Alright, I might be dumping the CJ project and turning the XJ into a project. So, after you've addressed the rear end problem (D35), what are you doing out front? Can't afford a custom axle, on a budget. Upgrade the shafts, replace the axle? Let's hear what you all out there are doing.

JNJ, you know about that ford 44 I am running.....I put on chevy outers for da big brakes and high-steer, and am running superior axles foinally getting rid of those (dare I say) 260's.

Did I tell you yet I'm dumping my CJ project too? That's why you did right? can't do one single original thing to save your life, you always gotta do what I am doing....pathetic.

anyway, the ford axle is going into the 88 XJ and I'll do a three link long-arm, kinda like what sean did, only sexier than his.

so, there's not much in the leftside drop department....don't know if you wanna go fullsize or not?

think maybe 78-79 ford, or maybe SJ?

Well since I have the 2.5l in my XJ and will be keeping it and the original drivetrain I will be keeping the 30 but upgrading the shafts and an axle brace. I might upgrade the hubs, maybe. I like the inside operation it has stock though. Upgrade the u-joints with CTM's or something.

it all depends on if you wanna keep the d30 or not. if you do you can just go with the warn kit, or just TJ shafts, or CJ outers alloy shafts and 790 joints (like jason from tidewater). if you wanna ditch the d30 and go bigger how about goin full width like craig 44/9" combo outta a bronco? scout 44 is also a possibility (paul just put one in the front of tracys TJ), buy a rubicon edition TJ and steal the front axle outta that swap your 30 in and sell it :)whats up with all you guys sellin your jeeps. although taco welded on jimmys. zenos, and yours and all 3 of you are giving up on em, coincadence????

Hunter

Im running a stock 30 upfront with 297x ujoints... its held up fine with 33's, but with 35's its getting beaten. Last time i went out i had to back up.. (bad move) and broke a ujoint, sheared the ears off the passenger side shaft, and popped the ball joints out too. Definately upgrade the shafts with warn, if you're on a tight budget.. If you have plenty of cash throw a 44 in. If you're only going to run 33's or smaller, it should do fine, as long as you dont have a heavy foot.

I have to agree with SocalXJ on this, I am also running 33's on the D30 front. So far it has held up fine but when I go bigger I was thinking of swapping in D44's F&R.

Ok, here is the deal, Audrey (wife) is pretty sure she'll be getting a Rubicon TJ (no Hunter, I can't steal the front axle) when it comes out. That will give me her 96 XJ as a daily driver. So, that leaves me with Red (my XJ) and Heep (my CJ-7).
I was hoping to use parts from both to build something for trail only.
Beez, I'm not positive I will use the XJ, just asking questions. I might throw the 4.0 (rebuilt it last year) and the AW4 from the XJ into the CJ and keep the D300 and running gear.
Don't really know yet what I want to do.
What I do know; I want to run 35s or 36s, It will be trail only but may have to drive a couple hours to trail until I can afford a trailer, Would like to keep it simple (leafs vs. coils), Will be locked front rear so super flex is not the goal.
I love my Xj, but also love the open CJ and simple leaf suspension.

What I have from both:
90 XJ, 4 door
4.0 (rebuilt with new long block a year ago)with rusty's intake, pacesetter header, and cat back.
AW4 auto
231 t-case with AA sye
Front D30 open with 3.55
Rear D35 Lock Rite same gearing (duh)
4.5" - 5" lift just springs in front, springs with 1.5" shackles in back.
31" MTs.

84 CJ-7 currently stripped to the frame
258, torn down with new timing set and crank kit setting in garage waiting install.
TF 727 rebuilt with new TC also.
300 t-case
D30 front open with 2.73.
Model 20 rear with one piece axles and EZ locker
2" custom body lift (2x4" stock welded to top of body mounts).
33" MTs
Body rusted beyond repair.
1 pair of 7 leaf rear CJ springs for SOA

So, if ya had all this and a tight budget, what sould you do?

If you're planning on running 35's or 36's on a cherokee and will be running hard trails, expect damage to the unibody, especially stress cracks and bending in the steering box area. Carry spare lower and upper arms as well. Ive already had to strengthened the steering area after damage from previous trips with heavier tires.

