flatfender axke questions

[roadkill]

I have a couple old flatfenders at the deer lease that are semi modded. ones a CJ 3B (high hood) with @ 2" lift (unsure as its the way we bought it and sits rather high compared to our other jeep pre lift) on 31 MTRs the other is a CJ-3A (normal hood) with a 2.5" lift on 33 Cooper STTs.

I have been slowly getting them ready for the upcoming hunting season and have been thinking about welding up the rear axles. they both have stock drivetrains and I believe D44 offset rear axles, probably 10 spline or whatever ridiculously low spline count they used to have. these jeeps stay on the lease and never travel highway (pretty much a given here) and only do ranch roads and maybe a few low water creek crossings (mud bottom, no rocks) and will never be rock crawlers, just basic ranch transportation.

will these axles hold up to their intended use if they were welded or am I just creating a time bomb?

I also have an old flatfender parts jeep that is a military version (m38 A1 I think) that also has an offset D44 that is a full floater. assuming gear ratios are the same, would I be gaining any strength by welding this axle up and swapping to the other Jeeps is it about the same strength as the other axles?

[DanStew]

For what you are doing the stock drivetrain will be just fine. Just do the regular maintenance before season and you will be good to go. The rear 44 is a 2 piece, keep the axle nut tight and you will not have much problems with stripping the keyway. As for welding , do you mean locking the axle like a spool? If so, you can do it and it will last since you are not driving a fire breathing motor to break much. The old rigs are really good in stock form for regular trail riding. when you do extremem rock crawling you will find weak spots here and there.