Front axle IFS swap

[TheBirdman]

I, like many of you, have spent a lot of time working on and daily driving my eagle, and like many of you, have also decided that 2.35 gears suck. Especially since I swapped in my AW4, and it only shifts into 4th at 75 mph. Im also sure that we all know by now how you cant re-gear a 2.35 eagle front axle, there have been plenty of threads on it, and I dont think we need another. After doing some looking, and calling some scrapyards, Im starting to think that the supply of non-2.35 eagle front axles is beginning to run dry. So, after racking my brain on options, Ive come up with an idea. Im not saying im super hopeful that itll pan out, but if it does, we might well break into a new supply of regearable front axles.
Heres the idea: Eagles are not the only vehicles to use dana 30 ifs front axles. There exists a possibility that we might be able to use a front axle center section from one of those other vehicles. After doing a little rockauto sleuthing, Ive come up with the following list so far:

Flange style D30IFS
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pre-99 dodge durango
pre-99 dodge dakota

After the listed years, it seems they went to a slipjoint style IFS, which while not impossible, adds the complexity of figuring out cv shaft lengths, and that sounds like too much work for now. It is also worth noting that it seems like early ford rangers and jeep grand cherokees also used a D30 or similar IFS, but with slipjoint cv shafts.

The way I figure it, there are 4 main points of consideration to see if this will work:
1. pinion height/pinion length
2. mounting points
3. axle width
4. gearing options

I have a buddy with a dakota, so Im going to take a peek underneath it here sometime to see if it looks like theyll match up in any way. So how about it, you guys ever give this any thought? ever heard of anyone trying something like this? Id appreciate any info anyone has on the matter.

And no, Im not going to "just solid axle swap", I like my comfy IFS daily driver.

[Illeagle1984]

Keep us posted on what you find, I'm sure this info would be of use to many of us.  I too wish to keep the IFS of the Eagle, but the 2.35 gears are an odd duck.

What I do know is that CV axles from a 1990 S10 are nearly identical to Eagle shafts, being just a fraction of an inch longer.  Apparently it is a GMC ICA 7.25" differential.  It has a vacuum disconnect as well as a regular yoke and driver side mounting position.  I wonder if that diff would fit in an Eagle...

[TheBirdman]

Unfortunately I wasnt able to find any options that fit. The dakota center section was the closest, but the way it bolts on was totally different and would require extensive fabrication at minimum.

[Billman]

my neighbor is a scrapper and I have been toying with the idea of strolling on over to take some measurements and pics of various IFS setups. It would be nice to have the option of different gear capabilities

[TheBirdman]

I wish you the best of luck if you pick up the torch on this idea.

[Softbuster]

I was recently looking at the dodge dakota /durango front axle in pictures.
The passenger side axle tube is much shorter, other than that it looks close enough to work.
My current eagle axle has 1" spacers above it to get it lower in line for the cv shafts to work with a 2" lift.
Would not take much to cut the bolt blocks down an inch and weld on a bolt bracket.
Use a U bolt from a large axle around the neck of the pumpkin at the input, from there just cut and weld brackets as needed until its right.   Cant be any more difficult than the v8 mounting brackets for an Eagle.

The only trouble i see is time to do it, my project has been sitting apart sadly for 8 years.
Maybe this year...