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Dana 30 value?

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by bkap, Nov 2, 2006.

  1. Nov 2, 2006
    bkap

    bkap Gone, but not long gone.

    Tucson, AZ
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    I'm still a little new in returning to this Jeepin' deal and need a little help here. How much is a decent price to pay for a narrow disc brake Dana 30 front axle. I don't know what it has for gears or carrier and think it is the six-bolt hub. No tie rods.

    Thanks.
     
  2. Nov 2, 2006
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
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    I paid $125 for my 77 model with disk's then had to regear it.
     
  3. Nov 2, 2006
    bkap

    bkap Gone, but not long gone.

    Tucson, AZ
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    The one I'm looking at -- he doesn't know what year it came out of -- has what look like good Warn hubs with chrome shields around them. The guy (government surplus yard) came down from $700 to $500. Seems a little steep. I'm thinking I'll have to rebuild it, plus change gears to match the rear 44, which I'll have to re-gear, as well.

    He does have a Dana 20 with drums that is a match, gear wise, to the 30. I don't know anything about 20s. Dependable? Do they bolt into a CJ5 ('59)? Drive shaft issues?
     
  4. Nov 2, 2006
    neptco19

    neptco19 That guy....

    Athens, GA
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    500 is def. way too much. The dana 20 your talking about (rear axle) is actually an AMC 20. Dana 20 is a Tcase. But anyways the AMC 20 has its downfalls but they can all be remeided. You would be downgrading in strength to go from you 44 to the 20 though. Best bet is to keep looking around for another 30 and save the extra $$ to spend on gears/lockers.

    If you fill out your profile with your location there might be a member near you with a 30 for sale or could help find one ;)
     
  5. Nov 2, 2006
    bkap

    bkap Gone, but not long gone.

    Tucson, AZ
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    Thanks for the input. I've got a line on another 30 but it has the five-bolt hubs which I've been told are inferior. That fellow wants $300 for it, with the tie rods but stock selectors.

    I took your advice and filled out my profile. So much for anonymity. ;)
     
  6. Nov 2, 2006
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    The AMC 20 is also a centered diff., while your rear 44 is offset to match the offset rear output of your D18 transfer case...
     
  7. Nov 3, 2006
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    FWIW - the D30 is considered a "throwaway" axle by the Big Dog / Pirate / RockBuggy crowd. I'd bet with a bit of patience you could get one as cheap as McRuff or cheaper by perusing sites where guys are building those kind of Jeeps.

    I'm kinda / sorta looking but am in no hurry, so won't pay more than $75 for something I'll likely need to rebuild/regear/buy a LSD for.
     
  8. Nov 3, 2006
    Chuck

    Chuck Sponsor

    Southshore Ma
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    In the Northeast with 3.54 gears $100
     
  9. Nov 3, 2006
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Also check your local Jeep/4WD bulletin boards, and post want-to-buy (WTB) there. You'll get a lot better deal from a private party, and most folks on those boards will sell stuff cheap in the community spirit. I'd say $100 is a good price private party, if it has 3.54 gears. I'd probably pay a little more for 4.10s or if it had been regeared to that range.
     
  10. Nov 3, 2006
    lynn

    lynn Time machine / Early CJ5 HR Rep Staff Member

    Huntingdon PA
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    Confirming the above... here in the colonies, a D30 should be priced in the $100 range. There are alot of them out there, they aren't in high demand. Hold out for one in this price range, or less.
    As Boyink said, keep your eye on the Pirate board, and of course the classifieds link we have here.

    I got mine in a trade for a fender and tailgate :)
     
  11. Nov 3, 2006
    jayhawkclint

    jayhawkclint ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

    Oklahoma City, USA
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    x3 or x4 or whatever. Just got a complete D30 with discs and 5 bolt hubs from a CJ7 including brake hoses, tie rods, and even steering box. Cost me my time, some gas, and some skin off my knuckles. $500 is way insane. I doubt I would pay that even if it had gears and traction device.
     
  12. Nov 3, 2006
    bkap

    bkap Gone, but not long gone.

    Tucson, AZ
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    Thanks for everyone's input. I was thinking it was way too steep, even for the five-bolt. One problem here in the great southwest (Tucson) is that the only wrecking yard with a decent Jeep inventory went out of business in January and crushed a bunch of stuff. Sad. I'll keep looking, although I haven't found a local or even area-wide bulletin board like this one. Onward and upward.
     
  13. Nov 3, 2006
    dvader

    dvader Member

    Northern Nevada
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    I gave one away not too long ago... Check ebay and Craigs List.
     
  14. Nov 3, 2006
    Bob

    Bob Member

    Northern California
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    Like everyone else said, you should be able to get one in the ~$100 range. I paid $75 a couple of years ago for mine. It's out of an '81 and had 2.73 gears which wasn't a big deal to me since I was planning on swapping in 4.88s. It also had 5-bolt hubs and I just reused my 6-bolt hubs from my D27.
     
  15. Nov 4, 2006
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    Prices vary greatly depending on area. Up here they can range from $75 to $350 depending on availability, gear ratio, etc. I'd say $100-$200 is fair. Give an example, a local shop recently sold one that had 4.10 gears, an EZ locker, and they converted it to disc brake with all brand new parts and replaced axles on one side (had a bad joint that damaged an axle) with good used shafts and new u-joint and sold for $525. $500 for a stock axle in unknown condition is way too much. Nickmil
     
  16. Nov 4, 2006
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    PATRICK!:shock: You know better than that!:toetap: There were quadratrac equipped CJ-7's with offset AMC 20 rear diffs. I'm sooooo disappointedR) ! Nickmil
     
  17. Nov 4, 2006
    bkap

    bkap Gone, but not long gone.

    Tucson, AZ
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    So, looks like I'll keep looking. Someone mentioned to me a while back that the IH Scout Dana 44 front axle would also be a bolt in. Late '70s, I think. Anyone have experience with those and is there any advantage to having 44s in the front and back? Or am I better off to keep searching for the correct 30?
     
  18. Nov 4, 2006
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    :oops: Yup.....:rofl:
     
  19. Nov 4, 2006
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    The Scout 2 44 is NOT a bolt in. It's way wider which means you'd have to outboard the springs in the front (mounting them outboard of the frame), and it runs 0 degrees caster stock so would have handling/wandering issues. The knuckles also use a different tapered tie rod end that is expensive, and the arms on the knuckle are way longer which effects turning radius. Unless you want to do a lot of fab work, keep looking for a 30. Nickmil
     
  20. Nov 4, 2006
    bkap

    bkap Gone, but not long gone.

    Tucson, AZ
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    I guess that goes to show ya'. The guy who told me about the 44s swore it was a drop in. Oh well. Maybe he has a higher tolerance for abuse than I do. :shock:
     
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