tons on a cherokee

[kitimatdude]

I'm toying with the idea of putting 1 ton axles under an 89 Cherokee I got dirt cheap. I have plenty of 14ffs mostly .411 open. but What can I run under the front? is a d44 enough? I'm in mud country and I have a sweet k5 on 44s for mud. I'm looking to build a dirt road cruiser. I want to keep the axles full size and pretty much have the tires outside the body. Has this been done to death already? I personally haven't seen one. It currently has a 4 banger, but its peppy. Id like to move the axles out when I do this front a few inches forward rear a few inches back. Oh and its a 4 door. Any tips? pics? I've never dealt with a front radius rod system before or is it 3 link? Is it as easy as it looks? (look like 3 link). any tips appreciated...

[94toytruck]

No one does that.



Not mine BTW

[DirtyComanche]

He's from kitimat. You'll have to bear with him...


Just because I can be helpful at times, well, almost, maybe, perhaps helpful.

The front suspension is a parallel 4-link with panhard, also sometimes called a 5-link. It's funky.

You're going to want lower than 4.11 gears with a 2.5L. You probably have 4.10s already... And the 2.5 is a slow POS to begin with.

[kitimatdude]

If the axle part works out I have a tbi 350 in an 89 chev 2500 4x4 with a rotten frame looking for a new home. but that might be more of a winter project.

[Family TJ]

The easier swap is the 44 from a ford. I just did it in mine and we did front and rear in 2 days. Of course I still need to do a high steer set up. Mine is a 79 F-150 with radius arms cut out and DOM tubing inserted with Johnny joints. You will need to re-enforce the frame to. I was able to use my 6" springs, adjustable trac bar and drag link and shocks.

[rok-jeep]

Here's my buildup......the lastest pics I just added on the last page. Build up pics are on the first page and the fourth page. The bumper is on now and the hydro assist is in. Its also settled a few inches since the first pics, you can see it in the last page pics I added today.

and as I hope you know a D44 does not qualify as a "ton" axle

/forum/jeep-cherokee/424394-another-fullwidth-xj-buildup.html

[keepviper13]

Originally Posted by rok-jeep

and as I hope you know a D44 does not qualify as a "ton" axle

Sure it does... you just have to put a 1/2 or 3/4 in front of it....

Originally Posted by kitimatdude

Has this been done to death already...

Any tips? pics? I've never dealt with a front radius rod system before or is it 3 link

no offense man but you've got a lot to learn/read before you are ready to start asking questions... let alone start building... most people like to improve their suspension when doing an axle swap, but you really should understand the suspension in the first place if your going to re-design it.

you may have the chevy mudder figured out but i think you'll spend time wisely by researching as apposed to asking open ended questions... there is approximately 9,469,032 answers to your question...

[kitimatdude]

Originally Posted by rok-jeep

Here's my buildup......the lastest pics I just added on the last page. Build up pics are on the first page and the fourth page. The bumper is on now and the hydro assist is in. Its also settled a few inches since the first pics, you can see it in the last page pics I added today.

and as I hope you know a D44 does not qualify as a "ton" axle

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=424394

I read thru your buildup, nice rig!
I'm not building anywhere near that much machine. I like the tires on the outside look. If I get it to work like I want I might even put on my 44" boggers just for shits and giggles. We have hundreds of miles of old logging roads in my area. I'm looking to build something stable and cheap on fuel to check them all out. There is virtually nothing in the way of rock crawling in my area. Mudding is hella fun tho. I have most of the parts I need to build this puppy into something fun. Thanks for the buildup pics looks like some good ideas.
Most if not all the roads I will be on have enough room for two logging trucks to pass each other... rather roomy.

[Timmay]

Check my sig.

[kitimatdude]

Nice job timmay. I'm going to do something similar I hope, but prolly not as nice.
This wont be my main rig or even used on the street.
I want something fairly short and wide with bigger tires (35 ish) and not lifted beyond the minimum.

A quick question:
can the stock links be lengthened? I'm thinking 3-4 inches. what are they made of? if its metal I can get a rod to weld it.

[the Merg]

Originally Posted by kitimatdude

A quick question:
can the stock links be lengthened? I'm thinking 3-4 inches. what are they made of? if its metal I can get a rod to weld it.

Ooh...sorry, no. They're made of wood.

[kitimatdude]

Originally Posted by the Merg

Ooh...sorry, no. They're made of wood.

Its amazing! is there any stock part of a jeep worth keeping?
this goes a long way towards explaining tube buggys...

[Timmay]

Thanks for the props.

@ Merg

Pretty much all I kept was the motor and trans. Even then i'm building a stroker and have a nv3550-231crawlbox-D300 ready to go in.