Dana 30 From A '78 Cj5?

Got a line on a Dana 30 from a '78.
This is still narrow track, yes?
Good candidate to upgrade the 25 I have now?
School me.....

 

Mine was from a 78 as well. Just had to move the front shocks

 

Yes!
Even the Dana 30s up to a 1982 CJ5 are NT.
This swap has been covered here more than once.

The coolest thing about the 30 axle is that it allows a turning radius MUCH sharper than the 25 or 27 model.
The outside circle formed from a lock to lock turn is completely inside that of the inside circle formed from the earlier models.
I didn't believe this when I first read about the swap, but now I'm a believer!

 

You don't even have to do that. Just mill out the holes on a milling machine so the plates can be swapped from side to side. Far easier.

 

My Dana 30 has factory disc brakes. It is a track about three inches wider than the Dana 44 in the rear.

 

I did this swap on my 71 a while back. Here is the thread.
http://earlycj5.com/xf_cj5/index.php?threads/123414/

 

Yep. 25/27 to 30 is 51" to 53" as I recall. To take advantage of the increased swing of the open knuckle, the knuckle pivot must be further from the springs/frame, necessitating a wider track. Wider track front than rear is typical for cars... not an issue.

You'll need to change the ratio. A '78 would have the 3.54 ratio standard, with 4.09 optional.

 

Mine were hitting the tie rods when the shocks in front of axle. Moved them to behind like on later year Jeeps

 

Hello 78 is a good year for the swap should have the bigger disk rotors and 6 bolt hubs if all original. Mine was from a 81 and needed a gear swap to 3.73 gears. I was able to put thinner shocks so didn't have to move them to the back.

 

Would you mind letting us know what shocks you're using?

 

I used Ranchos and they clear just fine.

 

Is the housing basically the same dimensions as the Dana 25?
Reason I ask is I run a Meyer 6' plow and the plow frame runs under the axle on both sides.
One side is right up next to the carrier area, and IIRC I had to notch the plow frame a bit for clearance after I added the 2.5" lift springs as it brought the axle farther away from the frame (lower) and the horizontal part of the plow frame would hit the axle.

 

Hello sure I ordered them on amazon and they were the cheap Monroe shocks Manufacturer part #BCZC-12695-22-1534492 they had the correct extend ,collapse length also fits the dodge A100. They also were blue to match the Jeep color not that it matter that much.

 

I don’t know the year for changes to the D30’s, but ‘72 up through ‘82 are all narrow tracks. The early models have 11” drum brakes, then there were two style disc brakes, depending on year. From ‘72, the drive flange was 6 bolt, but the later D30’s were the less desirable 5 bolt pattern, maybe the last 3 years? There is a sweet spot in the later ‘70’s that got good disc brakes and 6 bolt hubs. Unfortunately, the later years had taller gears.
-Donny

 

15” wheels might not clear the bigger style disks — so be aware if you are fond of your wheels.

 

I am, in fact. Have aluminum 5 slots all around. Convert back to drums?

 

I have the 76-78 " big rotor" and 15" x 8" clear ( barely)

 

I'm using factory 15" sausage slots from a '78 CJ on my '82 2-bolt caliper D30 axle. They fit fine!

 

Dragged it home this morning. For a NE part I was surprised to see it still had black paint on it.
Has the outers still on it, a couple of worn out axles, one caliper bracket, 2 sets of calipers, steering stabilizer and 4 used spindles. And a set of rotors and a Saginaw power steering box with bracket.
For now it will go in the shed and I'll start scrounging parts.

 

The one I got had Ford disc brakes on it, not good Was able to put the Chevy disc brakes on it. Was the same conversion I did on the Dana 27