New Jeep Dana 30 tech page

[Jim Oaks]

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Dana30.htm

Since Jeep Dana 30's come up here from time to time, I decided to create a page on them. I'll probably look it over again in a day or two for correctness.

Please feel free to look it over and let me know if I need to add or correct anything.

Thanks.

 

[alaskan155]

i think kit wise

the rusty offroad:
http://rustysoffroad.com/mm5/mercha...duct_Code=RK-LT10-XJ&Category_Code=sus_xj_kit

or T&T costoms
http://www.tntcustoms.com/webV5/xjylinkupgrade.asp

would make 2 could candaties for the ranger since they only have 1 arm on each side, as opposode to 4

i personally plan on adapting the rusty's off road setup in the future

 

[Roger]

Jim, I like this page a great deal. I am going to do a D30 swap in my 90 Ranger (as soon as my buddy gets his D60, I get his XJ D30 free with 4.10s!). Great timing for this page!

I see only one real problem with your D30 info, and that is, not all Grand Cherokees (ZJ) came with the CV joints in the knuckles. I believe, and could be wrong here, that the CV axles are MORE common to the NP/NV249 AWD transfer cases in the ZJ. But have also seen CVs in a 94 ZJ with NP231 case. So there may be no real rhyme or reason. I have a 95 ZJ and it has regular universals, but it also has the Upcountry package intended for offroading with 1" factory lift, Trans skid and gas tank skid and tow hooks, might be part and parcel of the package to have universals.

Hope that helped.

 

[Roger]

As for packages, Rubicon Express offers the Y link too in longarms.

If it wasn't snowing, I'd go out and measure the frame rails on the Ranger, and see what the uni-framerails measure on my ZJ and my XJ... Might be interesting if the TNT guys could modify their belly pan for the Rangers.

Since I put the extended Tuff Country rad arms under my Ranger, I was going to use the rad mount bracket for Y links when I get the D30...

 

[Captain Ledd]

A pretty good read, basically everything that I've found out in the past few months while I've been planning out my swap. I'm using '73-'79 F150 radius arms with just enough lift to level it out (using a full custom crossmember). Though truck is still at home and I have yet to see just what I have to work with. Hopefully I can check it as soon as this weekend.

I do have one thing to add.

'92-'95 XJ's have the larger 5-297x u-joints if they are equipped with ABS. However I cannot conform if this is also true for ZJ and YJ models. I've got e-mails out to my die-hard Jeep friends as we speak.

I have a couple other ideas to do to the D30 that should be pretty slick. But I want to get the parts and actually whip out the calipers and what not to see if it'll actually work. I'll post more on that if they do.

*edit: Dang those kits a nice looking. Almost nice enough for me to want to change my mind... CURSE YOU ALASKAN!!!!

 

[PaleBlue90]

the jeep tj ujoints are bigger the the yj and xj ones, i dont kno the exact size but i do kno they are bigger. i got a set of stock ones in my hi-pinion 30 in my ranger.

also heres my hi-pinion 30, the steering set up is a rustys hi steer kit, my axle has 4.10's stock tj shafts and new spicer u-joints. i also have a ox locker in it. also tj knuckles will work on yj and xj 30s hi or low pinion. i got stock ones on my 30 aswell

steering set up

when i bought my hi-pinion 30, i got it for 20 bux, without a cover,shafts,or knuckles

 

[Roger]

I crawled unde rmy Xj and came up with 34" center to center of the framerails. Altogether, thats about 3" wider than the Rangers at the trans crossmember. So the above kits would need quite a bit of re-fab work. But the idea is there...

 

[Jim Oaks]

I crawled unde rmy Xj and came up with 34" center to center of the framerails. Altogether, thats about 3" wider than the Rangers at the trans crossmember. So the above kits would need quite a bit of re-fab work. But the idea is there...

But I would think your main purpose would be to get the material to make the links between axle and frame along with track bar brackets. I would think the Polyperformance universal kits would be beneficial. I may be missing something, but I'm not sure where the Jeeps extra 3-inches of width becomes a factor.

 

[Hahnsb2]

I'm almost positive the bigger u joints started in 95, not 96...

 

[Captain Ledd]

But I would think your main purpose would be to get the material to make the links between axle and frame along with track bar brackets. I would think the Polyperformance universal kits would be beneficial. I may be missing something, but I'm not sure where the Jeeps extra 3-inches of width becomes a factor.

The brackets that the links mount to on the frame looks almost more like a skid plate style to me (T&T one) and the Rusty's kit looks like the crossmember is also a solid piece. I think you'd either have to shorten/widen (probably shorten I think) the crossmember or build a new one. Which I guess wouldn't be that crazily difficult (come on, you have the skills to do a SAS). Though even just ordering the arms would be a benefit since you don't have to screw with axle brackets. Mounting to the frame is probably the easiest part. So yeah I guess it wouldn't be that difficult to adapt.

 

[Roger]

Yep, the pre-made skid/belly/mounts would need to be narrowed. That was my point. The TNT kit would be too wide, placing the links under the Ranger frame unless you took the extra material from the middle.

Lots of ready made brackets are already available from www.bluetorchfab.com and others to be able to mount links and all. And some are pretty reasonable.

I'm planning to use the mounts for my extended radius arms for the D30 lower control arms, I can't see moving the mounts back would be a problem if I decide to go with longer links...

 

[c_note]

so the other night i picked up set of 8" long arms for 100 bucks along with an xj steering box and pitman arm. so i was wondering if this steering box would work alright since it is designed to be inside the frame rail. also if someone knows where i can get a set of pre fabed coil buckets to make my build much faster.

my wheel bearing and cv joint went out on the freeway last night so i this is a swift kick in the ass to get it done now!

 

[Jim Oaks]

I'm almost positive the bigger u joints started in 95, not 96...

That's what I have........