Re: [Amc-list] eagle rear end HELP/ADVISE wanted

[Wrambler242@xxxxxxxxxxx]

I forgot about the 81 being fulltime!
Yeah, it would not work with the front disconnected!
Needs to be selectrac to pul the front shaft and drive in 2wd.

--
Mark Price
Morgantown, WV
1969 AMC Rambler, 4.0L, EFI, T-5
2004 Grand Cherokee Laredo, 4.7L, Quadratrc II
" Chronic Pain Hurts"

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Eddie Stakes" <eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Thanks to all who have replied so far on this Eagle dilemma. I almost bought a 
> 80 Spirit 151/AT yesterday to bring down, and tear rear end out of. The 81 Eagle 
> is still sitting over at the mechanic's shop, not bothering anyone, but still as 
> gas prices continue to climb, would like to put it back on road ASAP, as it got 
> 29mpg, compared to my 72 Ambassador at 14mpg and 68 Rebel SST conv at 10mpg (eh, 
> ok, it is built up). So I'm gathering that a Cherokee rear axle will almost bolt 
> in? 
> 
> Secondly, anyone out there have a 3:08 or 3:54 rear end to sell? I am guessing 
> that it is a 3:54 myself, even though there is a A with circle around it and 2, 
> stamped on the axle tube just to the right (passenger side) of the pumpkin. 
> 
> Also, is anyone positive that the front differential CAN indeed be disconnected 
> should I find a rear end? I don't care if the 81 is 4x4 or not, as both my 82 
> and 88 Eagles, driven daily, are 4x4. 2WD on the 81 would be fine, as long as I 
> can somehow put it back on the road in a reasonable amount of time. I really 
> can't remember the last time I had a rear end go out, maybe in the late 1970s 
> about 330+ AMCs ago. Well, with the exception of the time I went and ate that 
> one POUND burrito at Mission Burritos that happened, this was result in my 77 
> AMX:
> 
> http://www.planethoustonamx.com/refried_beans_seat.jpg
> 
> A little scorched earth policy I guess. Anyhows, thansk to all who have been 
> replying on and off these online sites. I just bought a complete fliar set for 
> the corners for this booger when this happened also. This photo shows it with 
> two:
> 
> http://www.epage.com/js/mi/c0/1764174.html
> 
> but the material AMC used for 80-81 Eagle flairs is not the same as used for 
> 82-88, which is more like a Saturn type bendable material, and can withstand 
> heat, cold, UV and more and bounce back into shape. The 80-81 types get brittle 
> and simply fall apart it seems.
> Eddie Stakes 
> 
> 
>  =======================
>  The 4-speed 151 should have a 3.54:1 ratio.  My buddy had the 151/4-speed Eagle 
> in highscool.  I had the Spirit 1.51/auto (3.08:1).  He could ALWAYS beat me off 
> the line ... I hated that, LOL!
>    
>   My dad has 2 Eagle parts cars.  One is a 1980 with full time 4wd.  258/4-speed 
> car.  The other is a 1983 258/5-speed car.  Both are located here in Michigan 
> ... a we bit of a drive from Tehas.
>    
>   The Eagle rearends a bit wider than the 2WD cars, if I remember correctly  
> Kind of like a Wide Track Eagle rearend, LOL!
>    
>   I think that a Commanche Dana 44 (Metric Ton) will bolt in, also.
>    
>   If I remember correctly, the code might be stamped into the machined surface 
> of the differential housing, to the right of the diff cover.  Check there, also.
>    
>   Greg Taylor :)  <><
> ========================
> Eddie, if it performed pretty good with the 151 it MUST have a 3.54! But to be 
> sure, just take the back cover off and count the teeth on the ring gear 3.54 
> will have 46 teeth, 3.31 43, and 3.08 40. There's no way that four could have 
> had anything less than a 3.08 gear, and I seriously doubt it's anything but the 
> 3.54. 
> 
> Just to please everyone, the pinion on all three has 13 teeth -- you might want 
> to try to count pinion teeth, but I don't think it's necessary, and it would be 
> hard to do without removing the differential first. If the 151 car had a 2.xx 
> gear it would hardly get out of its own way, and have a bigger pinion gear 
> (15-19 teeth). To find the actual ratio, divide the number of teeth on the ring 
> gear by the pinion gear, then drop all but two decimal places. 46/13=3.5484615, 
> or 3.54. Some companies round to the last two places and would call AMC 3.54 
> gears 3.55, doesn't make much difference either way. 
> Frank Swygert
> =======================
> Eddie,
>     IIRC, Jim Blair bolted a XJ Cherokee axle under an Eagle succesfully.
> The Comanche axle is incorrect sinceit sits on top of the leaves and the Eagle 
> is underslung.
>    What you need to pull the swap off is just about any 4.0L auo rear axle from 
> a small Cherokee.
> The small Cherokees with autos get a 3:55 rear axle and they will also give you 
> one piece axles.
> Wheel bolt pattern is the same, ebrake cables should fit the XJ axle too.
> The only thing that will need refitting is the shock mounts and possibly the 
> rear drive shaft.
>     With the scarcity of the 4cyl stick Eagles this would likely be the best way 
> to go.
> I think anything short of that 3:54 or 3:55 axle will leave you wanting...
> Mark Price
> =======================
> The Comanche rear axle isn't a bolt in for the Eagle. You have to cut off the 
> old springpads, which are on the bottom of the MJ axle and weld new ones on top 
> 1 1/2" outboard from the MJ ones (same place the XJ ones go) I have done a 
> couple already as you may have guessed. <G> 
> Jim blair
> ======================
> Greg is correct -- the 2WD car rear axle is narrower than an Eagle. He's also 
> correct about the XJ/MJ (Cherokee/Commanche) axle -- it's the same width as the 
> Eagle. The Commanche axle is spring-under-axle and won't bolt right in. The 
> Cherokee axle is spring-over-axle, and should work. The shock mounts are welded 
> on the Chero axle, they just have to be cut off. Reports I've heard say it's a 
> bolt-in after the shock mounts are cut off. All 4.0L Cheros with auto trans are 
> 3.55 rear axles (same as 3.54 -- Jeep rounded up those years), so you should be 
> able to easily find a replacement rear and leave the front alone. 
> 
> Didn't think about that at first -- thanks for the reminder Greg!
> Frank Swygert
> ========================
> 
> Eddie Stakes'
> Planet Houston AMX
> 713.464.8825
> eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> www.planethoustonamx.com
> email reply currently 5-9 days
> 8-19 day reply times, just call!
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