Project Jeep CJ-7 Scout II Dana 44 Axles Swap onto a CJ-7 Frame
Fabricated Leaf Spring Hangers
Installing the Front Leaf Springs Hangers
Below is the whole set of hangers. Gussets have been welded in and all the holes have been measured carefully and pre-drilled while on the frame. In this shot everything is cleaned and waiting for primer and paint.
Pictured next is how the rear hangers are to grab the frame. The old hangers were measured and removed. 1/2 inches grade 8 hardware bolts through these angle pieces, creating a platform for the hangers to bolt onto. To keep the grade 8 1/2″ bolts from collapsing the frame when tightened, steel tubes, similar to shackle bolt sleeves, were inserted into the frame.
Larger angles (orange primer) – 4″ x 5″ x 7″ x 3/8″
Smaller angles (no primer) – 4″ x 3″ x 6″ x 1/4″ (shorter due to body mounts on frame)
I figured out exactly where I wanted the platforms and C-clamped everything together. Basically I located it on center of where the old hangers were located. The rear hanger would be centered on this platform and bolted down. The distance that the hangers would be outbound from their original location was based on the center to center of the spring pads on the axle.
Next I added the hanger and placed it exactly where I wanted it basing the measurement partly off of exactly where the old one was and by dimensions in a frame diagram as well as the width of the Dana 44 spring pads. I analyzed the heck out of where I wanted to put the hanger and double checked everything many times.
Eventually the overhang ( below) of the orange-primed 3/8 angle iron was cut off.
The budget Rebuild by Ralph HasselThe complete build is documentedhere on www.Offroaders.comThis 1978 Jeep CJ-7 never started life as a complete Jeep; rather it was built completely from parts. The goal was to build a […]
A Budgeted Jeep CJ-7 Rebuild from Concept to Conception by Ralph Hassel My evolution of thought… It all started with a humbling realization a number of years ago. My current vehicle, a 92 Toyota pickup 4×4, […]
This relatively simply oil pan modification, though it’s being done on Project CJ-7, can be installed on almost ANY 4×4 with an exposed oil pan. Though it may be a rare event to poke a […]
This Project CJ-7 article is about converting and armoring a Dana 300 skid plate to work with a Dana 20 transfer case. An ounce of prevention is worth a few pounds of steel. After hearing stories […]
In swapping the T-18A onto this Jeep project, a good tip was passed onto me from Mike of www.Jeepfan.com. This tip has to do with the stock clutch fork being used in the stock bell […]
Fabricating Custom U-Bolt Plates with Skid Protection for Project Jeep CJ-7 With the job of a Dana 44 axle swap to the project CJ-7 came the need for new u-bolt plates. Two things made stock u-bolt […]
A Simple yet very effective method of protecting your tie rod from impact with rocks and things, is to raise the tie rod up. Raising the Drag link also reduces bump-steer, a side effect of […]
Using 6 bucks worth of material to protect a 300 dollar 3-core radiator and to cool the V8 Engine. When looking at the grill of my 78 CJ-7, the one thing that just stuck out like […]
After doing some research I finally decided to look for a Borg-Warner T-18A manual transmission. Manual because that is what I prefer. The T-18A because of it’s 6.32:1 first gear and it’s heavy duty, cast […]
Project Jeep CJ-7 Daystar Swaybar Bushings Tip. When swapping out your stock CJ swaybar bushings with the Daystar Swaybar Bushings, here’s a Tip – Use the CJ bracket! Here’s why…First off, upgrading your sway bar bushings […]
Project Jeep CJ-7 – Disassembling the Scout II Dana 44 Front Axle. After acquiring the Dana 44 axles I also picked up a Dana 30 narrow track front axle that was in great shape. The […]
Continuing on from the front axle prep, the rear axle’s spring pad angle recorded and spring pads were removed. That was followed up by an inspection of differential and rear drum brakes to make sure […]
Project Jeep CJ-7 Scout II Dana 44 Axles Swap onto a CJ-7 FrameNew Custom Fabricated HangersFront Springs – Front HangersThe front hangers were a little easier to design than the rear hangers. Mainly because they […]
Project Jeep CJ-7 Scout II Dana 44 Axles Swap onto a CJ-7 FrameFabricated Leaf Spring HangersInstalling the Front Leaf Springs HangersBelow is the whole set of hangers. Gussets have been welded in and all the holes […]
Project Jeep CJ-7 U-Bolt Skid PlatesFabricating Custom U-Bolt Plates with Skid ProtectionWith the job of a Dana 44 axle swap to the project CJ-7, came the need for new u-bolt plates. Two things made stock […]
2 Comments
This is awesome. I’d like to get a dana 44 front axle under my 79 CJ7 some day. Did you have to change your shock mounts to work with the wider axle?
Thanks. No, actually I didn’t have to do anything with shock mounts except paint them. The shocks might lean a little but everything clears just fine.
This is awesome. I’d like to get a dana 44 front axle under my 79 CJ7 some day. Did you have to change your shock mounts to work with the wider axle?
Thanks. No, actually I didn’t have to do anything with shock mounts except paint them. The shocks might lean a little but everything clears just fine.