackets by yourself, then don't try the leaf conversion by yourself.

I appreciate the good information. I am aware of raising the trac bar, along w/ highster and/or crossover steering. Maybe its just me, but most high steer setups i see have an inverted-T setup, rather than crossover.

 

[BrettM]

crossover is the cheap half-ass way of doing it (and what I did :laugh3: ) If the funds permit, go high with the tie-rod and run inverted T.

 

[Jeepkid8037]

Im not a bad welder at all, what i have been doing with my f/r bumpers is laying down a bead, then two more over it sort of like this.... -_-.....Even with 3 passes you think it wouldnt be strong enough for suspension work? BrettM, didnt you use a ready welder for your leaf conversion?

EDIT: did you use heims for ur steering?

 

[JeepFreak21]

Im not a bad welder at all, what i have been doing with my f/r bumpers is laying down a bead, then two more over it sort of like this.... -_-.....Even with 3 passes you think it wouldnt be strong enough for suspension work? BrettM, didnt you use a ready welder for your leaf conversion?

EDIT: did you use heims for ur steering?

It's the penetration that you're looking for in a strong weld, not how wide (or pretty) the bead is, and I just wouldn't be confident enough with any 110 welder to do suspension stuff.
Billy

 

[Jeepkid8037]

Alright, i know a cert. welder that lives down the street, so looks like he will be getting a call from me soon.

 

[Starboard M]

Ill help you any time you want. Just give me a call.