axle/ring & pinion swaps???

buddy of mine just picked up 2 sets of axles, both are '66 vintage (offset rear diff) along with i "think" a D18 t-case that's also offset for the rear. It is a single shifter, with the huge belt looking pulley thing on the rear output if that helps any?

The R&P's are 5.38......

Front axles he has are closed knuckles.

My axles are D44 & D30........with 3.73

My questions are:

1. Will the 5.38 R&P's fit in my axles?

2. Would i be better off just swapping the other axles into my Jeep?

3. Would i have to run the other t-case as it has the rear output offset?

Curious if this swap (either R&P or axles themselves) is feasible? I'd LOVE to have the 5.38's R)

HELP?!

 

The rear ring and pinion from the 66 44 could be made to fit in your rear 44. Be aware that there is a diff case split at 3.73 and down and 3.92 and up. If your 44 has flanged axles then it has 30 spline axles. The 66 44 has 19 spline axles. Whether the 30 spline side gears would fit in your 5.38 diff case is a question. You may be looking at a new diff case or posi/locker.

 

hmmm, ok. what if i just used the 5.38 R&P from the '66? Think they would mount to may flanged 44 diff?

 

What I was saying is that you gotta have the correct diff case. The 5.38 ring gear istoo thick to work with your 3.73 diff case. If the side gears from your 3.73 case will fit in the 5.38 diff case you're good to go. But I'm not sure if they will since the 66 44 has 1 1/4 x 19 spline axles and the flanged 44 has1 5/16 X 30 splines. So remove the side gears from your flanged axle diff case and see if they'll fit in your 5.38 diff case.

 

ok, i'll give that a shot......but, the 5.38 case is offset to the passenger side, whereas my 3.73 is centered......

would running a off-set rear axle with a centered t-case be feasible?

 

My understanding was that you want to take the 5.38 gears out of the 66 and put them in the flanged axle housing. You don't want to run the offset 5.38 axle with a centered output transfer case or vice versa. Too much offset.

 

Its the carrier not the case you have to put the spider gears into. Transfer the pinion gear and carrier assembly into your existing 44 axle. If you do not know how to set up gears then have a pro do it. That is not something you want to do wrong.

 

No way swap out your D30 for the D27 just to get 5.38s I bought 5.38 R&P for a D30 from Randy's R&P. They are not stock gears for the D30 so you may have to wait awhile. At least when I ordered them they we back ordered. for about 60 days. They were actually made by Yukon Gear.

 

Are you mistaking the parking brake for a pulley? D18s often have a drum brake on the rear output of the transfer case.

You can use the gears from the 44 in your rear axle, but setting up axle gears is probably the most "advanced" mechanicing there is. As above, usually left to the pros. Plus, opinions vary about used gears.

The axles improved a lot from '66 to '73 - you don't want to go backwards.

Stock 72-75 4.27 axles are out there, as are 4.10 axles from after '76. 5.38 is pushing radical for modern roads and would not be very practical in a '73 IMO, with no possibility of an overdrive; 3560 rpm at 65 with 33s.

 

Diff carrier, diff case, one and the same and often referred to by either name.

 

thanx for all the input guys.....i'm getting the axles tomorrow and will see what fits what and worse case scenario i'll have trading material

And yeah, that big round deal was the parking brake.....got to looking under my buddys '66 while installing a locker in the rear and figured it out