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

[Str8sixfan]

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]

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]

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

 

[dangerranger83]

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

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[escort_gts]

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.


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[Str8sixfan]

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.


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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]

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

 

[Str8sixfan]

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]

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.


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[Str8sixfan]

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]

Picking up the wj knuckles tomorrow!

 

[escort_gts]

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.

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[Str8sixfan]

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

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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]

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]

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