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What's Involved In Going From A Dana 27 To A Nt 30?

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Tom_Hartz, Apr 12, 2020.

  1. Aug 22, 2020
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

    Sacramento Ca.
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    Same as Jzeber, I moved my top mount. It’s in my build thread in the builders/fabricators section. I’d get you a link but too hard on phone.
     
  2. Aug 22, 2020
    Jrobz23

    Jrobz23 Member

    Northern, WI
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    I don't remember changing anything with the shocks??
     
  3. Aug 22, 2020
    jzeber

    jzeber Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Morgan Hill, Ca
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    I did the tie rod flip with large tie rods and the tie rod ends hit the shocks.
     
  4. Aug 23, 2020
    RedWing

    RedWing Member

    Sutton Bay
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    Thanks
     
  5. Aug 23, 2020
    RedWing

    RedWing Member

    Sutton Bay
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    It sounds like I’ve got a similar set up, large tie rods. I thought about relocating the shocks at the top, further back. I am also considering welding on another mounting spot at the bottom.

    how much room should I allow between tie rods and shocks? If I move them back at the bottom of the shock, I’ve got about a half inch clearance with the wheels turned all the way over. Do you think this would be enough room?
     
  6. Aug 24, 2020
    jzeber

    jzeber Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Morgan Hill, Ca
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    Here are a couple of pics before and after.
     

    Attached Files:

  7. Aug 24, 2020
    RedWing

    RedWing Member

    Sutton Bay
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    Nice, thanks for the pictures! Did you just grind off the rivets to slide the hanger back?
     
  8. Aug 24, 2020
    Tom_Hartz

    Tom_Hartz Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    North Carolina
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    Sorry I am no help. I haven't done the swap yet.
     
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  9. Aug 24, 2020
    RedWing

    RedWing Member

    Sutton Bay
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    I’m getting through it. Only two issues so far are having to move the shocks a bit and the yoke.

    the great news is, lots of help from this group!
     
    Tom_Hartz likes this.
  10. Aug 24, 2020
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

    Sacramento Ca.
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    The yoke is easy to find, I got one off an old D18 tcase. Pictures of the two different yokes are in my build thread if you are interested.
     
  11. Aug 25, 2020
    jzeber

    jzeber Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Morgan Hill, Ca
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    You have to grind the rivet down and drive it out. I moved the mount and tapped the frame for a bolt, welded the mount and tacked the bolt head
     
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  12. Aug 25, 2020
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    I moved mine to behind the axle - like they are stock. Swapped the spring plate and built an 'adjustable' hoop for the top mount as I saw the ability to use a couple angles.

    You can see them in the bottom of the pics I took doing the block hugger header design with Eric at Novak.
     
  13. Aug 25, 2020
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
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    I built new spring plates, left shocks in stock location. Drilling out factory spring plates is really not the right way to do this. It leaves the edge of the plate to thin and you have to bend the u-bolts to fit since the Dana 30 axle tube is bigger than the 27. I’ll post pics of the ones I built tonight. I have sold about 10 sets of them over the years.
     
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  14. Aug 25, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Behind the axle is the factory placement for the 30.

    CJ6FrontShock.jpg

    With the bottom center of the frame set to 90, the shock is 7.8 degrees tilted back from vertical.

    You could take the opportunity to raise the shock mount, similar to what Chuck shows. This would allow for longer shocks and more suspension travel. The bottom of the inner fender would have to be notched. Some have use mounts from the Wagoneer or Ford trucks to raise the shock pins - search the internet and you'll find some examples.
     
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  15. Aug 26, 2020
    RedWing

    RedWing Member

    Sutton Bay
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    nice!
     
  16. Aug 26, 2020
    RedWing

    RedWing Member

    Sutton Bay
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    Did you run into any issues where the shocks interfere with the tie rods? The guy that I bought the d30 from installed super big tie rods. I wouldn’t mind going back to stock, but he drilled out the taper in the knuckles.

    I might be able to use the stock upper mounts if I move the pin on the spring plate back a bit. The problem with this is it won’t make the shocks very vertical. How far away from vertical can they be?

    would love to see your pictures when you have time.
     
  17. Aug 26, 2020
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
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    I can’t find any installed pics. I will get some new ones Friday morning and post them. I have standard Dana 30 tie rods. There is about 3/4” between shock body and axle tube and about 1” between shock body and tie rod tube. They have never hit under full articulation. I have Heckethorn hydro 8000 shocks.
     
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  18. Aug 26, 2020
    RedWing

    RedWing Member

    Sutton Bay
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    Thanks, I think these oversized tie rods are the only obstacle.
     
  19. Sep 16, 2020
    RedWing

    RedWing Member

    Sutton Bay
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    Do stock Dana 30 tie rods work with the Saginaw swap n an Early CJ5?
     
  20. Sep 20, 2020
    AKCJ

    AKCJ Active Member

    Fairbanks, Alaska
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