Str8sixfan's painfully slow 2wd to 4wd SAS project

Str8sixfan · May 6, 2012

Here's a photo diary of how I got to where I'm at today:

January I took delivery of a D30 from a 92 XJ for free:

In March, I had a rough back to back 60hr work weeks, so I bought another piece to the puzzle to help me feel like there was more to life than work:

So then to make that piece relevant, I bought this 1350M off of craigslist at the beginning of April:

Whenever I got bored, I cleaned it up:

And so today, I started prepping it to put in new axle shafts I'll score at the end of this month from a buddy of mine, and for new gears next month:

Str8sixfan · May 10, 2012

I believe I have secured via craigslist some WJ knuckles for $90. I hashed a unit bearing/hub taking out the axles sunday, but by the end of the month I should have new axle shafts, hubs and knuckles with ball joints and all installed.

Hoping for gears in June, along with inner axle seals and such. Then by july hopefully the steering links and brake assembly.

88_Eddie · May 10, 2012

cool build man, i about to tackle a D30 swap myself. mine is from a TJ though.

dangerranger83 · May 11, 2012

Looks great, hope you enjoy doing the swap as much as I did.

Sent from my SGH-T499 using Tapatalk 2

escort_gts · May 11, 2012

Going good so far.
I wish I would of bought wj knuckles instead of another set of xj's. I could of used the high steer.

Sent from my HTC SUPERSONIC using Tapatalk 2

Str8sixfan · May 11, 2012

escort_gts said:
Going good so far.
I wish I would of bought wj knuckles instead of another set of xj's. I could of used the high steer.

Sent from my HTC SUPERSONIC using Tapatalk 2

Yea I really thought long and hard about it. I didn't want to spend any more money than I HAD to, but the more and more I looked at it, since I had to buy new steering linkage and tierods anyway it just looked like the better long term solution. Seemed as though what I read on xj forums, it added another layer of driveability and safety, that in the end I think is money well spent.

It appears I'm going to need to buy a torque wrench very soon, I'm going to try and make a pdf over a picture to put all the different tq specs on their corresponding pieces...mostly for my own good, to have all the info in one spot, but will share when i get around to it.

escort_gts · May 11, 2012

What's your plans for the front, leaf or coil?

Str8sixfan · May 11, 2012

Coils. I think I can get a pair of 4.5" Rough Country XJ coils for free, and I'd probably run some 3/4", 1" or 1.5" spacers with 'em. Sounds like I almost have to in order to get the diff housing to travel much.

escort_gts · May 11, 2012

Str8sixfan said:
Coils. I think I can get a pair of 4.5" Rough Country XJ coils for free, and I'd probably run some 3/4", 1" or 1.5" spacers with 'em. Sounds like I almost have to in order to get the diff housing to travel much.

That's right. I remember now.

Sent from my HTC SUPERSONIC using Tapatalk 2

Str8sixfan · May 11, 2012

escort_gts said:
That's right. I remember now.

I've been going back and forth for awhile, but in the end I decided I think I can do the coil set-up relatively cost friendly, and that's what I'd rather have. Leafs, not a bad option at all, would of had to of convince me that I would have a huge cost savings. I think I'll spend more still with coils, but not enough to keep me from getting what I want. I'll probably do a cost update next week.

Str8sixfan · May 14, 2012

Picking up the wj knuckles tomorrow!

escort_gts · May 14, 2012

Str8sixfan said:
Picking up the wj knuckles tomorrow!

Nice. I'm jealous. I need to find a set, thinking I might need them if I goto hydro assist.

Sent from my HTC SUPERSONIC using Tapatalk 2

Str8sixfan · May 14, 2012

escort_gts said:
Nice. I'm jealous. I need to find a set, thinking I might need them if I goto hydro assist.

Sent from my HTC SUPERSONIC using Tapatalk 2

well after I did my research, I found three WJs listed on craigslist that had recently rolled...so I learned two things: won't buy a WJ as a family vehicle, and the source seemed like it should be renewable unfortunately.

So the salvage yard that got 'em offered to pull them off the vehicle for me, and asked if $90 was ok, which I thought it was. My recommendation would be to do the same.

88_Eddie · May 14, 2012

so you have to replace both knuckles? i need to get my D30 under my b2 first, but this might be a good upgrade later.

Str8sixfan · May 14, 2012

88_Eddie said:
so you have to replace both knuckles? i need to get my D30 under my b2 first, but this might be a good upgrade later.

The catch there would be two different calipers with different mounting holes with one wj and one xj knuckle. You have a tj axle though? I can't speak for those. Tie rod holes might be different too, but if that was the case you could drill out the smaller one to be larger

Str8sixfan's painfully slow 2wd to 4wd SAS project

New Member

New Member

Well-Known Member

5.0 HO under the hood!!!

02/2012 04/2013 04/2014 OTOTM Winner

New Member

02/2012 04/2013 04/2014 OTOTM Winner

New Member

02/2012 04/2013 04/2014 OTOTM Winner

New Member

New Member

02/2012 04/2013 04/2014 OTOTM Winner

New Member

Well-Known Member

New Member

Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad

Member & Vendor Upgrades

Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store

Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad

Amazon Deals