Hybrid D44-60 progress

[Jeff 98XJ WI]

Nothing! It's still winter up here. I spent my money on a 4L60E tranny with an Advance Adapter rear output with vss speed sensor. I also got a free D300 in pieces with the intent to install the pieces in a STAK 300 case, but they aren't even making them yet! I've got dibs on a KLUNE 4:1 to go between them, but no word on that yet. As for the axles, I picked up some steel to make trusses for them last fall, but just haven't moved on the project lately. I still need to purchase two ARB's, gears, install kits, rear shafts, etc. Cash is always an issue with me.

I did manage to make a trip to the Jackson Hole area of Wyoming a few weeks ago though. A friend and I drove my dad's truck out towing my covered snowmobile trailer. We met my dad out there (long story) and the three of us tore up the Salt Range by Idaho as well as a day and a half on the continental divide. It was a great experience but left me empty pocketed! The red xj is still working well though. I was up at Lake Superior with it last weekend. Jeff

 

[Ramsey]

Hurry up and get this done so I dont have to figure it out on my own(even if it took you a year I still wouldn't need to)

 

[Jeff 98XJ WI]

There's really nothing more to figure out. Purchase the mentioned items and bolt it all together! That's about it. Oh, a bit of welding for the truss and suspension mounts. Then there is the steering which will need some high steer arms and everything else that goes with it. Just follow what money bags Cracker just did! Jeff

 

[cracker]

Just follow what money bags Cracker just did! Jeff

It was worth every penny

 

[Ramsey]

but there is no pretty pictures to stare at in the mean time

 

[Ramsey]

What is your reason for going 44/60, the more I think about it the less sure I am. Clearance, weight, cost(still not sure how that works out)? One more than the other? 38-40" heavy bias tires on a 44 ring gear= disaster or need for a light foot? Be a pity to do all that work and have to baby it or tear up things.

 

[Jeff 98XJ WI]

As stated earlier in this thread, I came upon a HP 44 and HP 60 housing pretty cheap. So, I thought I could combine the two to come up with a front end that used 35 spline shafts and 60 u-joints and king pins as well as a rear Full Float HP 60. Seemed like a decent combination using parts I had found at cheap prices. Once one adds all the cost of the new parts I need, it won't be very cheap, but since the raw material was so cheap I figure I should come out pretty good in the long run. The 44 center section may be a problem at some point, but I've seen a similar 44/60 hold up to a hot V8, large tires, a buggy frame. The guy did blow up the ring and pinion, the u-joint, etc once, but he said it was a bouncing full throttle maneuver asking for it. Jeff

 

[Goatman]

My opinion is that the HP44 gears should hold up fine, unless you go with 44's. As always, anything is breakable. Given a couple of things.....high pinion front gears are stronger than low pinion, and low pinion rear gears are stronger than high pinion. Also, that a front axle typically takes less abuse than a rear axle since when it's pushed the hardest the front of the rig is usually up on a ledge or climb, so the front tires spin much easier than the rear tires.

I think a case could be made for front HP44 gears holding up as well, or close to as well, as rear HP60 gears. Many, many of us run HP60's in the rear, from Tera, Currie Rock Jock, Dynatrac Pro Rock 60's, etc. They seem to be holding up to quite a bit of abuse, though they have been known to break under severe abuse.

One of my wheeling buddies has run HP44's in both the front and the rear with 36's, for about 10 years. He's not light on the throttle, and he finally broke the HP44 rear gears last year in Moab powering up a ledge. (he now has Pro Rock 60's f&r)

 

[JeepFreak21]

My opinion is that the HP44 gears should hold up fine, unless you go with 44's. As always, anything is breakable. Given a couple of things.....high pinion front gears are stronger than low pinion, and low pinion rear gears are stronger than high pinion. Also, that a front axle typically takes less abuse than a rear axle since when it's pushed the hardest the front of the rig is usually up on a ledge or climb, so the front tires spin much easier than the rear tires.

I think a case could be made for front HP44 gears holding up as well, or close to as well, as rear HP60 gears. Many, many of us run HP60's in the rear, from Tera, Currie Rock Jock, Dynatrac Pro Rock 60's, etc. They seem to be holding up to quite a bit of abuse, though they have been known to break under severe abuse.

One of my wheeling buddies has run HP44's in both the front and the rear with 36's, for about 10 years. He's not light on the throttle, and he finally broke the HP44 rear gears last year in Moab powering up a ledge. (he now has Pro Rock 60's f&r)

If you're going to run HP gears in the back, what can be done to strengthen them? Cryogenic treatment? Do they make R&P's out of anything stronger now than what they've been using for years?
Billy

 

[xj92]

IMO if you're going to run HP in the rear the ultimate would be the thrust block and extra pinion bearing the true hi 9 uses. If you don't do that, you just need tons of extra beef to handle the deflection that comes from running on the coast side of the ring gear (such as HP60 on a light jeep with reasonable-sized tires).

 

[Joe]

Any progress on this?

 

[Jeff 98XJ WI]

Not a bit! I am however, working on the rig that the 44/60 will go in. Jeff

 

[Jeff 98XJ WI]

I scored a slightly reduced rate RD109 35 spline ARB from a guy off Pirate.

35 spline shaft next to locker:

Shaft in locker:

Other end of Locker:

Jeff

 

[Gravesdiggerxj]

glad to see your still at it