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Author Topic: 79 amx rear end swap  (Read 12230 times)

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Offline sserg

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79 amx rear end swap
« on: October 07, 2012, 02:40:49 PM »
I am looking for which cars (model and year ) will fit in my 1979 amx with the least modifications. i am looking for a ford 8.8 rear end.
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Offline captspillane

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Re: 79 amx rear end swap
« Reply #1 on: October 07, 2012, 03:00:11 PM »
I suggest the Jeep Commanche Dana 44. It has the shock mount on a plate that goes under the axle, exactly like your Spirit. It should bolt on without any modification. I can measure my Commanche D44 next time I'm home to confirm. I also have a '79 AMX to look at.
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Currently Inspected and Insured as of Jan 2013:
-1985 Eagle Station Wagon 258 T5 Stickshift
-1980 Eagle Station Wagon 258 Auto Fuel-injected with GM TBI

Minor Repairs Underway:
-1982 Eagle SX4 258 T5
-1981 Kammback 2.5L Iron Duke T5

Restoration Efforts Near Completion:
-1982 SX4- 401 NV3550
-1983 SX4- 4.5 MPI NSG370 (6 Speed)

Restoration Efforts Underway:
-1985 SW- 4.0 MPI AX15
-1982 SX4- 4.0 AW4
-1981 SX4- SD33T NV4500 (Turbodiesel 5 speed)

Future Rescue Efforts- '85 Maroon SW, '87 Limited SW, '84 Limited SW, '87 4 door Sedan, '81 2 door Sedan, '88 White SW, '77 4 door Hornet, '74 2 door Hornet, '79 Spirit AMX, '81 Kammback.

RIP- Red '81 SX4, '84 4dr Sedan, '84 SW, '81 SW, '80 Spirit, '83 SW, '83 4dr Sedan

Offline carnuck

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Re: 79 amx rear end swap
« Reply #2 on: October 09, 2012, 01:45:23 AM »
Spring pads need swapping and the axle is too wide.
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Offline TheWraith

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Re: 79 amx rear end swap
« Reply #3 on: October 09, 2012, 07:27:08 AM »
I thought '86-'87 Commanche d44 was a bolt-in to the Eagle.  Is the '79 AMX rear different then the Eagle?

About any gear ratio you'd want is available for the d44, not to mention selectable lockers, etc...
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Offline carnuck

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Re: 79 amx rear end swap
« Reply #4 on: October 09, 2012, 10:28:57 AM »
Cherokee D44 and D35/M15 axles are correct for bolt in to Eagle except the shock mounts. The AMX is SUA (spring under axle) like the Comanche, but about 5" narrower. (whatever the offset difference between the AMX centered rims and Eagle/XJ off center rims are) That's how they tucked a wider axle under the Eagle (for stability)
   The spring pads of the MJ are 1.5" closer to the wheel on each side (3" total) because the rear springs are under the frame instead of beside it for weight carrying. '86/87 is quite possibly a Model 20 too.
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Offline captspillane

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Re: 79 amx rear end swap
« Reply #5 on: October 13, 2012, 12:34:52 AM »
My Spirit has two 2" wheel spacers in the back and it still needs more to bring the tire out to where I want it. The rear tires on a stock Spirit are very far into the rear fender wells. I find that to be hideous. The Commanche Dana44 is the perfect width in my opinion.
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Currently Inspected and Insured as of Jan 2013:
-1985 Eagle Station Wagon 258 T5 Stickshift
-1980 Eagle Station Wagon 258 Auto Fuel-injected with GM TBI

Minor Repairs Underway:
-1982 Eagle SX4 258 T5
-1981 Kammback 2.5L Iron Duke T5

Restoration Efforts Near Completion:
-1982 SX4- 401 NV3550
-1983 SX4- 4.5 MPI NSG370 (6 Speed)

Restoration Efforts Underway:
-1985 SW- 4.0 MPI AX15
-1982 SX4- 4.0 AW4
-1981 SX4- SD33T NV4500 (Turbodiesel 5 speed)

Future Rescue Efforts- '85 Maroon SW, '87 Limited SW, '84 Limited SW, '87 4 door Sedan, '81 2 door Sedan, '88 White SW, '77 4 door Hornet, '74 2 door Hornet, '79 Spirit AMX, '81 Kammback.

RIP- Red '81 SX4, '84 4dr Sedan, '84 SW, '81 SW, '80 Spirit, '83 SW, '83 4dr Sedan

Offline BenM

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Re: 79 amx rear end swap
« Reply #6 on: October 29, 2012, 07:49:35 PM »
Measured Wheel Mounting Surface widths I've collected for rear axles. I make no guarantees on this data. Cars that got more than one axle type likely have one of them a slightly different width than the other.

I don't know which are AMC 15 (Dana 35), AMC 20, or Dana 44. (For most of them.)

Pacer   63.20
Eagle   60.75
Cherokee XJ   60.63   
TJ Rubicon   60.00
Cherokee Chief   62.30
Jeep Pickup   63.50
J-200, J-2000   65.50
J-300, J-3000   65.75
J-2000 Gladiator   63.81
J-3000 Gladiator   64.38
Javelin   60.00
« Last Edit: October 29, 2012, 07:58:55 PM by BenM »
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1987 AMC Eagle Sedan -- 1976 Pacer Coupe -- 1968 Pontiac Tempest Custom S -- 1940 Mercury (& a 2002 Jetta Turbodiesel, 5 spd., the Wife's Daily Driver)
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