Dana 18 Swap! for D20

A few pages back some things covered gear swap from the 18 to the 20. However!
Have any of you put the off-set D18 in place of a D20 and ran the Driveline at a angle.
I am not running a big lift and don't think it will effect me anymore than if I had a 4 inch lift under my Jeep!
Its not prime choice I understand. I want to know if anyone has done it and what the outcome was! ???
I will take any input!

 

I can't see how that would be any different from running a Dana 18 with a centered axle in an earlier model. There's a lot of incentive for that, since the centered flanged Dana 44s are much more plentiful than the offset flanged 44s. Consensus re that swap has been uniformly negative - too much driveshaft angle. You could search the old posts in the "early" forum for 'centered axle' - lots of hits.

 

driveline angle would be my only concern I believe. since I do not have a large lift and big tires I think I would be merely doing the same as a lift. Thanks for input!

 

It's not the same as simply doing a lift. You are dealing with compound angles not just on one plane.

 

Just a thought but a Jeep M715 has a NP200 which is an off-set x-fer case and a centered D70 from the factory. So the drive line is angled from the factory with no vibration or issues related to this setup. Yes the vehicle has a longer real drive line but...

 

I had a 62 Willys pickup with a Spicer18 and a Wagoneer centered rearend. I had no issues at all. I was more concerned with the shorter wheelbase.
Although measuring up my 74 CJ5. I find my transfercase is slightly to the drivers side already. Everything is lined up correctly with recently new motor mounts and trans mount. My driveline actually is about 3 inches out of center to the drivers side! and were the output of the spicer 18 will be it is about 4 inches off center to the passenger side plus lower down.
I like trying things people say can't be done.
I do understand the compound angles!