help? ok i have a 95 yj with a 2.5liter with that said i have a dana 44 out of a 85 jeep grand wagoneer and a dana 44 out of a 95 isuzu rodeo i am putting these under my jeep with a spring over suspension i will be running 5.38s in the diffs and a tera flex 4to1 trans case my problem is for the spring over i will need to weld the spring perch on to part of the pumpkin, does anyone know if this is ok to weld on, is it cast metal or cast iron, is there a difference and will it hold, i wanna be safe any help would be great...oh this is the 85 wagoneer diff i am talkin about  

I wouldn't hesitate to weld on it myself, I'm wondering though if a bracket could be made so you don't need to weld on it...  

Check this out...

http://www.esabna.com/EUWeb/oxy_handbook/589oxy15_1.htm

M.O.R.E in Colorado makes lots of axle brackets for swapping including YJ SO. Maybe they can help.  

After some interesting reading it would seem that the Dana 44 center section is gray iron. Especially from the era of yours.

Welding requires excepional cleaning and pre-heating. It also seems that the choices of filler rod used in stick welding might make that a good choice. Probably better than MIG. Peening also important. I'd have it done by a certified welder. It seems a little tricky and I would not want it to fail or distort anything.  

well thank you guys for tryin to help i think that this sould not be a big deal but is kinda turnin in to one, of all the jeep people i know and wheel with noone seems to know, i just want to be safe my rock climbin co-pilot is my 10yr old daughter and i am a single dad and try to do as much as i can with my daughter and hiking is not my favorite thing to do if you know what i mean, but thanks again..............P III  

Don't get discouraged. The Wagoneer front 44 is a popular swap for the YJ. The SO is the little glitch. I talked with M.O.R.E and they have done it. They can help. They don't have the exact bracket but maybe the D30 SO bracket they sell can be customized by them so it will work for you. Their D30 SO bracket welds to the tube and the casting. They TIG it but said a certified welder would have no problems.  

still no real need to worry about it...if you were welding a tower for upper links then there would be some concern from the leverage. the pads just need to stay put..and the u-bolts will aid further in that.

I am certified...BTW.  

I totally agree about how strong the perch needs to be.

I do a lot of welding with my MIG on mild steel. I lay down a nice looking bead and have not had any issues with welds not holding. But I always wonder about penitration. I am not trained, just a wannabe. When it comes to dis-similar metals, I know it's a little tricky, so I like to have the pros do it. Just seems like the right thing to do.  

thanks guys i really do mean it ill let you know the outcome of all this till then...........P III  

Can you send me some info on your swap as THAT is exactly what I am trying to do w my 95 YJ. I already have 38" MT's and it has a 4 cl 5 speed.  

how you doin that is kinda wierd i havent checked this site in quite sometime i have had some health problems in my family so i havent gotten to anything yet, but feel free to call me anytime or send an email to sixthreegalaxie@hotmail.com and i will try to help in anyway i can or at least tell you what i have learned about the swap, sorry i could not be of great help at the moment name is paul and number is 805 975 2161  

i did a swap similar but used the knuckles from the wagon for a ford axle from i think a 78 bronco or f250 these already had a place for the spring but my axle is .5" of center it doesnt drive wierd and still tracks straight but i found its easier to swap in  

the ford was bought from someone who had already pulled it out of the vehicle and i bought it off a trailer so i dont have much info on it but look in the junk yards for a ford like this it may make it easier on you with fab time  

Letting everyone know you are certified seems like your volunteering to me mud. :P