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Axle swaps for dummies...help!

Discussion in 'Flat Fender Tech' started by Clay10_B, May 29, 2014.

  1. Jun 3, 2014
    Clay10_B

    Clay10_B New Member

    Charleston, SC
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    Thanks guys. I didn't even pay attention to the year of the wagoneer. But I'm picking up the axle on Thursday. And I'm picking up a set of used super swampers for $200 with wheels to replace my dry rotted and now flat, tires. Gonna be an exciting week :)
     
  2. Jun 4, 2014
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    At the foot of...
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    That 70-71 D44 rear is kind of the holy grail for an early CJ with the D18 transfer case.
    A Dana 44with 1 piece 30 spline shafts is pretty much bulletproof in a lightweight CJ, unless you're a rig with high HP and/or giant tires.
    4.10 gears is kind of unusual for a Jeep, but if you could find a CJ Dana 30 for the front to match, that'd be a good set up.
     
  3. Jun 4, 2014
    Clay10_B

    Clay10_B New Member

    Charleston, SC
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    So I just put the guys address in and it's a 5 hr drive..not 3! Looks like it's going to be a long day.....just hope my old Yukon will make it :/
     
  4. Jun 4, 2014
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    Still worth it - every minute... until you have done these kinds of swaps, it's hard to explain the amount of time trying to 'make something work' that 'you got a good deal on' is a waist. You will end up with:
    A. Something you didn't want
    B. Something that doesn't work 'right'
    C. Tons more money than it cost to 'do it right' in the end
    D. All of the above
     
  5. Jun 4, 2014
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    12,529
    Warloch speaketh the truth.
    Been watching customers do it for over 20 years and nothing has changed. Lloyd Novak had a saying (the guy who started Novak Enterprises, the adapter folks). "Just because you have a (insert part here) does not mean it makes a good conversion". Somewhat a paraphrase but that's the gist of it.
     
  6. Jun 6, 2014
    Clay10_B

    Clay10_B New Member

    Charleston, SC
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    Feb 18, 2014
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    WelL 10 hours of driving later, I've got the axle home! So what do I need to do to get this thing ready to swap in? The guy said it would take disc brakes from a Ford truck. Should I go ahead and convert even though I've still got drums up front? Or wait until I find the D30?
     
  7. Jun 6, 2014
    Clay10_B

    Clay10_B New Member

    Charleston, SC
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    WelL 10 hours of driving later, I've got the axle home! So what do I need to do to get this thing ready to swap in? The guy said it would take disc brakes from a Ford truck. Should I go ahead and convert even though I've still got drums up front? Or wait until I find the D30?
     
  8. Jun 6, 2014
    Daryl

    Daryl Sponsor

    Bonney Lake, WA
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    Check out the brakes and condition of the wheel cylinders especially. If you pull back the boot on the cylinders and either encounter fluid or rust they will probably need changed.
    This is where you make some decisions.
    The fastest and easiest route is to service the stock 10" drums.
    If you need to do a complete brake job on them then it would be a good time to find a set of 11" drum brakes as they will be cheaper in the long run on parts costs and reform better.
    I wouldn't try to put discs on the back while trying to run drums up front-just too many variables to get right and might easily be prone to rear lockup long before the fronts..
     
  9. Jun 6, 2014
    Clay10_B

    Clay10_B New Member

    Charleston, SC
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    The brakes came separate in a box. But the drums are freshly turned and the shoes are brand new. I actually didn't look at the rest. I'll take some pics for yall when I get off work. It looks like I'll be waiting on discs for now. It's seemingly impossible to find a D30 around here. Can't even find one on ebay.
     
    Last edited: Jun 6, 2014
  10. Jun 6, 2014
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    You definitely do not want disc on back and drum on front. NT D30's pop up once in a while, but are getting harder to find all the time. It took me 2 years to find the 'right' ones for my rig, so ran what I had until then.
     
  11. Jun 6, 2014
    oldtime

    oldtime oldtime

    St. Charles,...
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    Yeah it took me a full year to find a D 30 for a customer.
    I bought it for the 3.73 ring + pinion that was sorely needed.
    I only managed to salvage the R+P, the axle shafts and the knuckles.
    Everything else was scrap including the housing.
     
  12. Jun 6, 2014
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    It's also why I have 2 sets of waggy axles to start to play with - assuming work ever lets me get back to the shop...
     
  13. Jun 6, 2014
    Clay10_B

    Clay10_B New Member

    Charleston, SC
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    There are 2 D30 housings on ebay. One is 100 and pick up only, and the other is 350+shipping! Guess I'll have to be patient haha
     
  14. Jun 6, 2014
    Clay10_B

    Clay10_B New Member

    Charleston, SC
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  15. Jun 6, 2014
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    Nice...........now it looks like you need all the rear Brake parts.........
     
  16. Jun 7, 2014
    Daryl

    Daryl Sponsor

    Bonney Lake, WA
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    Must be a regional thing as I have several Dana 30s that are getting really hard to sell. I make more money by selling them in pieces then as a whole axle. Everybody wants a 44 up front now.
     
  17. Jun 7, 2014
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    Yep I agree...........Not to big an issue here either.......although finding the 77-78 with the Big Disc Brake and Warn Hub package is a little tougher.......but I know where one was just a few months back. And Yes on the 44 or larger.
     
  18. Jun 7, 2014
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Plenty of complete D30 axles show up on car-part.com - I just picked '77 CJ and SouthEast, and got at least 20 hits. You will have to pay a premium price for an axle from a junkyard, but it appears that there are plenty of them available.
     
  19. Jun 7, 2014
    Clay10_B

    Clay10_B New Member

    Charleston, SC
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  20. Jun 8, 2014
    Clay10_B

    Clay10_B New Member

    Charleston, SC
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    No thoughts? Guy said he had someone coming to look at it but I was next.
     
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