40 axles under my willys cj2a

[csutton7]

Ok boys maybe I shouldn't even be here, but I'm going to buy some 1976 FJ40 axles for my willys jeep---may have to call it a creep once completed---but that's why I'm here---I'll most likely have some questions, but if you guys want to offer any sage advice I'm all ears---

The front axle has disc brakes and some steering components---not sure of the real status, but I'm told it has a regular tie rod going across and an old school welded double steering arm on the pass. side so it's got cross over steering on it. Again until I see this I'm not sure what it all means--I have a vague idea, but I'm a fresh virgin to cruiser stuff and could be way off base on my thinkin--I know I'll have some sort of work to do to get it all hooked up and I'll have to change my manual saginaw steering to a saginaw power steering set up--I have an extra ram assist set up off my dodge pickup that I may try and work into the mix, but we will see--first need to get a power steering bracket and pump, before I commence on that and then see if my box will work and then work on the pitman arm--I'll be flailing a little until I can see how the steering is set up on a 40---may have to get a gear box off another cruiser and a pitman arm----

I've done some research here looking for info on this type of swap and elsewhere on the net, but have come up with zilch---

I will at some point put lockers in it, front and rear and will longfield it. I think Longfield's are the best as far as I've read, but I will do more research and see. I may change the gears to 5.29 also from the 4.11's.

As for springs I'm not sure, not to mention do I need to outboard them on my frame and do I go soa or stay sua(thinking of staying sua)---again I'll have to just see how things look when I get the axles under and there and of course I'll see if I can find some suspension shots of 40's on here to help me figure out what to do---

I may get the driveshafts also with the axles, which would be nice, so that I can have some driveshafts made to fit---

The jeep has a ford 302 v8 in it and I'm going to rebuild a NP435 I picked up and I'm going to rebuild my dana 18 and dana 20 into one tera-low unit and put an overdrive on it---I figure I'll be pretty good to go with crawling and freeway driving especially if I leave the 4.11's in it, but we shall see.

I'm not quite sure what I'll have to do concerning the master brake cylinder--right now I'll go with what's on the jeep and see, but I won't be surprised if I have to change it out---to what will be the interesting part of this.

I need to find out what the wheel size is and lug nut pattern--will do some research here and see if I can get that, as I need to buy something so that I can roll those axles around.

Anyway if anyone wants to offer any words of wisdom--beyond why not just get a 40, I'm all ears and will be grateful----chris

 

[incogrhino]

lug pattern 6 lug.Same as chevy.Just make sure the insode fits over the yota hubs.Some don't.

cruiser axles are passenger side drop front.Rear is offset also.Just throwing that out there.

1978 and down are the odd ball birfields.79' and up are the same as mini trucks and fj60's.Again, just throwing that out there.

Suspension... you'll hafta see.

steering... you'll hafta see.Hard to say without seeing your set up now.

brakes.....no idea...

not a whole lot of help but I tried.Any thing can be made to work with time and $.

 

[csutton7]

thanks---chris

 

[Tapage]

6 in 5.5 Bolt pathern ..

The rear output of you t-case should be a problem to solve .. or use a min truck rear axle .. other option that come to my mind it's use a Cruiser t-case with your D20 .. check on the Advance Adapters site for adapters available for both the 18 and D20 ..

all in all I'm not sure if you can keep the old housing and swap in the new bierfields with a new setup like the Longs options .. it also depens on which tires you are planning to run.

 

[csutton7]

the dana 20 case, although a centered out put for the rear can be made into an offset t-case like the dana 18---to make a tera-low case you use the guts of the 18 in the 20 along with some new gears and shafts and you change the output so that it exits out the 20's inspection cover which is offset to line up with the offset of the fj40 rear axle---

I'll do some calling to see what I can concerning the long's--- thanks for the info on that ----chris

 

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

If you are using an off-set output t-case like a Dana 18 i can see the attraction of using Land Cruiser axles under your Willys.

I have to imagine that a CJ-2A is narrower than a 40/45 Series Land Cruiser, but I'm sure this can be dealt with.

For brakes, I'd suggest trying to graft onto the Willys a Toyota 4wd "mini-truck" brake booster and master cylinder; these will work great with the '76 FJ40 axles and are small in diameter/size.

Good luck with the swap!

Alan

 

[Dusty]

CRAWL magazine recently had a full page pic of a built yj with 80 series axles under it. better than rubicon stuff

 

[UpsideDown]

4x4 news, information and e-mail list Victoria, B.C.

We did a CJ5 with toyota axles years ago. The write up was never completed, but the swap worked out very well, and the owner drove it pretty hard with boggers on - no problems.

