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Wack's D44 Build 1996 xj

I had a 94 s10 with Ford d44/9”. It got an Astro box with forward facing arm. I haven’t shot the sight lines yet, but the geometry appears to work. The high steer arm is close to stock knuckle proximity; Depending on how far that tierod pushes forward.


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Very cool.

Between the Dodge Dakota springs and going SOA with the Astro box, my tie rod and drag link are almost exactly parallel (in the horizontal) at ride height. Vert is another matter- looking down from above them, they aren't anything like parallel, but I am not aware of this having any impact on handling.
 
I went with WFO. Md to Ca and back in 9 days. $65. And they even pressed out my old BJs. Machining looks great, threaded in studs by hand. Clean taps. Shipping was an additional $13 each way USPS


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About the same with Bonzpartz. Glad you got it done.

Yes, I'm going to be copying your work here, when I get my 90 back on the road. ;)
 
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Knuckle back from machining, ball joints pressed in, steering arms on, diff and tubes resealed


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So looks like you took the Chevy axle and retubed it to move it to a driver's side drop? I assume you set it up for Waggy shaft lengths?

How much trouble did you have R&Ring the tube?
 
Very cool.



Between the Dodge Dakota springs and going SOA with the Astro box, my tie rod and drag link are almost exactly parallel (in the horizontal) at ride height. Vert is another matter- looking down from above them, they aren't anything like parallel, but I am not aware of this having any impact on handling.


Probably will end up grabbing an Astro box and 2.5” drop arm. This is the Ruff Stuff rendering, forward facing pitman for sure, since my draglink TRE connection @ arm will now be about 2” further out than the stock inverted Y setup.

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So looks like you took the Chevy axle and retubed it to move it to a driver's side drop? I assume you set it up for Waggy shaft lengths?



How much trouble did you have R&Ring the tube?



No that’s a waggy d44 housing. Stock length 300m shafts. Just used the flat top knuckles from GM D44. Will be using FSJ D44 spindles outbound. They are the bigger spindle shaft, compared to the small lip design on the GM 6 bolt spindles.


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Probably will end up grabbing an Astro box and 2.5” drop arm. This is the Ruff Stuff rendering, forward facing pitman for sure, since my draglink TRE connection @ arm will now be about 2” further out than the stock inverted Y setup.

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This is almost exactly my setup on the S10. Except I'm running a flat arm, and need one with about 1" of drop (or a pitman-side TRE with a side-mounted Zerk), and a little bit longer.

Honestly, I just need to get out there and align it properly, first. I found out the other day I am about 15deg out on the pitman alignment. Fix that and assess from there.
 
No that’s a waggy d44 housing. Stock length 300m shafts. Just used the flat top knuckles from GM D44. Will be using FSJ D44 spindles outbound. They are the bigger spindle shaft, compared to the small lip design on the GM 6 bolt spindles.


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OK, that's what I'm running. Literally the only Chevy parts on my axle are the flattop knuckles. Everything else is from the stock axle.

I am fortunate to have made a friend on the old S10Extremists forum that is a font of knowledge on this sort of stuff. I'm always asking him what this or that idea sounds like to him. This is what's lead me to running true duals (next project) down the PAX side, with the mufflers stood vertical and an h-pipe. I suck at coping tubing and have been putting off construction of a new exhaust y-pipe. This will avoid that problem, and allow me to run 2-1/2" pipe thoughout without constriction on the motor.
 
Made a little progress. Had to work on door hinges and new brake lines, but was able to get rear pinion angle set and truss welded on. Currently trying to source a 2wd Astro box and wagoneer pitman arm. The XJ is too much drop. Fabricated a track bar, bushed dom on one side, chromoly 7/8” heim on the other.

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Made some good progress. Still have to ream out pitman arm, make drag link, do brake lines front and rear, and vent tubes.

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Was also able to build a new front bumper, do some patching in the cargo space, install brown dog engine mounts, and swap in a 4:1 241 rocktrac case.

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Got front axle squared away and centered. Rear brake lines fabricated and new Bilstein shocks installed. Waiting on a reamer for pitman arm and then it’s pretty much complete and ready for trial
Run.

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