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I have a complete, low mileage, front and rear independent suspension out from under an '84 Jaguar.(with ALL the trimmings)

I aquired these items back in 1989 from a man that gave me the car for a debt. I seemed to have misplaced the V12 and the tranny, but I am still looking for it.

I was considering putting it under my little yellow fellow.

My truck currently has a chevelle 'K' member, disc brake, manual steer (front mounted box)and suspension under it now. It was like this when I aquired it, and I dont like it and am going to have to correct a negative camber problem before I get it on the road... This truck is currently being stripped down to the bare frame so that I can go back, with it, like I want it.

I have seen this IRS conversion done on some s-10s and c-10s before (a few years ago)

I was just wanting some imput and discussion from y'all, maybe help me decide that question- 'to be....or not to be.'

**EDIT*** this means that I may be looking for another '46 frame to start over with. HINT, HINT, HINT!!

Do a Google search for Jag suspension conversions, you will find lots of info.

Hey Lonnie,
Yeah, I have studied this a little bit and actually just posted it in here to stir up some conversation.

Other than you, aint nobody bit yet.

There was a well photographed conversion described on the HAMB a few years ago that I thought made it seem very doable. However it was on a 50's car, not a 40's truck.

I've often considered Jag stuff but have never done it. I see those cars on Craigslist for just hundreds pretty often.

If you do this please take lots of pictures and put them where we can see them.

OldSub,
I plan on making plenty of photos on what I do- there is alot of 'complicated' metal work to be done- just right up my alley. I just hope that, when I do get busy, everyone doesnt get tired of my posts..lol

I have really given the Jag IRS alot of thought, I know its good for 500hp- and chevy friendly... I just dont know about the front suspension. I plan on this being a daily driver- and wonder parts availability and maint. costs...

What is the rear bolt pattern like?

I believe the bolt pattern to be 5 on 4 3/4.

My 'shop wheels' were 'pirated' from an old Jag and bolt right up to Chevy bolt pattern.

My friend had a TF with a Jag IFS and it drove beautifully.

I'm not sure about the width on an early truck though....

Jags used the 4 3/4" bolt circle, and GM transmission for a while (to cure the problems they had with their own trans).

The IRS is in a complete assembly and really quite easy to put under a vehicle. Not sure on the IFS. Although, I say do it. It is much stronger than a Mustang 2 IFS, although not as easy to install as my IFS kit.

Did you find the engine yet?

No sir, Scott, I sure haven't..
But I was at the shop today and 'oggling the front and rear suspension from the jag- I am excited and cant wait to get those to assemblies out, steam clean the cob webs off of them and get started!

These assemblies were put on a pallet back in '80 and have been on a top shelf in my shop every since... I forgot that the jaguar wire wheels were still attached! (although I won't be using them for my truck)

Scott,
I also plan on 'un-caging' the jag IRS- I think it will look trick.

Jockbolter,
I looked your pics over, and thats a mighty fine job you're doing. I plan on documenting mine like that too.
Your truck is really good looking.
Shayne

That is one fine looking truck!

Best wishes,

Les

Thanks Shayne, I realise this was going a bit off-topic!
Anyhoo back to the matter in hand.

The Jag IFS is a stout unit...these Jags were heavy old beasts!

The back ends can also be 'prettied up' really well too.The inboard brakes keeps the unsprung weight down and the hub carriers polish real nice.
There is a good line of aftermarket diff covers available. (at least over here there is)
Plus they're as tough as old boots!
They're a favourite of 'us Brits'!

They reckoned pound for pound (dollar for dollar) The Jag rode as smoothly as a Rolls Royce of the same era.
It should make your truck ride and handle nicely.
Good luck
Jock

I'd be a little skeptical of the Jag rear with 500 horse ahead of it if you abused it much. Yes they are stout, but they are just a middle level Dana and can be broken if you hit it hard and get the tires to hook up good.

The Dana is similar to the unit used in a lot of Corvettes and the guys drag racing those often replace it with a nine-inch Ford live axle.

If you are just driving the truck and not abusing the tires or towing I'm sure the Jag will last a long time.

Jag rear is not identical to a Dana 44, it uses bigger diameter bolts around the ring than an ordinary Dana 44. Splines on the pinion are different too.

Stuart.

Thanks for the flowers about my truck, Les- hows that panel coming?