If I was going big (36+) tires on my cherokee, i would go leafs upfront. Just my .02

holy shit JNJ, your last post looked too much like a JU signature for me to answer that......


:rainbow:

:flipoff2:

Beezilbutt your right. I might have to start using that as my sig. :flipoff2: Hey remember this "I don't like my SOA with 2" leafs, it's to tippy: :rainbow: :flipoff2:

SOCALXJ, Haven't decided on which to use yet. I would perfer leafs, so I might go that way. Honestly using the CJ and swapping in the 4.0 and tranny are sounding good.

so what's the deal? I thought I read on another forum you were ditching the cj???

are you ditching the xj?

maybe it was that originality comment that got the better of you.

build what you want, I don't fawking care!

seriously, get a good game plan together, and if you decide to throw the 4.0 in the cj, give me a shout. I promise I won't make fun of ya.


ohhhhhhhhhhh I'm off-camber!!!!!!!

:flipoff2:

tell you what, I'll sell you my 44 front, and then I'll go build myself a 60 :D

Your 3 link will only be sexier cuz you're a metal bitch. Are you gonna bastardize it and put a trac bar on there though (making it a 4 link, don't know why people can't get that notion into their head) Leafs-WTF, now you're all sounding like BillA. I like my kidneys, thank you very much. Let the good times roll :rasta:

Easy

Beez, I haven't figured what I'm gonna do yet. I don't really want the headaches associated with tall coil lifts. I like the K.I.S.S. principle. Was thinking of stretching the CJ (I know, you thought about that too) :flipoff2: . IfI do put the 4.0 in the CJ I will bug the crap out of you for wiring info. So, put the 4.0 and AW4 in the CJ, stretch it, and find some waggy axles?
Anyone know if the D300 will bolt up to the AW4 (yes, I did a search)?
Brent, I doubt I could afford the D44.

Hey...not to drop names....but are open diffs, A: sexy or B::rainbow: ???Have a nice day!!!!

How much for the fotey phor? Brent? (damn that would be fun to ship)

Well isn't this awkward??? I don't know who to say "bite me" to first..... so instead here goes:

Chark----:flipoff2:

Sean------:flipoff2:

JNJ-------fwkit, why waste a good icon on a sorryass like yerself......


damn, kiddo you aint kiddin around are you??? what got into you? what happened???

You have an interesting decision to make.....go nuts with the xj or go nuts with the CJ....either one would be awesome, but if I were you, I'd go with the magic wheelbase......even though I was one of them, i am slowly coming around......don't even start with that unibody stuff. I have finally waken up from my "gotta have a frame" coma I was in, now that I have a buyer for my cj-6 tub and frame, i am getting tunnel vision on the xj.

"yeah, it does have a unibody.....ONLY IF YOU LEAVE IT LIKE THAT DUMBASS!!!!"

So, if you go with the CJ, you will have some problem fitting that aw-4, it is a long tranny! a dana300 will obviously save you some space but still, that adapter will be needed. the input of the d300 is a bit too long, just under an inch or so, but I don't see why a guy couldn't just make his own spacer plate (or have one lasercut) and re-stud the d-300 with longer studs....It looks too damn easy, there's gotta be a DIY angle there somewhere....

I swear, I think you shoudl consider stretching that cj.....it might sound overwhelming, but I looked real hard at doing it to a yj. It wouldn't be that hard really.......

have you even made your mind up about which jeep goes and which jeep stays????

good luck with that decision!

Beez, I really am up in the air about which to keep/build. I would love to stretch the CJ, the frame stretching doesn't bother me, but the body work scares me:( . Also getting a soft top for the stretched CJ would be tough.
I've been told that bolting the d300 to my AW4 might be a problem since it's a 90 (spine count). Any idea? BTW, I will still have the 96XJ for light wheeling (ya right:) ) and a daily driver.

"yeah, it does have a unibody.....ONLY IF YOU LEAVE IT LIKE THAT DUMBASS!!!!" What ya talking about? I want to know what your thinking.

