Dana30/AMC20 vs Chevy 10 Bolts

[NightStalker]

OK, so it is my understanding that I am allowed one newb question a week and here it is.


I currently have a Dana 30 front and an AMC 20 rear in my 77 CJ7, and wish to beef up the drive line a little. I was given a matching set of Chevy 10 bolt axles out of an older Chevy ½ ton that had a 6.2 diesel as a power plant. Of course the Chevy axles are wider than the ones on my CJ7, so I will be out a little money to have them cut down to fit.


My question is this. Would swapping to the Chevy axles gain me anything, or are they not any stronger than what I have? I would love to find some 14 bolt axles or some Dana 60s, but I am on a budget and cannot find anything within the same.


So fire away, tell me your thoughts on this matter.

[Bada-Bing.]

Tech stuff: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/search.php?searchid=5078047

Google told me they are 1/2 ton axles with a 8.5" ring gear

May not be worth much... a guy on pirate tried to sell one with 5.13 gears and locking hubs and no one bought it for $150

Possibly good up to 37's

Seems they are loved just a bit more than the Dana 35

[NightStalker]

Thanks, I posted on Pirate, in the wrong forum I guess. Got banned for it, I won;t be going back there again.

[OhioYJ]

The truck and car 10-bolts are very different. The car one is garbage in my opinion, especially for what we do. The truck one would be sort of an upgrade, but I don't think it's enough of an upgrade to warrant all the work of an axle swap. Maybe if you got them cheap and just slapped them under there, but if you are going to spend money to narrow them and such, I'd hold out for a bit and try and come across a different rear axle at least.

What size tires are you trying to run? More details about your Jeep?

Thanks, I posted on Pirate, in the wrong forum I guess. Got banned for it, I won;t be going back there again.

Yeah pirate is a different environment, fun place though sometimes, at least if you have thick skin.

[JeepPfeil]

why don't you go with, dana 44s or a ford 8.8 ?

[Rubiconrich]

Yes find a Scout and pick the front and rear Dana 44's. Same bolt pattern as
a CJ. You will have to do some work to use the front end.

[Bada-Bing.]

You will need at least 38.5"s to run 60's. Their diff's are huge. What size tire do you want to run, what type of wheeling do you want to do and what is your budget??