a4xnut

Hadn't envisioned using that much bed, but in a nutshell, yes.

While that's a nice looking bed, it sacrifices some of utility of a pickup. I've always thought a M-715/M-37/Power Wagon (the original) style bed, along with some sheet metal styled front flares could net you a cool mil-spec look that is relatively easy to fab, off-road durable and still pickup functional. Alternately, the more angular style of the front fenders (and OE box) could be complemented by some Willys Pickup styled fenders. A poor-mans Nukizer replica? Perhaps you could call it a MJ-715?

I thought having a working one to use as a fold-up work bench/writing desk... might need to put a flat surface on the "inside" to give a nice flat working surface when deployed... it's something I thought about doing with an old CJ tailgate I have that would be supported by chains instead of the p/u's folding arm design.

Well, it's obviosly not a normal YJ SOA conversion, but looks to be a coil spring conversion. When the TJ's first came out and were getting rave reviews, there were a few outfits that offered kits to convert YJ's coils. IIRC, Superlift, Black Diamond & Pro Comp were a few, but a google image search of those names doesn't come back with bracketry like that. But that's my guess of your find.

If the XJ has an aftermarket track bar that went with the lift, be sure you hang onto that for your transformation. Same goes for control arms, shocks and check the brake lines, too.

Mine has an adapted XJ bumper as well. Since this pic was taken, I used a license plate bracket from the front of a 86 XJ and mounted the plate just inboard of the left bumperette.

Hmmm... my 1980 Scout II with a Dana 300 t-case and Dana 44's at both ends had the same ratios... 2.72's! Between the torque of the 345 and the 727 Auto, it still pulled 32x11.50's with ease. I wasn't aware of International ever using a transfer case with a differential in the Scout/Light Truck line. But FWIW, I'm with the crowd that says the listed differences don't matter.

I had Moser make my custom D30 inner axles. I was disappointed the only guarantee they gave was the axles were made to the dimensions I ordered. One of them failed only a few weeks (two wheeling trips) later. It's not like the GM 2.8 V6 overpowered it. I had never managed to break a stock shaft. The Moser unit broke right behind the u-joint yoke. It could have only been a cleaner break if it were cut with a laser. I'm pretty sure there was a process failure in heat treatment - or a complete lack of it. Fortunately, it was the short side and it happens to be the same length as a Scout II D30's short side, which I happened to have.

The IH Scout II's Dana 44 is about an 1" narrower on each side. It runs 5x5.5" bolt pattern (same as a CJ). Due to the hub center's size, it can't be drilled to the MJ's 5x4.5" pattern, but you can get adapters to change it and with them, you'd be about the same as stock. The Scout's rear axle doesn't come with disc brakes, but they are bigger than the Jeeps - and if you get a '75 or newer, they are bigger than the pre'75 models. I used one from a '73 Scout II in my XJ (partly because it was scavenged from a rusty parts rig for free), but I didn't use adapters because I wanted to keep the 5x5.5" pattern and with the different offset typically used with 5x5.5" Jeep & Scout & Bronco, my track width actually increased with the narrower axle. I did have to address the front though, otherwise I'd have to carry two spares. I chose to build a hybrid full-floating high pinion D30 out of my OE axle. http://www.4x4wire.com/jeep/tech/axle/xjupgrades/ Why not just run an Exploder 8.8 with discs?

If you look in the menu on the left of yxmj's link and click on "Nissan" you will see what they're calling a Nissan 12 bolt - that's the Nissan D44.

Nissan Titan, some Frontiers & Xterras (manual trans or NisMo/Pro 4X) has a 12 bolt cover on their D44. When I googled it, the Nissan boards say it has no common parts with "other" D44's. Oh, and your pic will show up on a Google Image Search under Nissan Titan (or Frontier) Dana 44. :thumbsup:

My first Jeep was a '62 Willys Maverick. Mavericks had fancier trim and only came in 2WD. Mine had been converted to 4WD using the Buick-Old-Ponitiac patterned TH400/Dana 20 & Dana 27 front axle from a '69 Jeepster. The engine was '71 Buick 350. The rear 2-piece axled D44 had been replaced with a one-piece D44 from a '56 Merc station wagon. All that modern stuff would be great, but that 350 would kick a 4.0's but from hell to breakfast.

IIRC, the Isuzu Trooper or Rodeo (forget which now) had a D44 with a finned cover (maybe the Vehicross, too). Don't recall if it was std or optional though.

The Model 20 found in select 86 MJ "Metric Ton" rigs has one piece axles and heavier duty housing like the FSJ variant, not the weaker CJ 2-piece style with the weker axle tubes.