Re: Dana 18 VS. Dana 20.

[Mike Bellew <mochamike@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've been following this thread & done some research myself.
I'm still building my rig, so I can't comment about performance & such...

I just swapped out a bunch of stuff on my Scout 80.
I got it (not running) with SBC, Muncie 4 Speed, D20 & D27s front & rear.
I'm building it for wheeling, so gearing is an issue.
I put in an SM465 tranny (6.8 first gear versus 3.54), a D18 (2.46 vs 1.6 I
think), and D44s front & rear.
I got a deal on the D44s (A friend went do Dana 60s on his Jeep).  They are
from a 70s Jeep Wagoneer, which are both offset, and I think 1-2" wider than
Scout II axles, plus they came with Flat Top Knuckles (I have a Spool in the
rear, Detroit Locker up front, &  Hi-Steer).
The D18 also gives me the option for an Overdrive when I get more money
together.

The D20 I had was a twin stick.
Gearing is higher with D20s, but you can swap in D18 gears, but believe you
need an extra gear out of a Ford Bronco D20 (hard to find or expensive).

Pre 1960 (or there abouts) D18s from jeeps differ from the later ones
(different hole size, 10 spine versus 6 spline shaft, etc.).

Here are some pictures:
http://pics.montypics.com/mochamike/2003-05-16/1053109085_R44toD18.jpg
(It doesn't look like it in the picture, but the offset rear diff is closer
to the 18 output versus the 20.  And the big round thing is a parking
brake).

http://pics.montypics.com/mochamike/2003-05-16/1053109048_D18_Brake.jpg

-- 
Mike Bellew
Concord, CA

1963 Scout 80
1997 Lexus 450  (Grocery Getter)

> 
> But don't most people leave the centered diff and just run a driveshaft that
> is at a slight angle?  Just thinking of the Scout II conversion I've heard
> of... not too many I know of...
> 
> Also, is there a simple way to make the dana 44 etc into an offset rear
> diff?
> 
> -Ryan