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MaineZJ
11-23-2004, 08:06 PM
Lets say I can get a near free 80's Wagoneer... only catch is it doesn't have 44 front and rear.
Has a 44 front and M20 rear

I know the M20 is beefier than a CJ M20, but would this be worth my time fabbing or just really really stupid?

LouisianaZJ
11-23-2004, 08:16 PM
meh, i dont know how much in the way of gears/lockers are avaliable for the rear?

better off with a 14 bolt rear ($100) and mabey the 44 front

robselina
11-25-2004, 11:02 PM
the waggy AMC20 (M23 in actuality) has 1 piece axles and 3" axle tubes. It's stronger than a D44 based on ring gear size and pretty equivalent in everything else. It's not a bad axle at all, but those axles probably have 2.73s in them or some other shitty gear combo like that, so be prepared to regear.....

ZJ Admiral
12-12-2004, 04:47 PM
I'm runnin those same axles, the M20 has a much bigger ring gear and carrier than the 44, don't know exact dims. There's a big aftermarket selection for gears and lockers since the center section is the same as the one in the CJs. I'd say it's strong enough, I've broken a few axles on the 44 with 35s, but never have hurt the M20 (knock on wood).

MaineZJ
12-12-2004, 04:55 PM
8.875" is so much bigger than 8.5"

ZJ Admiral
12-12-2004, 06:33 PM
I installed the gears in both, maybe the M20 just seemed bigger, but the carrier and spider gears seemed noticeably much bigger in size and weight, but then again I installed them at 2AM while on a caffeine high, so it may have just seemed that way.

robselina
12-12-2004, 08:14 PM
I installed the gears in both, maybe the M20 just seemed bigger, but the carrier and spider gears seemed noticeably much bigger in size and weight, but then again I installed them at 2AM while on a caffeine high, so it may have just seemed that way.

back when I had stock axles, I remember welding up the spider gears in the M20 and the D44 and I know what you mean, the D44 felt much smaller. I think it's the housing size that gives that impression.