Rear D44 Truss & Skid

[HilltopXJ]

Well I should have done this last winter when I had it torn down for the Super44 kit.
2x6 tubing. welded on the inside and out, sanded down the outside welds for smoother finish.

Rubber grommet for breather

New brake like route

Kinda would have liked it to sit down about another 1/2 to 3/4" but I think it will be fine.

Shaved the bottom of the housing smooth and reinforced with 3/16 plate bent to contour housing. Didnt really gain from this other than a smooth bottom and maybe alittle beefier.

 

[Mr.OverKill]

i am the king of over kill and other than how tall it is i really like it!! the skid is the best idea, cast iron is brittle and the 3/16 plate is very un likely to ever crack from an impact but the cast might so forget the smoothness, you now have armor!! looks good :thumbup:





too much coffie this morning, sorry.

 

[Goatman]

The truss and the bottom plating look good. The bottom is similar to what I did to mine (front), though I ground off the ribs and lost the bottom bolt hole to gain clearance. I drilled another hole over a couple inches, and plated the bottom with 3/16. I've been beating on it for 6 years and the bottom has held up fine. I can't say the same for the rest of the housing, I should have trussed it long ago.

 

[HilltopXJ]

Thanks for the kudos guys.

Now to fix the screw up in the front. Last year when I was doing the HP44
build up I never heeded the warnings I read of using the stock rubber uca bushings. BIG mistake. The biggest annoyance of this is the axle wrap feeling I get on washboardy roads and not mention they are already wore out.
Time for some super flex joints. And maybe truss the front while I have it out.
Seems like the list of things to do is never ending. Its a good think I like wrenching on my jeep.

 

[jdogg4]

Yep other than taking it down an 1' to 1-1/2 off the top I like it alot. I have some 2x6x3/16 RT ready to make a truss for my D44. the plan was pretty much like yours. Were the holes are on yours I was going to fill with pipe cut the holes to pipe size then weld them up in there aswell. THe break line and breather tube Iwasn't 100% sure how I wanted to do them but I like that setup.

 

[MrShoeBoy]

The truss looks big and beefy. I know what you mean by not doing the front UCA mounts differently. I reused the stock UCA bushings on my front HP 44 and am kicking myself for it. I did put a truss on mine when I put the brackets on so I got ya there On a side note, how do you like the 5.13s with the 35s? I got 4.10s with a stroker and 5 speed, its not that bad but I do wish for some deeper gearing especially offroad. Whats the highway RPM like?

AARON

 

[HilltopXJ]

The truss looks big and beefy. I know what you mean by not doing the front UCA mounts differently. I reused the stock UCA bushings on my front HP 44 and am kicking myself for it. I did put a truss on mine when I put the brackets on so I got ya there On a side note, how do you like the 5.13s with the 35s? I got 4.10s with a stroker and 5 speed, its not that bad but I do wish for some deeper gearing especially offroad. Whats the highway RPM like?

AARON

Before the 5:13s and 35s I had 4:88s and 32s, So I'd have to say the hiway
RPMs are alittle better, I think its about 2400-2500 at 55mph in 5th gear. I did like the 4:88s and 32s offroading , but I think thats because I have a really tired 4.0 thats pushing 300,000mi, so once I get the stroker together this fall/winter the 5.13s/35 will be perfect for what I do.( I hope). I've been kinda waiting for this motor to give up, but the damn thing keeps going. Still burns no oil, and starts and runs like a champ, its just tired I guess. GO RENIX....
Anyways do you have any pics of your front truss? Im gathering ideas...:cheers:

Scot

 

[MrShoeBoy]

Shoot me a PM with your email and I will send pics. I havent bothered with finding a place to host pics on the net yet. Maybe one day...

AARON