So, the only reason you didn't do the stretched YJ is because the XJ fell in your lap? True?

i bet he still sometimes put his left shoe on his right foot!.... i say to start off with, throw all the shit away on heep that would not be reused in any situation. see if you can let the local auto body shop use the tub for patching rust and fixing dents. ...next you have to think about is this huge build up on red, and all the $$$ you spent or didnt spend. also how much time is in heep? how much money? do the costs of building up heep out weigh the benefits? if so then scrap it. i say leave 31's on red, take the locker out, let the kids drive it when they are of age, better yet make em paytheir own insurnce and stuff, repairs too (except to the tranny). the tranny is the only thing left to go on it right? they are cheap in junkyards. build up heep and quit whinning you big woman.

Ok Hunter, put down the :beer: and step way from the computer. It seems like your suggesting two completely different things in one post.:flipoff2:
Since I respect your advice so much :flipoff2: here is what I'm gonna do.
Part out heep, put some Waggy or Ford axles under Red, put on enough lift/cut fenders enough to run 35s-36s, lock both axles, and build an exo-cage. What cha think about that? Just gotta decide if I'll keep coils up front or go leafs.

that line in quotes is my new repsonce to people who say "why would you make a trail rig out of a unibody?"

Yes, I've done a 180. I vowed to never go back into a unibody, but hey! a perfectly descent 88XJ totally loaded with leather seats, power everything and sunroof fell in my lap for free. Title and all. so, what would you do?

streching the cj as far as body work....shouldn't be scary. there really isn't any curved or rounded bends. All straights and angles, and returns, and a new cut-out to follow the wheelwell (worst case senario) if you add a stretch panel like they used to do with the cj-5 cj-6......

as far as your tranny/300....

i know the dana 300 is sweet, I had rebuilt one for my cj-6 project before I suddenly acquired a supply of xj parts. it was the case I was gonna use......why are you ditching the 231???

I mean, you wheel like a girl in a plastic barbie jeep, so don't tell me you need the "strength" I'll fawkin laugh my head off.

Well depending on how you wheel is how long they will last. I have 35's on my stock axles but I have upgraded everything I could on them to give them added strength. But now that I look back, I could have just found a D44 and made it work for cheaper! LOL............peace

yea... what he said... here's whiskey runner's idea for the unibody
http://community.webshots.com/storage/1/v1/9/65/13/28196513WaJHqKkKzT_ph.jpg

Greddy

yea webshots bites, so if no pic, right click and copy in address window

Personally I am going to rebuild the D30 and give it a go.

Scotty Mac on the darkside! Here ya go :flipoff2: :flipoff2: .

Beez, we really need to wheel together again, your memory sucks :flipoff2: .

I'm ditching the axles for sure.

Beez again, you got Scout axles right? how the coil pads gonna fit? 36" center to center and 4" each. Let me know.

My buddy had his Dana 30 rebuilt with 4:88 gears and Superior axles with 297 joints and a Ox locker!! Riddinf on 33" tires..Yesterday we were trying to climb this waterfall and something went pop!!..I think it was the passenger-side inner axle were the dis-connect is!!...I'ts getting tore apart right now!!.....The shop here says that is were real weak point is!!!...He will know later today!!...

Thats why I am building a NON Disco D30:p

Just found out it was the inner passenger axle right by the disconnect!!...Good idea to run the non-discos!!!...

Scotty, why build a 30 instead of swapping something else in?

Where I live there are mainly
2 Tracks
Mud
and a few dunes
With that said I wont be putting the stress on this allot of others do say at Moab or Tellico
Also I am trying to do a build up that would be inline with this region and document it. I know from Experiance there are very few in this area that would swap in a waggy axle there just isnt the ambition knowledge or finacial rewards here for it there are in other area of the country.

so be a leader Scott, come awn, step up to the plate:rolleyes:

Easy

hmmmm
be a leader................I fear mutiny to much for that.
Besides Lifes a Bitch...........Then I married one. And she has me on a budget

Scotty Mac on the darkside???

I don't think so......

are you talking to imaginary friends jnj????

this thread sucks anyway JNJ, no one really cares, can't you see that?

Beezle
Normally I enjoy reading your replies on the other boards......................This aint who you think it is

Wow, more then one Scott in Michigan, imagine that. :)

wow i didnt know there was another Either

is this potatogun scott?????

whichever one it is, YER STILL A NEWBIE!!!!!! :flipoff2:

Newbi Here Yes
This is Scott VanDenHout
Other name I use is MIXJ