dana 30 swap

[bigwhite4x4]

i have a bronco 2 and a buddy of mine will give me a dana 30 and i also have some radius arms laying around from an f150.

Has anyone bought the wedges from james duff or bronco graveyard and welded them on the dana 30 and used the radius arms. or done the same thing just with a different axle if anyone has could you post some pictures

thanks

 

[bigwhite4x4]

has anyone welded on the wedges

 

[dogboy]

I have not done this, but, about the only reason I can see that it would not work, is the axle tube being a different diameter than the D44 (I would assume that is what the wedges are for).

 

[TheCiscoKid]

Also, I havent looked at my Dana 30 in a while, but it seems to me like the CAD system would be around where the radius arm would weld? I might go look for it later. My original plan was to go leaves with my D30 but I got a D44 instead (still going leaves)

 

[bigwhite4x4]

im using the dana 30 out of a jeep cherokee

 

[TheCiscoKid]

XJ's came with or without the vacuum disconnect depending on year. A fabrication company probably makes weld on brackets for the D30. It might be easier to retrofit a long/short arm kit designed for Cherokees

 

[bigwhite4x4]

XJ's came with or without the vacuum disconnect depending on year. A fabrication company probably makes weld on brackets for the D30. It might be easier to retrofit a long/short arm kit designed for Cherokees

i looked into the long arm kit its going to cost around 700 to do it that way.
the wedges are 80 and i have all the other parts to do it that i got for free. and its basically the setup.

 

[88mudder]

id just think about using a YJ d30, plug the disconnect, and run leafs. Its really simple. Or go with the EB44 with arms already on it, bolt on swap i just finished, except welding of trakbar bracket to frame. PM me any questions

 

[99RangerKrazy]

What year is your BII? If it's a 1990, with the Dana 35, I would keep that. It's just as strong as a Dana 30.

 

[bigwhite4x4]

i have an 84 with the dana 28 and its hard to find a eb44 especially for a 100 dollars

 

[c_note]

XJ's came with or without the vacuum disconnect depending on year. A fabrication company probably makes weld on brackets for the D30. It might be easier to retrofit a long/short arm kit designed for Cherokees

+1.
if i ever bought a ttb ranger (most likely never) and SASed it with a dana 30, id run coil springs over leaves any day. mostly because the truck is already set up for coils and i just dont like the characteristics of leaf springs. its also much easier to get the desired ride heighth and calls for a smother ride.

honestly, id coilover it over anything due to the fact that you can get a smooth quality ride and it will flex like crazy all in one. they are expensive but completely rebuildable. you run coils and shocks seperatly, you will have to replace the shocks about every couple of years.

 

[Evan]

What year is your BII? If it's a 1990, with the Dana 35, I would keep that. It's just as strong as a Dana 30.

Actually it's stronger.

And ALL Dana 35s are high pinion, use 297 joints, don't have a vacuum disconnect, and be easily set up for manual lockouts. (if they don't already have them)

You might want to consider swapping a Dana 35 in. It's easier and cheaper than a 30.

 

[bigwhite4x4]

my dana 30 doesn't have vacuum disconnect and is high pinion and free. the ttb just doesn't flex enough it has like 6in of travel it sucks unless you build drop brackets and extended radius arms. good warn hubs are about the same price either way you go. and im not going to run anything over 33's so i think it will hold up just fine.

Actually it's stronger.

And ALL Dana 35s are high pinion, use 297 joints, don't have a vacuum disconnect, and be easily set up for manual lockouts. (if they don't already have them)

You might want to consider swapping a Dana 35 in. It's easier and cheaper than a 30.

 

[TheCiscoKid]

I say go for it, some Dana 30's came with 297's also.

 

[Evan]

my dana 30 doesn't have vacuum disconnect and is high pinion and free. the ttb just doesn't flex enough it has like 6in of travel it sucks unless you build drop brackets and extended radius arms. good warn hubs are about the same price either way you go. and im not going to run anything over 33's so i think it will hold up just fine.

Should be fine if you don't go over 33s. I have seen 297 HP Dana 30s hold up well to 35s, although that was with Jeep Cherokees which are about 500 lbs lighter up front...

You're right, TTB sucks for flex if it's stock. With some modification it's capable of 17" of wheel travel or more. To get a solid axle to flex well you need aftermarket coils and longer arms, but you don't have to worry about drop brackets.