folks-

I am considering converting the coil-sprung front end of my 90 XJ to leaf springs.

Why? 'cuz it's MUCH easier to bolt a Dana 44 up to the front end then, and I have everything I need to make it work except for the axle, which I have a line on one for $100 from an 87 Wagoneer.

I also have the skills- I am pretty damn good with a welder if I do say so myself. Especially for someone with no formal training.

of course, we all know leafs ride a bit harsher than coils.

Thing is, it's a lot more fab work to make the brackets to bolt in the 44 with coils. Of course I could go with a 76-77 Early Bronco and convert to radius arms up front- this is pretty much a bolt-on operation. Problem is, they're hard to find.

Decisions, decisions-- whatta ya think, Eric, Mongo, other folks?

.. don't everyone rush to talk at once, now...

Go for the low $ approach, them you have extra to get more toys.

yeah that's kinda what I'm leaning toward, actually.

Just going to have to wait a bit. I'll go ahead and buy the axle, but the work itself will take me off the road for a bit.

That is one advantage of the coil setup-- I can bolt the new axle in in a day. However, I don't think that's worth an extra grand or more to do the job.

well, hell.

The knucklehead who told me he'd keep the axle for me, sold it.

At least he's giving me the wheels from that Wagoneer, so that saves a good bit.

Will keep my eyes out for a 77 Bronco 44. This has the coil seats 1" wider than the XJ axle- close enough to fudge it. I'll cut off the c-bracket and weld on my own heavy-duty control arm mounts, install Chevy spindles and FSJ outers, and call it done.

Probably be able to do it all for $500 or so. Not too bad.

happened to go by the local Advanced near my work today and got to talking with a friend.

Turns out he's a damn genius when it comes to designing 4-links. He's been building them for years for his custom trucks-- let me drive his lowrider and the damn thing drove smoother than many luxo-barges 've driven.

So now it's looking like I might be going coil REAR as well..

alright-- which one'ya wise guys suggested investing in Moog?

Go for the leaf springs, dude. You'll get even more flex outta that beast!

It's a toss-up anymore on that.

Even Matt's removed his cool quarter-elliptical buggy-spring set up out of Big Yellah for a 4-link and coils.

I'm still kinda on the fence. I saw a fellow on POR and JU <AZAshman, as I recall> who did the leaf conversion with 60's underneath running 38s, and he went through Upper Heldorado like it was nothing. Also, apparently, it makes a super nice DD onroad-- he drove it to the trail. :shrug:

more than likely, when it comes time to go to D44s, I'll go leafs. As it is-- I'm trying to save as much cash as possible just to get me through to tax refund time- all of which will go in a slush fund for home repair, should the worst happen. :knock wood:

WEll, after comparing pros and cons on the patented Shade Tree Howler Monkey scale, I find that fabbing and aligning all the brackets for the coil setup on a 44 is about a 5-Banana job <should only be attempted by a professional orangutan>, where going to leafs is more like a 2-Banana job <Moderately difficult- knowledge of tools and their uses required>. It would only be a 1-Banana job <almost the same amount of skill as required to peel a banana> if I didn't have to weld new spring perches atop the axle.

Come to think of it-- I could avoid that by going for a 4" lift YJ spring and staying with springunders. Nah.... too rough.

Of course I could always shell out the $400 for the Rubicon Express coilspring bracket kit, and move the job to a difficult 3-Banana task, but I'm disinclined to drop that much on brackets. The $400 and time I save will be better spent regearing and locking the front axle....

picked up the axle today. Hope to begin fabricatiing the brackets to mount the leafs when I get back from Germany.....