Thinking of a Dana 30 swap

[ryan]

If you’re leaning towards SAS, bigger is better. The 44 is generally bulletproof.

JK 44s are easy to find, and cheap because of people going to tons. Even built ones are generally pretty easy to get. It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me to put the time and effort into putting a 30 under something these days IMO

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

JK 44s are easy to find, and cheap because of people going to tons. Even built ones are generally pretty easy to get. It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me to put the time and effort into putting a 30 under something these days IMO

If the D-35 in my Choptop proves not up to snuff, that may just be the direction I go, lol. I need to get to the point where I can build a dedicated wheeler though so I stop thinking about trying to make the Choptop into something no longer road legal…

 

[Shran]

Dana 30's check the box for matching wheel bolt pattern, width and usually very cheap - that's about it. Jeep (2007+) D30 and D44 will have a different bolt pattern. I would much rather run adapters on the rear, find different wheels and start with a Jeep 44 in the front than burn a bunch of time building a D30 though.

Yeah that's a good point. I'm on board with it too. I do have a winch, bumper, led lights, tires, wheels, but I don't have skid plates and have overlooked them. Some of the roads I run are VERY washed out and the skid plates would be dope to have.
The main reason I was thinking of a Dana 30 because they only have 130k on them and wasn't going to cost me an awful lot. So I was thinking if it's worth the upgrade or swap then I should go for it.

I am not afraid of dragging my Explorer on 30" tall tires through bad stuff because I have skid plates on everything... one under the front of the transmission, a big one under the rear of the trans and t-case, and the factory one on the gas tank. Skid plates are overlooked so often because they are kind of a pain to build but they are really my #2 recommendation after a winch on a new wheeling rig build.

Personally I do not think D30's are worth the time & effort to swap into a Ranger because of all the nickel & dime stuff that will add up. The axle + mounting it + brakes, gears, better shafts, misc stuff... you are money ahead doing just about anything else. But if you own a junkyard and have everything on hand for free or close to it... then maybe it makes more sense.

 

[bobbywalter]

i am not saying to build a 30. i am saying a 30 is buildable incrementally.



in a reg cab normal power ranger, wouldnt think twice about swapping in a functioning 30 that only cost 150 bux..

just swap it in. as is and run it.

Jeep JK Wrangler Rubicon Dana 44 Front Axle wTru-Lok 4.10 Ratio 2007-2017 167993 | eBay

JEEP WRANGLER 09-10 Dana 44 (4.10 ratio), LHD. JEEP WRANGLER 11-15 Dana 44, 4.10 ratio, LHD. Interchange: Dana 44, 4.10 ratio, LHD. Model: JEEP WRANGLER. Search for more parts forJEEP WRANGLER. Front Axle Assy.also See Crr.

www.ebay.com

finding a d44 under a grand is not something i see alot. i can get a set of stupid doodies for a grand. the middle ground is not cheap.

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www.ebay.com

 

[ryan]

finding a d44 under a grand is not something i see alot. i can get a set of stupid doodies for a grand. the middle ground is not cheap.

i see a lot of JK takeoff axles in that range here. Can get 05+ SD axles for $500 even. Like everything else it's about what you can get at what price