Comanche Chief

[87manche]

looks like it might be time for hydro assist.

Lions Den nuked my power steering pump. Killed a lot of other stuff too. That's what I got for being a longbed on 34's and playing in there.

 

[jbain08]

Yea.... my brother and I were the only 2 in our group without it... he made it though the Den but worked his butt off... His pump didn't leak but boiled over right in that tight spot... Watching that is what kept me out of it.

 

[87manche]

I got wedges right before the turn to the exit. Litreally hung up on the frame rails at both ends without my tires touching the ground.

Had to climb out the sunroof.
Good times.

 

[jbain08]

I once watched a video of an MJ on 34's running the Lions Den...... I worried about that as well so I planned to drop off to the left and hit the exit rock straight on. My brother took that line and it worked pretty good for him.

 

[87manche]

was it all cut up with no bed?

that was me.

 

[jbain08]

Yep....

 

[87manche]

not my best driving.

34's, 3.73s and Lion's Den weren't ideal

clutch hated me.

 

[jbain08]

My brother will tell you that once you get in there your only concern becomes getting out.... you tend to forget how "Pretty" the run looks.... LOL

 

[87manche]

My brother will tell you that once you get in there your only concern becomes getting out.... you tend to forget how "Pretty" the run looks.... LOL

that's a true story.

once you're in, you're in.

 

[jbain08]

A quick video of me running pin ball into rail bed.... it was a bright sunny day... perfect for wheeling Harlan

http://youtu.be/KFvL-g7f0MY

 

[jbain08]

A 3 minute highlight video of me running Lower Damnation.......

http://youtu.be/H6-S-r7DiLU

 

[jbain08]

Found a few more pics of our Harlan Trip....
Dropping into Lower Damnation:

Ledge on Fish Fossile:

Leaning on a tree entering Mason Jar:

 

[jbain08]

Finally got around to comparing my new to me 38.5 SX’s against my old 36’s…. with both on Beadlocks and aired to 12psi the 38.5’s are about 2 1/4th inches taller.I’ll be raising my MJ up 2 inches to accommodate the new tires so that along with tires should raise my skids and rock rails about 3 inches.

Here’s a few pics of my new axle…. Hope to get it back in the next few weeks.

These are the waggy axles I’m going to run until I can afford a set of RCV’s

I’m not sure I’m loving the Trucker Ladies but they were a package deal with the Tires so I’ll run them until I can get some new rings cut.

With all these swampers laying around you’d think my MJ wouldn’t be floating on Jackstands…..

 

[VAhasnoWAVES]

it looks to me like you have a 3/4 ton ford D44... more ribbing in the casting and 1/2" thick axle tubes. i had one a long time ago, so my memory is a little fuzzy, but... that axle should actually be wider than a 1/2 ton ford 44, which is wider than a waggy 44.

you might want to double check the measurements for axle shafts. waggy stuff may not do for you. also, stub shaft lengths vary from chevy/FSJ to ford.

 

[jbain08]

You have a good eye sir.... it's a 79 HP Dana 44 from an F250..... The axle is currently over at my buddies getting the inner C's removed and the tubes narrowed to waggy width along with mounts and a truss. I'll be running all ford F150 from the knuckle out to include the stub shaft. This will take me to approx 61.5 inches wide. In the rear I'll just replace the spacer on my 8.8 for an adapter.

 

[Lowrange2]

You have a good eye sir.... it's a 79 HP Dana 44 from an F250..... The axle is currently over at my buddies getting the inner C's removed and the tubes narrowed to waggy width along with mounts and a truss. I'll be running all ford F150 from the knuckle out to include the stub shaft. This will take me to approx 61.5 inches wide. In the rear I'll just replace the spacer on my 8.8 for an adapter.

That setup will be exactly like mine except HP instead of LP. It works well.

I swapped to 5x5.5.

 

[jbain08]

So your running a HP or a LP? What knuckles are you running?

 

[Lowrange2]

So your running a HP or a LP? What knuckles are you running?

LP. Wagoneer 44. Jeep flat top knuckles, Jeep Caliper brackets and brakes, Chevrolet small bearing spindles, Ford hubs and rotors.

Now, if by some chance you plan you run RCV's you'll definitely want to run the bigger Ford knuckles and corresponding outer parts. (The RCV's don't fit through Jeep knuckles.)

 

[jbain08]

Right on..... I was thinking of going chevy from the knuckle out but saw where you gotta run ford stuff to get the RCV's to slide in without dis assembly.... thanks for the info. I wish there was a way to keep my f250 knuckles and go 5 on 5.5 that would be perfect.

 

[shortxjdoug]

Now, if by some chance you plan you run RCV's you'll definitely want to run the bigger Ford knuckles and corresponding outer parts. (The RCV's don't fit through Jeep knuckles.)

They go in with the proper amount of cursing, and they need to be assembled inside the knuckle. But the ford stuff allows you to run the right snap rings to keep the bell from ejecting the stub when the roll pin fails.


..... Food for thought. We are just sucking it up and buying a set of reid ford knuckles for sams junk. She has the same f250 housing for hers as well. The reids are the best option, and once you have priced high steer and factored in the chevy knuckle headache they arent very far off in price