Dana 30 Regear

Apparently Barney's has the 1/2" intermediate plates for sale - 5353990 and 5353991 L/R resp.
FITS JEEP 1972 - 1975 CJ5 CJ6 FRONT SPRING SHOCK PLATE SET 5353990 5353991 NEW! | eBay

Likely someone is fabbing these for them. Possible you could contact the seller and ask if they could be made with the pins on the opposite side - it would be simple at the time they are made. Considering the items they normally sell, this might be something theyy could add to their regular line.

The 7/16" plates are 999446 and 999447, looks like no one makes them today.

I can't imagine you'll find these used, anywhere but a wreck or part-out.

 

$118 a pop?? Maybe somebody should start!

 

ill send you the parts, you can copy and make them right for the early CJ's. i only require a measly 3% of all profits.

 

I agree in spirit, but I don't see any point to making plates for 7/16" bolts. You'll need new u-bolts anyway, and you may as well buy the parts in 1/2" diam. My BDS lift kit came with new u-bolts, and they were 1/2" diam. Fortunately my Jeep is the later type and no changes were needed. I suspect Jeep changed from 7/16" bolts to 1/2" bolts for a reason; maybe for strength, or maybe their costs were lower for a more-standard bolt size, or something else.

If you made the parts for the early Dana 30 swap, you may as well make them for 1/2" bolts.

Also, it's clear that Barney's business plan targets parts iwth limited demand that he can mark up a lot. I kinda doubt making a competing product would be worth your time if they were priced much less. I would be happy to get one-off custom parts at that price.

 

I would look into the shock location a bit before modifying or custom building spring plates. Some people end up with tie rod clearance issues when the shocks are left in front of the axle. We recently had someone with caliper clearance issues with the shock behind the axle. It seems like you have both options - move the lower pin to match the upper shock mount or move the upper shock mount to match the lower pin.

 

agree. i will see what's what with the axle in place. i'm just trying to think of and source EVERYTHING i will need to make surgery day as seamless as possible. i dont want an axle swap to take a year. (my weekend disk brake project took 3 weeks due to not seeing all the project scope).

 

When I did my D30 the shocks were in front of the axle and they hit at full turn. I was able to move the upper location, leave the lower and get the needed clearance.

 

I would mention that the Dana 30 has a tighter turning circle (so the wheel angle at stop is higher), though the track width is a bit wider. This may limit room for the shocks in front of the axle.

 

Like my friends in Texas say, "it is what is". I'll get it installed and gauge what's up when the time comes.

 

I don’t remember needing later CJ plates, shocks or ubolts. I got my stuff from Walcks. Pretty darn sure it was all 1957 stuff.

 

These are available for both 1.75 and 2 inch springs. They are designed for spring over, but will work for spring under. You will need to move your shock mounts to use this type of spring plate. The bend in the plate may catch on some rocks, but you could probably cut most of it off and still be fine.
Early Jeep U-bolt Plates (CJ & M Series)

If you have converted to YJ springs, these are a nice option for the spring under folks.
Spring Under U-Bolt Plates

Mike

 

Surprisingly no videos on youtube of swapping a dana 30 into a cj5...

 

Mine went in without any problems. Make sure you have new U-bolt plates and the correct U-bolts. Oh and make sure you tighten the drive shaft bolts. I found out the hard way when my front drive line fell out . Fortunately I was going very slowly off road and no damage occurred.

 

When I put my Dana 30 under my Jeep it was easy. Got new spring plates from Mcruff, new U-bolts from NAPA and it was done

 

What about the driveshaft?

 

I took my driveshaft to a shop. They put a different end on the Dana 30 end and a made it the correct length. I have a V6

 

Once my axle is in, its getting a tom woods

 

A buddy told me to take pics and vid but I never think to.

 

well, THANKS, Jrobsz!!!