swap finished: fullwidth d44 and 9", 38" swampers, radius arms, traction bar, etc.

[sarvermr]

swap finished: fullwidth d44 and 9", 38" swampers, radius arms, traction bar, etc.

i've received quite a few PM's with questions so i took a few more pictures and started a thread with a title that actually tells what the thread is about.

here is my rig:

and an action shot from its virgin run in hot springs:

i swapped in a 1977 ford f150 high pinion D44. i cut off the radius mounts and turned them to get better caster angle. i also made all mew brackets to get everything to jive right.

new spring mounts so the springs would not bow:

track bar bracket to get everything parallel and not bind:

I reused the stock radius arms but sleeved the stud with tube and added a threaded insert and a heim joint

 

[sarvermr]

Re: swap finished: fullwidth d44 and 9", 38" swampers, radius arms, traction bar, etc.

I sleeved the frame rails with angle and then built a custom cross member with a removable center section

I’m running chevy flattop knuckles with crossover high steer, chevy small bearing spindles, chevy brakes, ford hubs and rotors and ford wheels:

I welded some box tube to the stock track bar bracket to make a new mount. All links are 1.5” OD .250” wall DOM. Notice in the picture two above how the track bar and drag link are almost exactly parallel to help with bumpsteer:

the hp d44 is stuffed with 4.88’s and a mini spool. I’m running warn premium lockouts.




the rear is an 82 bronco big bearing 31 spline ford 9” stuffed with 4.88’s and a lockright. I used weld on caliper brackets and ½ ton chevy calipers with f150 rotors for the brakes

I built a second removable cross member for a traction bar. The traction bar was built using a stock XJ shackle and tractor links:

hopefully there will be no more broken pinion flanges, driveshafts, or transfercase output shafts.

 

[sarvermr]

Re: swap finished: fullwidth d44 and 9", 38" swampers, radius arms, traction bar, etc.

Here are a few overall pics from just after it was finished:

and a pic of my new DD/tow rig:

97 f250 PSD, extended cab, 4wd, 125,000 miles

its come a long way from the 2wd lowrider it was when I got it a few years ago!


Be easy on me. This was my first major fab project ever. I know its not perfect but its far better than before. I’m saving up for alloy shafts as we speak.

matthew

 

[dakotus]

Re: swap finished: fullwidth d44 and 9", 38" swampers, radius arms, traction bar, etc.

Wtf!!

 

[BrettM]

Re: swap finished: fullwidth d44 and 9", 38" swampers, radius arms, traction bar, etc.

those rear shackles are not Fordyce approved. besides that, it's lookin pretty good. do you have alloy shafts in the D44? any subframe reinforcements or cage?

 

[texasxj]

Re: swap finished: fullwidth d44 and 9", 38" swampers, radius arms, traction bar, etc.

im putting a 78 bronco 44 in my 84 could you throw out some more pics of how you mounted the radius arms please. are those the 9" rustys coils or rubi-7.5 + spacers??

 

[sarvermr]

Re: swap finished: fullwidth d44 and 9", 38" swampers, radius arms, traction bar, etc.

those rear shackles are not Fordyce approved. besides that, it's lookin pretty good. do you have alloy shafts in the D44? any subframe reinforcements or cage?

thanks!

I sleeved the frame rails with angle ....

I’m saving up for alloy shafts as we speak.

no cage yet. i'll redo the rear suspension eventually, but right now i'm tired of working on it and just ready to wheel it!

 

[BrettM]

Re: swap finished: fullwidth d44 and 9", 38" swampers, radius arms, traction bar, etc.

i missed the alloy comment, i saw the sleeving comment, but did you just sleeve for the crossmember or the whole frame?

 

[sarvermr]

Re: swap finished: fullwidth d44 and 9", 38" swampers, radius arms, traction bar, etc.

im putting a 78 bronco 44 in my 84 could you throw out some more pics of how you mounted the radius arms please. are those the 9" rustys coils or rubi-7.5 + spacers??

the pics above are the only ones i have. if you look at the 5th pic you can see pretty much all there is to see.

the coils are RE 4.5" ZJ coils. i built about 2" of lift into the coil mounts on the axle end.

 

[sarvermr]

Re: swap finished: fullwidth d44 and 9", 38" swampers, radius arms, traction bar, etc.

i missed the alloy comment, i saw the sleeving comment, but did you just sleeve for the crossmember or the whole frame?

i haven't sleeved the entire thing yet. just from a little in front of the first x member to just a little behind the rear x member.

matthew

 

[0313]

Re: swap finished: fullwidth d44 and 9", 38" swampers, radius arms, traction bar, etc.

Looks good for the first Fab job. Do the heims help alot with the flex?

 

[sarvermr]

Re: swap finished: fullwidth d44 and 9", 38" swampers, radius arms, traction bar, etc.

Looks good for the first Fab job. Do the heims help alot with the flex?

they are a lot better than the ford factory type radius arm mounts. a lot of people will bitch about how radius arms don't flex, but i'm fairly happy with mine so far. i can stuff clear into the body and droop until the brake lines are maxed out. granted, its not as flexy as with short arms and RE drop brackets, but it also makes the rear work harder for a more balanced suspension.

matthew

 

[texasxj]

Re: swap finished: fullwidth d44 and 9", 38" swampers, radius arms, traction bar, etc.

so you made a second brace/crossmember and bolted them into the unibody and the brace. guessing the arms dont limit flex too much

 

[Muddy_XJ]

Re: swap finished: fullwidth d44 and 9", 38" swampers, radius arms, traction bar, etc.

Just wondering...what is the benefit of using ZJ coils over XJ coils?

 

[jeepinandy]

Re: swap finished: fullwidth d44 and 9", 38" swampers, radius arms, traction bar, etc.

Wow!! Great Job

 

[olivedrabcj7]

Re: swap finished: fullwidth d44 and 9", 38" swampers, radius arms, traction bar, et

looks awesome. i live in hot springs. the park is only a couple miles from my house. i just finished my 97 on 36's. hope to see you out at the park sometime!!

 

[sarvermr]

Re: swap finished: fullwidth d44 and 9", 38" swampers, radius arms, traction bar, etc.

so you made a second brace/crossmember and bolted them into the unibody and the brace. guessing the arms dont limit flex too much

i'm not sure exactly what you are asking, but there are two seperate cross members. the mounts are welded to the unibody and the x members bolt to the mounts.

 

[sarvermr]

Re: swap finished: fullwidth d44 and 9", 38" swampers, radius arms, traction bar, etc.

Just wondering...what is the benefit of using ZJ coils over XJ coils?

the RE 4.5" ZJ coils are th same as the 5.5" XJ coils.

 

[sarvermr]

Re: swap finished: fullwidth d44 and 9", 38" swampers, radius arms, traction bar, et

Wow!! Great Job

thanks!

looks awesome. i live in hot springs. the park is only a couple miles from my house. i just finished my 97 on 36's. hope to see you out at the park sometime!!

thanks!

i grew up in hot springs village and i work there now. i've been wheeling that are for 11 years now (since i got my first CJ when i was 16.) send me a PM next time you're going. i'l love to wheel with you.

 

[Lucas]

Re: swap finished: fullwidth d44 and 9", 38" swampers, radius arms, traction bar, etc.

What I.D./O.D. tube did you use to extend out the radius arms. Did they slip on or press on tight against the factory radius arm studs? Also, where did you get your inserts?
I like how the arms are inboard of the framerails. Did they just naturally end up there or did you squish the C-bushings a bit to get them there?

Thanks. Great job.