Shayne

Hey Old Sub!
SO, If my truck has a 'warmed over' 350, th350, and the jag rearend with 10" tires- I should be ok, huh?
Shayne

Hey Jock, you're welcome buddy- I was just telling it like I saw it. LOL.
Anyways- Thats what turns me on about the Jag rearend- it's pretty trick looking, especially when it is 'un-caged'. I am definitely going to do the Jag IRS. I had a front end shop telling me, today, that the reason the negative camber is in the front end on my truck is because of the age of the chevelle k member- He said that they make an off set control arm shaft just because of it. He said the reason they came up with the 'off set' shaft for the control arm was because of frame roll due to the age.
I never knew this until today- so I havent made up my mind as to wether or not I will do surgery on the front suspension. My better thinking half tells me that if it has 'frame rolled' enough to require an 'off set' control arm shaft then it aint right and that would only be a band aide for the problem.....
The biggest problem that stops me from doing surgery on the front is that it would require 'butchering the front frame from the firewall foreward- I wish I could aquire another '46 frame and just start over with how I really want it- Then the Jag IFS would be done to it.
I am going to have to review my options and stuff...

ANYBODY.... have an extra '41-46 frame out there?????
Shayne

So Stuart,
In your own opinion- are you saying that, because of this, then the Jag unit is more durable than a dana 44?

AFAIK, Jaguar specified these modifications to the original Dana 44 design to increase the strength of the rear end. Can't see why you would have a reliability problem in a truck with a 350 motor up front; the late European spec. 6.0 litre Jag V12 cars had 335 BHP and still used the same rear end.

Also as Jockbolter says, the Jag rear ends are very popular for hotrods in the UK, Lots of these cars have small or big block motors up front too. Another thing about the Jag IRS is that they're easier to narrow than a solid rear end, lots of the Jag rears have LSDs in too.

Stuart.

I have a Dana 44 with a warm 350, 4-speed (4+3 actually), 10-inch tires and haven't broken it yet. I drive it most days and at 110,000 miles the diff isn't my biggest worry. However most the time I drive it just like I would my wife's Jetta, treating it like transporation on a public road, not a race car on a track.

And someone said 500 horse, and at that level I would not be nearly as confident it would last.

There is no trailer hitch on the back of my 'vette and its rare to see a Corvette or a Jag or any performance car with IRS pulling a trailer.

It really comes down to how you are going to drive it. I'll stand by what I said earlier, the Jag spec Dana is not as stout as something like a nine-inch Ford and if abused it will break.

But I'm sure you'll be okay. You'll never abuse it, right! (I have four Dana's and one is broken...)

Steve, you cant get 500hp to hook up in a truck unless you have about a half yard of limestone in the back. the wheels just make smoke. I wouldnt worry about the Jag rear as those running IRS wont be hauling 4000# of crushed rock.

I have broken diffs, however those were normally built automatics with shift kits, and the impact of shifting is what did them in.

I've broken a few differentials too. One of them was behind a 283 with an automatic... Another was behind a 4-speed and yet another was a 2-speed rear under a F700 Ford so it doesn't even count.

I've broken a couple of transmissions too, one of them a very expensive 5-speed. That was a very sad day. It cost more than $1000 to replace back when that was a lot of money and more than I'd paid for any car or truck I had owned up till then.

And I've also broken drive shafts and output shafts but that was on four-wheel-drives.

All of this happened more than 30 years ago when I was an innocent kid. Now days I have much more grey hair and tend to be more cautious about how I build things and how I treat them.

Sure 500 horse in most pickups is just going to smoke the tires. But when it does hook up watch out for flying parts!

I once picked up some twisted metal laying on the floor of a friend's shop. It was the drive shaft out of an El Camino. I had sold him the 396 that pretzelled that driveshaft and broke both the transmission and the rear. To do that it had to break the rear first.

I'm sure he will be fine with the Jag, but I'm not going to tell him it can't be broken because I don't believe it.

I sure appreciate the input from y'all. This makes for an interesting conversation! :-)

So where atre the install pictures of the irs? Also I was told by a jag mechanic you cannot completly uncage the rear end. The differential has to stay connected with the axles so everything stays aligned. The outside bearing carriers do polish up quite nice. I polished out one side of mine until I found a crack accross the back of the one I cleaned up. What a waste of 3 hours.

There aren't any install picks yet, because I haven't started it..LOL

In so far as uncaging the rear-end, you can do anything if you are a fabricator. There is a link that was posted on here before that showed the install pics and it was a sweet job.

I know as a fabricator anything is possible, I meant that the cage serves as a support purpose and if the cage is removed completly you must restructure it so it does not twist. But from the fabricators I know, I don't have to tell you nothing, you guys know it all

Try talking to doc bob. a while back I saw that he was trying a jag conversion for his truck. He might have some info.

Thank you Reedster......you remembered the project I'm doing with the Jag stuff.

Look in my Photobucket link below......