just wondering but does anyone think its possible to do a d44 front axle on a 2wd. just making it a permanent 4wd jeep.

 

Not without a transfer case and a lot of modifications.

 

First question: Why? You won't be able to drive it on pavement. It will make really horrible noises and will put up a fight when you try to turn.

Second question: How are you going to get power to the front diff?

 

at the least youd have to put a reg d44 axel in, a transfer case, drive shaft, shifter and linkage, and what ever other mounts, wiring and whatnot needed to get it to work. fulltime 4x4 wont work, as will be destroyed on dry pavement.

 

It's possible, but as stated not without all the other modifications necessary. Not sure what you mean to be permanent 4WD, all Wrangler 4x4 systems are part-time setups.

 

Short answer: It can't be done. Not easily, anyway.

When a vehicle turns all four wheels will travel a different distance, therefore they are all rotating at a different rate (it may not seem like that, but trust me, it's true). When a permanent four-wheel drive ("full-time" or all-wheel drive, AWD) vehicle turns, the differentials in the front and rear take care of the difference between rotation speed for the left and right side. However, another differential is required between the front and rear axle. Jeeps don't have that. Even factory four-wheel drive Jeeps. Therefore, they are part-time four-wheel drive. That is, they can be used in four-wheel drive when the road surface allows the tires to slip--mud, dirt on rock, snow, etc. If four-wheel drive is engaged on dry pavement, or even wet pavement, the driver will know it every time he makes a turn--there will be loud complaining from the drivetrain and the steering wheel may even shake. What's happening is he's tearing up his driveline components, and heading for an expensive repair bill.

 

I wonder if it would even be possible to add a Command-Trac full-time transfer case to a conversion such as the OP is looking to do?

 

Sure. Just mount a squirrel cage at the pinion flange. Make sure you got plenty of in shape squirrels to drive the front axle.

 

that would be pretty cool!

 

it could be done. you would need a full time transfer case, from grand cherokee or something similar. need all the front axle equipment. as long as the transfer case wasn't computer controlled, I think you should be able to do it.

Now the question is why would you want to. full time 4wd sucks up gas majorly. since you are always using the front end. Also you have to worry about the viscous coupling inside the transfer. It can be burned out quite easily.