building the bullet proof D30 housing

[Mr.OverKill]

Actually Flexin I wouldn't bother building up a 35. XJ 44's are common enough and easy. The 30 is a bit different as it isn't too terrible an axle and can hold up decently - not that it isn't still a gamble

i would have to agree with that, the D35 is a true hit and miss proposition ( most the time its a miss ) the axle shafts are just too small. but with the alloy shafts you can get it to the strength of a stock 8.25 and then dump a load of time and materials in to trussing the outside and you might come up with an axle that can be locked with 33's

P.S. this is from some first hand experiance, my D35 was a good one but i never locked it and after watching a buddy of mine lock his with 33's snap 3 shafts in a week of crawling mild stuff..............well, you get the picture

 

[cal]

im loving the idea! ive been wanting to build my D30 and D35 and so many people are against it - NO FAITH! its all about living and learning, if it breaks you can always find a way to make it stronger (it just might cost alot)
whats with everybody wanting 1ton axles? theres no fun in that - fun is knowing you (and maybe some buddies) built it yourself to handle what your gonna do to it!
keep us posted even after you get it done - I WANNA KNOW WHAT HAPPENS

Yeah. I'm a little over $3,000 into a dana 30 and even *I* cringe at the idea of building a Dana 35..

Don't do it man!

-C

 

[BlueGerbil]

over $3,000 into a dana 30

WTF?
Got some diamonds glued to the diff cover? Or what have you done to the axle?

 

[87manche]

it's filled with rare whale oil, $1K a quart

 

[cal]

You know. I'm still trying to figure out where it all went. I added up receipts and kinda cringed.. but when you start adding up a locker, gears, 30 spline shafts, 30 spline unit bearings, higher end WJ rotors and calipers, WJ knuckles, components for beefy steering, $400 in rod ends, $200 diff cover (crane), steel for this and that, superflex joints for trackbar and uca bushings, re HD trackbar mount and brace, etc, etc, etc.. it add's up. I knew going into this that I wasn't saving money vs building a 44, but came out very alarmed at just how much i really spent.

 

[djblade311]

we went to see it yesterday....yea cal was having issues picking up the housing off the rack. lol. It looks REALLY good. bastard.

 

[cracker]

I would rather see people polishing a 'turdy' then spending $ on a 44.

Skip the 44 and go 60 when you have to upgrade.

Good job Troy! Make sure that thing is heavier than my Spidertrax 60

 

[Mr.OverKill]

well the truss and brackets are done, the UCA mounts are welded on, shock tabs are on ( just need drilled ) i have a few gussets i want to add but other than that the thing is done, i will post pics when the gussets and clean up are done, i might even hit it with paint first. the track bar mount and sway bar mounts will be later, after the axle is mounted and tested for clearance issues.

i start on the WJ knucles tomorrow



cal call me.

 

[Mr.OverKill]

I would rather see people polishing a 'turdy' then spending $ on a 44.

Skip the 44 and go 60 when you have to upgrade.

Good job Troy! Make sure that thing is heavier than my Spidertrax 60

by the way i got 100lbs of lead filler for the spider trax for after the welds are done and we smooth it out, any we dont use i will flow inside the axle houseing to lower your COG :firedevil :laugh3:

 

[Roxtar]

You know. I'm still trying to figure out where it all went. I added up receipts and kinda cringed.. but when you start adding up a locker, gears, 30 spline shafts, 30 spline unit bearings, higher end WJ rotors and calipers, WJ knuckles, components for beefy steering, $400 in rod ends, $200 diff cover (crane), steel for this and that, superflex joints for trackbar and uca bushings, re HD trackbar mount and brace, etc, etc, etc.. it add's up. I knew going into this that I wasn't saving money vs building a 44, but came out very alarmed at just how much i really spent.

That's why it pays to start with a plan.

 

[Jump This]

That's why it pays to start with a plan.

And take all the fun out of it? Bahh!! Humbug!!
Rick R

 

[cal]

That's why it pays to start with a plan.

I had a plan, I just decided part way into the project to take a little more time and money and see how far I could take it. I don't really think I'll go bigger than 35's in the next several years, so I wanted to build this to last.

 

[Roxtar]

I had a plan, I just decided part way into the project to take a little more time and money and see how far I could take it. I don't really think I'll go bigger than 35's in the next several years, so I wanted to build this to last.

Interesting definition of little.

So you're going to run 35s on a $3000 D30, huh?

See post # 11 in this thread.
Happy trails.

 

[Mr.OverKill]

finished with another part of the mods on the adjenda for cal yesterday, can any one tell me what the mod is?? here is a clue

thats right, WJ knuckles!! the axle project should be done with the initial build/ fab stage this weekend, then its back to cal and the install so we can do the axle side track bar mount in place under the rig for guaranteed clearance. the final fab/build stage pics will be up this weekend.

 

[Mr.OverKill]

other than a couple of shock mount holes to drill, its done ( unless cal has more requests that is )

and last but not least

well what do you all think?

 

[djblade311]

still needs bondo and clear coat!

 

[cal]

I think it looks like far more than I bargained for.

very nice.

 

[XJ_ranger]

do yourself a favor -
pull the carrier bearing caps and carrier, then stick a straight tube down the axle tube and look at it... make sure that all that welding didnt cause any warpage...

:anon:

 

[cal]

Actually troys been checking that at each stage of this, and I'll be checking it with a laser pointer before I have it geared.

 

[cracker]

Looks great Troy!

Good Job!