RE: JPOR: junkyard full-floater

[Chris Waterman <Chris_Waterman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I figure that one could use the fsj/chevy spindles and
> caliper brackets along with the ford hubs and rotors like
> the old front swap trick.  that would allow you to use
> the chevy metric calipers, maybe even the rear ones from
> a caddy with a parking brake(?).

I wasn't aware that any e-brake calipers were compatible
with the Chevy ones, but I'd love to find that's true.

I've been toying with doing pretty much the same thing,
but using a 9" rear instead, with the GM/Ford brakes.
For interchangeability, I think it's better to modify the
ends of the axle housing instead of modifying the spindle.
So you could either make an adapter to make the housing
end look like a D44 knuckle (4 bolts in, 6 bolts out),
or make new housing ends that weld to the tubes and have
the 6-bolt spindle pattern.

The first option would be best if you wanted to re-use
your existing D44/9" housing.  The second might be better
if you were shortening the housing and replacing the ends
anyway.

> The problem is that the locking hubs for the d44 are
> 19 spline.

I'd stick with factory drive gears back there, myself.
Warn's FF info contains a warning that normal locking
hubs on a rear end will slowly unlock themselves.
Besides, I'd prefer the extra strength of a solid drive
gears over locking hubs, in the rear end.

Personally, I need to work out a t-case mounted e-brake
before I can do this swap.  But it's on the list...

Chris