I got to thinking the other day, and I have just about enough parts laying around to where I could probably build a trail rig (nothing specialized like a rock rig or a sand truck). Here is what I have sitting around, tell me what you think about how they will work togethere:

a 69' Cadillac 472 (375 HP-525 ft lbs)
a 69' Turbo 400 (2 wd)
a 74' Jeep cherokee Dana 20
a set of early 80's Dana 44 out of a Wagoneer
a set of used Grownd Hawgs (38.5-15-15)
a mid 80's Ford ranger body and frame

If I build this it will be for low bucks (the one big ticket item will be the TH400/Dana 20 adapter) and will keep it very simple (leafs springs all around). Ground Hawgs run on the small side, so the 38.5s are closer to a Swamper 35", and the ranger will be light (cab only, no bed). I guess what I am most worried about is will the D20 stand up to the torque?

What do yall think?

JYS

get bigger axles. I think the 44's would break before the D20, but if you go with 1ton axles, then the D20 will be the weak link. If you wanna stay with low budget, the easiest thing would to be to get a junkyard NP205, and tailshaft and housing from a 4x4 TH400 - you can prolly find a TH400 with 205 still attached, and pull off what you need for around $200-300. Then run the D44's til they break, and swap in 60 F / 14b R...

That's what i would do -


ohh wait, naw - I'd swap in rockwells!

i would go for a turbo400 with a 205 and put it all together, get liquored up and beat the shit out of it. hell it sounds like a blast to me.

Alright, drop the Dana 20. Advance Adapters has 2 kits, one is aprox $500, one is $650, so buying a junkyard th400 (or tail shaft) and np205 (or 203, or heck, I would go for a 208) would be just as cheap, if not cheaper. I was only thinking D20 cause I have one.
I think the Dana 60s and 14 bolt idea won't fly, cause I can't find any, and if I could find them I couldn't afford them. The Dana 44s are in cause I have them already. Mabey I would get some alloy shafts/CMT joints if I break anything, but only after I break somthing.

JYS

Originally posted by elf_cruiser
ohh wait, naw - I'd swap in rockwells!

He already used the rockwells, check out his sig.

TH400 and 205 combo kinda kills the budjet idea, those setups are getting hard to find. If you're not looking at a super short wheelbase, I'd use a divorced 205, either Dodge or Ford, depending on what you use for a front axle, 80's Waggy would need the Ford. Th400/NP203 combos are a lot easierto come by, you could do the ORD doubler, but then there goes the budget again, so why not run the whole 203 with a divorced Ford 205 behind it? Yeah it's long, but it's tough.

I think the Dana 20 will :nuke: up.

Originally posted by PIG
I think the Dana 20 will :nuke: up.

yep but I gotta adapter for cheap I think...


I'll let you know...and inst there a shaft updrade for that case in case it breaks?

Dana 20's are pretty stout cases. I run 60's F/R with 37" boggers and a 300 horse 302. No problems at all. I broke a 60 inner shaft to this year. Dana 20 is un hurt.