I found a smoking deal on a 1990 YJ rolling chassis with wagoneer Dana 44 axles, a tub (kinda hacked up on the wheel wells) a solid frame with 3" lift wagoneer leaf springs. I can't decide whether to buy it or not I guess because I want to know if my engine and tranny from my cj will mount up and also if my drivelines will fit upto the axles temporarilly until I get some new ones made up. I also haven't had a hands on look at the tub and was wondering if my CJ tub will fit on the YJ frame. Also one other question is that on the front springs, the shackles don't stick foward they hang rearward. I've never seen them like this but I would assume that this is a problem.

For the what I would pay it is well worth it just for one axle.

Any advice would be nice

Thanks. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Your engine/tranny may or may not fit. It would help to know what it is.

Probably not on the driveshafs as typically fullsize Waggie springs extend wheelbase 2" per end (probably why the wheelwells are hacked). Waggie springs are already 2" taller than CJ springs, so you add the 3" you mention and there's even more distance from yoke to yoke. A tape measure would tell for sure though.

You're correct about the problem with the front shackles. Keep in mind, however, that if there's no engine in the frame now (assuming there isn't) that the weight of the engine/tranny/tcase will extend the springs and push the shackles forward. Common sense stuff.

The CJ tub (assuming it's a CJ7) will fit the YJ frame. Lots of people put YJ tubs on CJ7's, so do some google searching, see how it's done, and do a 180 on some procedures since you're going the other way.

Hey thanks for the reply, The engine I am putting in is a 258 with a head conversion. I might use the tub that comes with it but I'm not sure how legal it would be driving it to work.

Pic Here

I live in Cali. and i'm not sure of the tire/ fender laws down here.

Also when I had the engine out of my CJ for the new one...my shackles never poked in instead of out. If anything they were straight up and down.

anyhow thanks
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Those aren't Waggie Dana 44's in those pictures.

They are five lug, not six like a Waggie. Looking at the front viw of that YJ ( http://community.webshots.com/photo/87763632/291870435AeOwYB )the front axle cover is definitely Dana 30. The top and bottom of the cover are too "flat" to be a Dana 44. It also has external type lockout hubs. Waggie 44's use an internal lockout. See this comparison on the diff covers: I'd be sure what a Waggie 44 looks like and what's under this thing before buying.

The front springs in particular look like someone rearched some stock springs. That would be why the shackles point the wrong direction.

If the deal is good enough springs are simple to swap out. I sure wouldn't let it bother me if the price was right.

YJ frames are a good deal stronger than CJ frames since each rail is one piece of tubing rather than two "C" pieces welded together. If the engine in that YJ was a 258 yours will swap right in. You may have some fab work for the tranny mount.

Those shackles do appear to be pointing back a bit huh?, but that could be at least partially due to the fact that there is no engine, tranny, etc., thus no weight on the springs and they are sitting high right now.

But even if they aren't right, as was said above, the springs can be changed or maybe even a set of boomerang shackles might fix it up,

Unless you know the guy selling it and know his work is good, check everything real well, any welds, fabrication, etc. to make sure it wasn't just slapped together by someone who doesn't know what their doing,,,,and check those axles like said above....

Yeah I wasn't sure about the front axle but now that you point that out it looks like a d30 but, I know the rear axle is a d44 because I have a closeup picture that I will upload tonight for you all to check. Even still for the price it seems like a good deal to me. I sport a amc20 with one piece axles which is holding up...but I have went through a set of bearings on it already probably because I have a bent tube or something. The frame on my CJ has some serious rust issues and needs to be replaced. Also I wouldn't mind using the body that he has on there so long as it was somewhat legal...which I don't know if it is or not. He is asking 800 for the whole shebang and I think that is pretty reasonable.

No need to post as you can see it on his webshots account. It's a 44, but it's not Waggie. Probably a Scout 44.

So the question still remains. Is it worth it?

For $800, sure thing.

I really would consider this rig as something to play off-road in rather than a daily driver. Lots of potential for a daily driver as well. It is going to take quite a bit of time and mods to make her "CA Legal" for road use weather you are going to use your CJ tub or use the YJ one. The springs seem a little strange, but most likely were tweaked for greater arc for some reason. Not that big of a deal. New springs are fairly easy to replace and you can pick them up just about anywhere. Check this set/kit from 4WD Hardware YJ 2 incher Engine mounting issues.... shouldn't be any issues at all there. Emissions, if you pull everything off your CJ, including the tub, and rig everything up the same as it was on your old rig, you shouldn't have any problem, so long as your CJ's emissions were legal. You are basically going to put the YJ chassis under a CJ Jeep. The tire laws... That thing in the picture wouldn't pass too many inspections as far as the cuts on the body and tire positioning, etc. Like I said way up top, it would be a great rig for ORV use as it sits. If you are any good with sheet metal fabrication, you can do wonders, though. Find someone that knows the laws well enough to give you the hints on how to get by with the basics. I've seen great things done to overcome the laws for road use, then the panels added either have cam-locks that you just take a screw driver and pop them out for when you are on the rocks and when you get ready to pull off the trail, you just stick them back on.... other options would be to really snazz it out with aftermarket plastic stuff.... Just for the legalities.

Really wish you all the luck in the world on this project of yours. I'd love to have that rig to play with.

Keep us posted as to your findings and how this thing works out for you!

Only you and your money can decide that. Just keep in mind that $800 is the starting point, and it's not even close to what it will take to complete. You may run into lots of little expenses while swapping and those costs add up in a big hurry. Things like changing out the brake lines while you've got everything apart, or using new body mount bushings. Hmm, the wiring on this thing is marginal, I think I'll replace the harness while I'm at it.

This kind of stuff will eat you out of house and home, so keep it in the consideration of the original $800.