Swapping a AMC 20 For A Dana 44

I need help from you Guru's. I have an AMC 20 and have a chance to pick up a Dana 44 that has lower gear ratio than mine and limited slip. He has the front Dana 30 like mine to go with it. I was thinking about just swapping out carriers in front. The problem I see is that the Dana he has is an offset rear carrier and my AMC is centered. Will that be a problem? If so is there a work around it?
Thanks
Jack

 

Yes it will be problem. The solution is to get an off set one as far as I know.
Unless you have say, a J truck or a Willys pickup, you can't just throw it in.

 

If you have a centered transfer case (ie a Dana 20), you need a centered axle. If you hve an offset transfer case (ie a Dana 18), you need an offset axle.

You can't just swap the cases between the Dana 30s. New parts means setting up the gears anew too. The easier route would be to use the whole axle. Whatever you do, the ratios have to match, front to rear.

 

What t-case comes with quadratrac? Regardless centered will not work.

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You did not mention what year Jeep you have? If you have a Dana 20 Transfer case it is easy to swap over to an offset drive by taking all the gears and housings from a Dana 18 and install them on the D-20..........the advantage of using the D-20 case is #1 its a little stronger and #2 has a 4"0 bore which would allow for a tera-low gear change in the future if you decided , Notwithstanding the gear ratio from the D-18 gears will now be 2:46 as opposed to the 2:0 that the D-20 currently is. I believe you may be OK on the rear driveline also.

 

Borg-Warner Quadratrac. I forget the model # but its 13something. I'm sure Timgr or someone will remember.


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BW1305 (no low range) or BW1339 (with low range).

 

The Quadratrac equipped CJ's came with offset Model 20's. I went back and read three times to make sure I had it right that you said your 20 is centered and the 44 offset? If that is the case you should be going back to what is correct and not incorrect.

 

Well from the sounds of it there is no easy fix other than replacing my TC, which I don't want to do. I'll keep looking. Maybe something else will appear. I wasn't looking for this when it came to me. If not, I'll put the one piece axles on my AMC 20 and be done. I have a '49 Willys by the way. It's got newer running gear including a Buick 231 V6.

 

Is the rear driveshaft coming out of the transfercase in the center of the jeep or is it in line with the front being offset to the passenger side? Do you have any pictures of your setup. Novak' site says ALL Quadratrac have the offset setup, so going to an offset 44 would be the correct thing to do.

 

My shaft comes out the center so from what you all have been saying, no go on the offset system. Too bad, as this would be a great changeover for the AMC 20 I now have. I'll most likely end up putting in the one piece axle in it and maybe changing out the R&P's to 4:10s. Oh well, it's only money.

 

So what do you have now, a centered AMC 20 and a D30 front with disk brakes? Which ratio, 3.54? 3.31? 2.73?

There are two offset 44s that came in CJs. The earlier one has hubs and tapered axle shafts, that bolt on like your AMC 20. The later D44 (mid '70 through '71) has flanged one-piece axles. The flanged axle is highly sought after, for it's added strength. The tapered axle is not much of an upgrade over your AMC 20, except for the limited slip. Neither of these axles were paired with the Dana 30 originally. So if this is a tapered 44 and Dana 30, it's a put-together pair.

The '72-75 Jeeps had a flanged centered Dana 44 rear axle and a Dana 30 front axle, with 11"x2" drum brakes. In these years, the 3.73s were standard and 4.27s optional. If the rear output from your transfer case is centered, these would be a significant upgrade over your M20. If your existing D30 has disks, the D30 with drum brakes can be converted to disks by simply swapping knuckles between them. Easy.

 

Of course it all really depends on what you expect from this jeep.
If mainly used as a road driven Jeep the D20 is a fair choice.
You should consider installing a centered D44 Jeep axle (1972-1975) for increased dependability.
That said the rear propeller shaft will be nearly too steep in a short wheelbased Jeep.
It will be virtually identicle to your current propeller shaft angle.

If mainly used as an offroad Jeepthere are better choices.
I suggest that you install a D18 in place of your D20 plus find and install a decent offset D44 Jeep axle.
The late 1956 to 1970 Jeep D44's are involute splined (19 count)
These involute splined axles are fully compatable with the relatively common Powr Lok differentials.
1970-1971 Jeep flanged D44 axles have roll splines (30 count).
Original from Jeep these were commonly set up with a Trac Loc differential.