Custom Axle for the Wagoneer

I decided I wanted a stronger rear axle for the Wagoneer so the search was on. What I came up with was this: a Dana 60 out of a 1999 Dodge 3/4 ton. It has rear disc brakes, 4.10 gears and a factory limited slip. The only major issue is it is a little wide. Since we are trying to still adhere to our budget approach on the Wagoneer I decided to narrow the housing in the shop. This is not a super difficult job to do as long as you do careful measuring and cutting. What I needed was to cut this axle down by 6 inches to get to the width I wanted. What was even nicer about this axle is the factory spring pads fit the wagoneer perfectly, so those did not have to be touched. First I cut out the axle tube by 3" per side. Then I beveled the tube ends for good weld penetration. I then made a sleeve to for inside the axle tube to add rigidity and assist in keeping the tubes aligned. Then another check of measurements and weld away. New axle shafts were obtained from Moser Engineering and viola! new beefy rear axle. Next month we will show it installed. In order to make the front end match the new axle, we are installing mid 70's Chevrolet truck front hubs and spindles. This will give us 8 bolt wheels all around. Hope fully next month we can show you the Wagoneers new flame job as well. --

Dan