Year/Axle/gears??

I was looking over a parts jeep the other day when I noticed that it had a D-44 WT rear and the first thing I did was check to see if it had a 4 cyl (it does).

While looking the jeep over I was talking to the owner by cell phone. He said the jeep is an 85 all stock that he bought in 1989 and that he has a title.

It has been said,

D-44 only came in the latter part of 86 (half the year).

4.10 were standard with the 4 cylinder.

CJ D-44 only came with 3.31 gears.

I’m assuming the owner has the year incorrect and it’s an 86 and I’m also assuming because of the 4 cyl it has 4.10 gears. I would appreciate your thoughts.

 

you hogging another Jeep Chuck R)

the first two observations I believe to be correct.
however, the gear ratio for CJs could vary depending on engine/trans combination.
2.72
3.31
3.54
4.10
4.56
all above are listed in the Jeep parts book for the CJ D44 1986
can't say I've ever seen the 4.56 factory installed
in Calif, I recall the 258/autos having 3.31 std; 3.54 optional
does the parts Jeep have a VIN, or can you get the VIN off the title ?
that would help, as we all know, any PO can swap stuff around

 

You gave the “third option” a while ago when replying to a thread and I verified it by pulling the cover off the WT D-44 I own now, and you were right it had 3.31 gears.

I do agree that the 4.10 gears would depend of the engine/trans combo. I will get a hold of the vin

 

I checked the vin 1JCUM87AXFT114886 and is in fact an 85 with a 4 speed D-300. I came up with a 4.0 engine using the 4th code U which can’t be right.

I looked at it closely and it definitely looked like a U but now I’m second guessing myself thinking it may have been a D.

 

Chuck
U = AMC 150 4 banger
no D used for 81-86 Jeeps

 

Thanks Jim, 4.10s it is

The two sites I looked up the vin on said N/A for one and 4.0 for the other. Again, thanks for clearing it up for me.

Strange having a CJ D-44 on an 85

 

Jim, I pulled the cover and it has 3.54 gears.

Would you mind decoding a some numbers for me?

On the ring gear:80785 Dana D 18437P3L71

Stamped on the axle housing where it mates with the cover (# is not visible unless cover is removed): 00 09A7

I'm thinking 4 cyl 5 speed 4.10, 4 cyl 4 speed 3.54, 6 cyl 3.31. for any 85-86 CJ that comes stock with a D-44.

 

Chuck I don't have much info on the late D44s in CJs
the "80785" will be the build date for the gear set: 8-07-85
the 18437 will be the Dana part number
the pic below will give you some info as to where to look for more markings on the housing.
your combo theorys make sense to me

 

Thanks Jim!

So I guess when they say the WT D-44 was used for a replacement axle when they ran low on AMC 20s in the latter part of 86 isn’t entirely true.

 

shrug
we ordered CJs probably 6 at a time
towards the end, you never knew what rear axle was going to be in the Jeep
seems like the 86 models was when we first noticed the change though
course, that was 20 years ago
maybe my memory isn't so good