Adding a full width 44 to the front of my XJ?

[-=PEAKABOO=-]

I am about to pickup a late 70's ford dana 44. It has the radius arm setup. I am thinking I want to go with this set instead of what is under the cherokee now. I am planning on using a wristed radius arm on one side and a stock arm on the drivers side. Does anyone know if I can reuse the coil buckets on the ford axle with my XJ springs? I beleive this will move the axle forward a little which would be a plus but do not know if the springs on the jeep will fit the ford buckets. I am also unsure about how strong the radius are brackets will be when welded to the uni-body.Should I bolt as well?
The last question I have is does anyone know what year the ford dana 44 axle came with flat top knucles.

Hopefully someone has "been there, done that" and can give me a heads up on any "Oh shits, don't do it that way"

Thank you in advance.

[NothernAZxj]

use eh little search button....this has been covered at least ten times in the past 30 days

[Ken Carter / BRUISER]

Well if you have not read my post go here:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...hreadid=159138

But to answer some of your questions before i go to bed.

1. I used a '78 dana 44 with radius arms.
2. a wristed arm will work great to help get more flex.
I have not done wristed yet, becasue I want to see how it
flexs with out that first.
3. Yes you can reuse the coil mounts, but your best bet is to turn
them around 180 degrees so they are closer to inside of axle,
that is what i did. your coils will lean a little but i see no
problem with this and others have done it before with no
problems
4. your best bet is to box the unibody with some steel and then
weld to that, this will strenghten you connecting points.
5. that axle that you are probably getting does not have flat top
knuckles, especially if it is a 78 or 79. but i have seen others
that were not truely flat tops, have then drilled and tapped
and they worked great for high steer. best bet is to just buy a
flat top knuckle and switch them out.
6. just because i can :SEARCH

Also read this post:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...hreadid=139642


Ken C

[mtndewmaniac]

....and of course this has been covered many times in the recent past, but check out the ford threads, do the search on XJ conversions yadayada....I tried the 78 Bronco-radius arm setup, hated it, so I just went leaf up front, and my XJ performed much better. But don't let me rain on your day, it may work for what you want.