Drive Shaft Woes. Aka Dana 30 Swap.

I’ll need to make a wtb post once we figure out exactly how to proceed.
The front shaft seems correct at the TC using a smaller U-joint. Like this-

but the u-joint on the D30 axle is larger (spicer 1310)


I could solve the problem easiest by maybe getting a different sliding part on the front of the front shaft that holds the larger 1310 joint.


Probably better (because all joints would match) but much more expensive would be changing the TC front pinion (I think that’s what it’s called) and getting a new/different drive shaft with all the large 1310 joints.

The rear shaft is good ( but maybe not OE) with both ends using the larger 1310 joint.

 

Swap the yoke on the transfer case to a 1310 and throw away the old driveline.

 

throw it to me if you throw it

 

The problem with the little drivelines is that the slip joint wore out on the way home from the dealer when they were new. Just plain unnecessary junk. Put a 1310 driveline on and never look back.

 

The M38A1 front shaft is a 1310 so it is a direct swap if you can find one out there.

 

I’ll bet I could find a shaft like that.
Got new larger yoke for my Dana18 From QuadraTec.

 

I swapped these two, removed the Dana 30 yoke (on the right) and installed the one on the left.





Checked my travel at full stuff and full droop and it all worked great

 

This was on the axle right? To get rid of the straps and use the stronger u-bolts?

 

Yes on the pinion, swapped it so I could keep the stock drive shaft u-joint.

 

So what did the yoke on the right come from? Is that the original D27 part?

 

It came off a CJ transfer case, I learned the hard way that the D27 yoke doesn't fit on the D30 pinion. I might have another if you need me to check?

 

So you took the smaller yoke off a spare transfer case and put it directly on the D30 axle? Done! Used same old shaft?
I'll take it (buy it) if you have a spare and run it for now like that , until its not functioning well anyway.

 

Thank you for the offer! I am not planning to do this conversion very soon though, I was just wondering for future reference.

 

Exactly what I did and used the same drive shaft without modification (although I don't have the little shaft with slip joint like yours). I don't expect it to stop functioning well, why would it? The only motivation I can think of to change it would be to get all the U-joints to match so I didn't have to carry separate spares.

I'll look when I get home and see if I have another.

 

Be very careful with the original Shaft on a Dana 30 swap as the Dana 30 usually requires about an inch shorter driveline. The best way is to get rid of the small yokes and poor design of the original cast slip joint and replace with 1310 u-joints and the proper length shaft. Doing it right the first time may save you a broken transfer case down the road if your driveline is too long and bottoms out when fully compressed.

 

I know I should take this advice and I already have those parts ordered (except finding a good donor shaft). I'm just looking for an easy way out. But I know where that will lead.