Looking for someone to help with a hp 44 swap

NorCalChris

NorCalChris

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Central Coast, Ca
Hello. Im buying a hp 44, and im getting the treks truss. its a straight forword kit it seems like, but i want to cut the axle down narrower. possibly to waggy, but i might do custom width. my problem.
1. I live in an apartment
2. I've never cut an axle down before
3. I dont want to mess this up. lol
4. I like to learn from experianced people.

I can weld, I have a welder, but its a brand new harbor freight 220 mig(got it through craigslist as collateral towards parts.) and its flux core which im not sure i want to deal with for this swap. But yea, im looking for help and a place to do this. If anybody is interested i can pay a little bit. and theres no tremendous hurry(still need to get the axles) 44/9
 
What do you need help with? Just the cutting? Or taking off the Cs, putting them back on, and adjusting the camber/caster angles?


What are you narrowing it to? What axle are you getting? Cast wedges or welded? Already taken off?


Also, where will this be taking place?
 
1. I live in a house
2. I've never cut an axle down before
3. I don't mind messing it up .!. :D .!.
4. I've cut a Jeep down before

Sacramento or Salinas?

When are you looking to do this?

I would say do the Waggy width, yeah they say custom lengths don't cost much if any more than off the shelf, but think availability just in case.
 
I tryed to cut an axle down once . . .

Dana35.jpg
 
ill be willing to be an extra hand in phil helping you mess it up either, im sure with some searching and some very careful measuring three guys ould probably figure it out.
 
It out of an early 70s f100. it has weld on wedges. i havent touched the axles yet. if i stayed full width, i dont know what i would use to cut the inner c's off with. but im thinking i should narrow it some, even if i go custom width. Ive read a lot of threads on cutting them down, and i feel confident in doing so, but i dont have a place here in sac to do it. If i could get help doing the swap and all the welding i wouldnt mind doing it sometime soon. If i cant, well, i guess it will wait even longer. lol.
Phil, are you located here in sacramento? I live in north sac by the arco arena.

also, i would be narrowing the 9in as well. i believe that would have to be custom shafts as well. Im still researching this. I may do the full widths due to it being less work, but i still have to turn the inner c's.
 
after wheeling all over the west coast with a 44, that I left full width, I am now narrowing my front axle...

If you're going to cut the 'c's off, take the 4" of tube out and get it done.

It's definately worth narrowing the axle.
 
So im looking for a hp 44 and a 9in, i have a set i can pick up, but buying 9in for 150 that has no brakes seems expensive. the guy said he was going to swap disc brakes from a mark v? or something of that sort. Anyone here know about that swap?
Also, the 44 is drum brakes, so im looking for the disc brake outers.(if anyone has them let me know) because no matter what im buying the 44. also, i have two xj 44s for sale. call (559) 676 0630 if interested. ones in salinas, ones here in sacramento. and phil, i will call you later this week hopefully, ive been busy with school and work sorry.

edit: i really want to cut the axle down narrower, but i dont have the money to buy an set of chromo shafts just yet. because i know i can get waggy shafts, but i dont know where id get shafts for the 9in. any recomendations on shafts? yukon, warn, nitro? or maybe some superior shafts.
 
Last edited:
You can have your shafts cut down and resplined for about $50 per shaft. Thats a lot cheaper than alloys.



What lug pattern do you want to run, and what sort of steering do you want to run?
 
Why even bother building the D44 and using stock shafts? Not much better than a D30. I'd run the D30 and save up for all the parts for the D44, then build and install it when you can do it with good axle shafts.
 
Jes said:
Lots of good info here...

http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/web_rs44.html
Click to expand...
thanks jes.

Goatman said:
Why even bother building the D44 and using stock shafts? Not much better than a D30. I'd run the D30 and save up for all the parts for the D44, then build and install it when you can do it with good axle shafts.
Click to expand...
i am running the d30 for now. i dont get to wheel while im up here in school. so its basically a project to do. im not sure if id send the shafts out and have them cut and splined, id probably just wait for alloys and save some money.




so heres my question. i currently am running 30/44 combo. i can get the 9in with the 44 for 150 extra (there 150 a piece). should i just run the d44 rear and swap in the hp? its lookng to be more cost friendly that way. and ive heard of people doing it.
 
I'd keep the D44 in the rear and swap in some Ten Factory shafts with the same bolt pattern that you plan to run in the front. I ran a rear D44 for 100,000 miles on 33-35" tires without issue.
 
Jes said:
I'd keep the D44 in the rear and swap in some Ten Factory shafts with the same bolt pattern that you plan to run in the front. I ran a rear D44 for 100,000 miles on 33-35" tires without issue.
Click to expand...


what are you running now? d60?

anyways, i would run the 5 on 5.5. the 9in will need brakes from the backing plate outwards anyways, so i guess im not going to buy that.
 
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