 

[csutton7]

Josie's LC--thanks for that info on the brake stuff----yea the 40's axles may be somewhere between 6.5" to 8.5" wider---the willys are 48.5" and I think the 40 is 55" although I've read that 57" maybe the width--I'm sure hoping they are 55".....chris

 

[JJS]

The offset rear shouldn't be a big issue. The angles likely won't be too much stress for the u-joints. These axles are stronger than the Dana 44's that most people use for this type of swap.

 

[csutton7]

about the the brake stuff--any certain yr I should look for??

I picked up the axles today---that front was/is one heavy SOB and the rear isn't light either--well I did pick them up with the help of Peterfj40 who I bought them from---so have a couple of questions to ask--they are a '76 front disc set up and the rear is a '65 drum--thought they were both '76's but I was mistaken--

can disc brakes be adapted to the rear??

any other things I should be aware of or look into concerning the rear---like upgrades???

same with the front----

I got a t-case with the pkg--it's bolted to a SM420(I'll keep the tranny), but I'll sell or trade the t-case, but I see guys say 4spd t-case and 3spd t-case and I know that only means what tranny the t-case was bolted to, but can a 3 spd tranny bolt to a 4spd tranny or is there an adapter plate needed and vice versa---I'll get the year it was out of also---

I'm sure I'll have more questions as time goes by----chris

 

[rsc71]

about the the brake stuff--any certain yr I should look for??

I picked up the axles today---that front was/is one heavy SOB and the rear isn't light either--well I did pick them up with the help of Peterfj40 who I bought them from---so have a couple of questions to ask--they are a '76 front disc set up and the rear is a '65 drum--thought they were both '76's but I was mistaken--

can disc brakes be adapted to the rear??

any other things I should be aware of or look into concerning the rear---like upgrades???

same with the front----

I got a t-case with the pkg--it's bolted to a SM420(I'll keep the tranny), but I'll sell or trade the t-case, but I see guys say 4spd t-case and 3spd t-case and I know that only means what tranny the t-case was bolted to, but can a 3 spd tranny bolt to a 4spd tranny or is there an adapter plate needed and vice versa---I'll get the year it was out of also---

I'm sure I'll have more questions as time goes by----chris

the 3spd (10spline)or 4spd(16 spline i believe) case refers to spline count.they do make a coupler that will allow you to interchange them.depending on what adapter you have to the 420 the output shaft might have gotten changed also

 

[csutton7]

thanks--

t-case is out of a '72 supposedly and I was going to unbolt it today, but I had to do some tire switching on my truck and then I figured I'd better get the garage in order(partly done) to be able to get the jeep in there----

and I cleaned the case of the Dana 20 to get ready for the tera-low rebuild though---still have a long ways to go--I want to rebuild the NP435 or now the SM420 and the tera-low case and try and get most of the parts in hand(springs, outboard hangers, brake booster & master cylinder, power steering stuff and whatever else before the jeep goes under wrench, so that I'm not down longer than necessary---chris

 

[Tapage]

can disc brakes be adapted to the rear??

sure .. all that you need .. Toyota Truck

any other things I should be aware of or look into concerning the rear---like upgrades???

same with the front----

Longfield Super Axles

Cruiser Outfitters

 

[csutton7]

thanks----but it looks like I'm not going to do this now--typical timing--buy 2nd or 3rd choice axles and next day 1st choice axles show up----so I'm buying some built dana 44's with 30 spline axles and lockers front and rear ready to bolt in---only 2" wider than my flatty axles(which is what I wanted) and will bolt up without all the extra work, so I'm selling what I just bought--just typical--I know the cuzer axles are stronger, but the hassle isn't worth it to me right now and these 44's are built pretty good so between that and the width I made the decision to go with the 44's----chris

 

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

"Sutton," well good luck with your vehicle build. Chances are that the Dana 44s will be fine for a light-weight rig like a "flattie."

I'd actually be interested in hearing more about your project as it progresses, though you might want to post in the "Other Vehicles" section!

Regards,

Alan

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thanks----but it looks like I'm not going to do this now--typical timing--buy 2nd or 3rd choice axles and next day 1st choice axles show up----so I'm buying some built dana 44's with 30 spline axles and lockers front and rear ready to bolt in---only 2" wider than my flatty axles(which is what I wanted) and will bolt up without all the extra work, so I'm selling what I just bought--just typical--I know the cuzer axles are stronger, but the hassle isn't worth it to me right now and these 44's are built pretty good so between that and the width I made the decision to go with the 44's----chris

 

[slickrock]

Reviving this post.
How did you mate the Dana 18 to the Landcruiser axles? I have an 18 going into my LC and need to figure out the front drive line.

Did you use a flange of some sort so you could use a Land Cruiser drive line?