yeah you guys are right - I'm just trying to think up a way to do this as the closest part I've been able to source is a 5 hour drive away.

I don't like doing things half assed either- especially on my truck - but man its just sitting there all droopy faced begging to go outside.

 

Is this a reputable seller and will the seller ship? Much cheaper than driving that far. Just a center section should not be prohibitively expensive. If the center section is truly Dana and interchangeable , check with the Jeep forums. Lots of guys swap out the D44 for heavier rear ends.

 

I found one!!!! WOO HOO - 2.5 hr drive - COMPLETE Front & Rear suspension tire to tire from an 86 Jag XJ6

Get this $200

HA - I'm headed there Thursday afternoon & will have it for this weekend.

The guy said he bought the car -did a few doughnuts in it, cut out the good parts (engine etc) and junked the car.

OH MAN what a relief!!! Its even still in the cage!

Of course I'll need to clean it up & paint it etc. etc. - but its good to have a second set of brakes, cv joints and all that.

Oh - & this led me to the next discovery - the front suspension on my truck is a Jag as well! So now I'll have a backup front suspension too including the rack & pinion steering!

HAHAHAHA - LUKE I AM YOUR FATHER!!!!

 

GREAT Score!!!

 

I took off work early on Thursday & drove the almost 3 hours to get the parts. As advertised, a complete front and reas suspension from an 86 Jag. The seller wanted the engine/trans & junked the rest of the car - keeping the suspension because he knew people used them for hot rods.

The car had 48k original miles - but judging from the tires & the weeds in the suspension - it spent a lot of time parked in the grass somewhere - which is just good for me!

I got it home & started to pull everything apart.

First - in the cage the axle is top heavy - so it sat in the truck for about 18 hours upside down - all the diff oil leaked out through the vent. Yuck!

I spent most of the day Friday taking things apart & putting things back together.

I started by thinking I could just pull the pumpkin & leave the rest of the rear end under the truck. HaHaHa - no dice!

I eventually tugged the entire rear out - tore it all apart & stuffed the new pumpkin into the old rear suspension.

I could have just plopped the entire new suspension in - but I think the ford bolt pattern I am running is different than the Jag one - maybe not - didnt' look that closely. Also - I know the track width is right on my existing stuff - no need to worry about it.

Anyway - family arrived & so I was done Friday.

Saturday I managed to get the rear tucked back under the truck & the initial set of bolts in place.

I still need to re-attach the shocks/springs, drive shaft, brakes & all the idler arms etc.

After that I'm back on the road! Maybe 3 hours worth of work left!

- Couple observations -
First - the Jag rear brakes had "recently" been worked on - meaning the brake pads looked brand new & the calipers do not match each other in design - so I will keep these calipers, discs & pads for spares.

Second - the Jag rear brakes had the embergency brake still attached - mine do not. I will be swapping in the e-brake

Third/Final - the control arms that locate the axle have bushings front & rear. My bushings are rotten - bad rotten - so I will be finding a shop to press in new ones.

I'll get pics up later - the yard looked like a brittish car had exploded - but I have it mostly cleaned up.


Oh - anyone want a Jag front suspension? complete with power rack? I hear they are a direct fit for our trucks. I know mine looks good!

 

Congrats. You will be back to driving it again in no time.

 

I'd take the suspension if you were closer.

 

Progress.

Sort of.

I got the new pumpkin in.

I put in some of the jag parts but mostly kept what was in the truck.

When I finally dropped the jack the truck wouldn't start.

Starter solenoid. $20

That got her up.

Now the bad news.

The trans doesn't work right.

It doesn't engage right away. It's not slipping, just not engaging. After a few seconds & a little reving (not much) it will catch & get going. It then cuts out & I coast, then back in, then out.


I'm about to limp it the 25 miles to the tranny shop & let them have it.

This thing has fought me every step of the way.

Like the old calipers didn't fit on the new pumpkin because the ears were too big. I had to grind them down. @ least the rear seems to be tight.

Ugh

 

It does at least move under its own power

 

Sounds like it's low on trans fluid .

 

I wish. I have almost $100 worth of synthetic trans fluid.

Could it be the torque converter needs more? I put 1 qt in it before installing.

I would hope it would fill up right away

 

Just make sure it's at operating temp , and you MUST check the fluid level with the motor idling in park .
If it's an aftermarket dipstick it may be incorrect levels on it .
In my c4's i always use type F trans fluid .

 

If you need to get it to the tranny shop, do you have any other way to get it there besides driving it, a dolly, trailer, or tow bar? Personally Id call the tranny shop B4 trying to limp it in, they may just void the warrantee. I know you must be beyond frustrated at this point but it wont hurt to get there opinion. PS does it hesitate going into reverse also?

 

I'll try again tomorrow. It has not run enough to be at temp

 

It does hesitate in reverse too. I'll call the shop on monday if it doesn't come to life tomorrow after I bring it up to temp to check the fluid level.

I KNOW I installed the converter correctly. It's soo darn close to being back on the road I can taste it!