Peacefrog's tj build up

[fluffernutter]

Thanks Buck.

[Buck]

Originally Posted by fluffernutter

Thanks Buck.

You know me brother, I'll do ANYTHING in my powers to expedite getting a 44 in your rig!

[Buck]

Carol, THE BIG DAY is quickly approaching, you getting excited or what??? I know I am, cant wait to dig in, weld the tubes, replace the brakes, swap the locker into the new carrier, regear front, swap rear axle assemblies, oh these are the projects i dream off, simple yet adding much beef!

[PeaceFrog]

Originally Posted by Buck

Carol, THE BIG DAY is quickly approaching, you getting excited or what??? I know I am, cant wait to dig in, weld the tubes, replace the brakes, swap the locker into the new carrier, regear front, swap rear axle assemblies, oh these are the projects i dream off, simple yet adding much beef!

Oh yeah - I just sit at work, staring at my computer and dreaming of my Super Rig since I got that '44! Just don't tell my boss LOL! My co-workers don't understand me - they cannot believe what I do as a hobby (wheeling). Dirty Jeeps and hanging around with a bunch of guys (and other Jeep Girls), salvage yards, garages, leafing through off road mags and catalogs...... They don't speak my language - "JEEP" of course.

I hope those parts come really soon! Thank God you have such an ambition to start this! This is gonna be fun!

[Buck]

Originally Posted by PeaceFrog

Oh yeah - I just sit at work, staring at my computer and dreaming of my Super Rig since I got that '44! Just don't tell my boss LOL! My co-workers don't understand me - they cannot believe what I do as a hobby (wheeling). Dirty Jeeps and hanging around with a bunch of guys (and other Jeep Girls), salvage yards, garages, leafing through off road mags and catalogs...... They don't speak my language - "JEEP" of course.

I hope those parts come really soon! Thank God you have such an ambition to start this! This is gonna be fun!

Besides my family, its what I live for!

[PeaceFrog]

Ahhhhhh - look what Big Brown left on my doorstep today. Holy Cow - these parts are all Yukon's too! I thought I was dreaming! Getting closer to my build. Buck just had me order some more parts for the axle and I should be good to go!

[Buck]

Didnt I tell you? They dont advertise as Yukon because of Yukons minimum advertising rate for their suppliers. When I was talking to Rich he said you wouldnt believe how many people dont evne ask what brand he's selling and just spends the extra money, sometimes $300 on a set of alloy shafts just because theres a the Yukon name next to it. But if you call him, he'll tell you, its all Yukon. I recommend everyone who needs anything from Spicer u-joints to gears, lockers and shafts check out www.completeoffroad.com. $425 for a set of Yukon Dana 30 chromos with a lifetime warranty? You just cant beat that!

And Carol, i'm going to get started on the rear axle, welding, brakes and painting Tuesday night most likely. Matt is going awat for the weekend and he's got a hernia so he's going to be taking it easy for the next few days.

[PeaceFrog]

Originally Posted by Buck

Didnt I tell you? They dont advertise as Yukon because of Yukons minimum advertising rate for their suppliers. When I was talking to Rich he said you wouldnt believe how many people dont evne ask what brand he's selling and just spends the extra money, sometimes $300 on a set of alloy shafts just because theres a the Yukon name next to it. But if you call him, he'll tell you, its all Yukon. I recommend everyone who needs anything from Spicer u-joints to gears, lockers and shafts check out www.completeoffroad.com. $425 for a set of Yukon Dana 30 chromos with a lifetime warranty? You just cant beat that!

And Carol, i'm going to get started on the rear axle, welding, brakes and painting Tuesday night most likely. Matt is going awat for the weekend and he's got a hernia so he's going to be taking it easy for the next few days.

Buck I would never doubt your word! You said "order them" and I did - funny ...... I never asked what kind they were. When you said I was getting "YUKON" I jumped up and down - like tonight when I got them . Rob was laughing and said I acted happier with my Jeep parts then when he bought me jewelry - which was about 5 years ago! I won't be able to sleep tonight - just run downstairs and look at those boxes....LOL.

Let us know if you need a hand Tuesday night and we can come down after work. Thx!

[thegrinch24]

Originally Posted by PeaceFrog

How about telling those of us who don't know(me) what are we looking at?

[Buck]

Originally Posted by thegrinch24

How about telling those of us who don't know(me) what are we looking at?

You're looking at a Yukon 3.73 ring and pinion setup for a Tj Dana 30, a Yukon Dana 30 master rebuild kit, and in the last picture is the Dana 30 low range carrier for 3.73 and lower (numerically higher) gears.

[Buck]

Guess who's new to her Dana 44 is starting to get rehabbed tonight???
Pics to follow! Bring your camera tomorrow Carol, I still have the case for it in my garage from last time you were over

[high country cruiser]

I've purchased many things from Complete offroad and have always been very happy w/ them. They have a full set of 1-ton steering components and can provide all the necessities.........

[PeaceFrog]

Originally Posted by high country cruiser

I've purchased many things from Complete offroad and have always been very happy w/ them. They have a full set of 1-ton steering components and can provide all the necessities.........

Excellent - that is good to hear that! I know I will be ordering more stuff from him too -

[PeaceFrog]

So last Saturday, Rob followed -- and I drove -- my Jeep down to Buck's house to drop it off for the upcoming "implant". He had my Dana 44 at his house and spent an awful lot of time on it cleaning off the road grime, oils and rust using a wire wheel. Then he primed it. I picked gloss black as respects the final coat of paint. After visiting Advanced Auto, Auto Zone and Lowe's we also bought materials to redo the back brakes. After removing and inspecting the brake drums, Buck felt they were in good enough shape to turn them so I am keeping the originals. He primed and painted those as well. He just needed to get brake hoses since the originals had been cut of course when it was removed from the original Jeep. Here as some pictures. Looks sweet, eh? So I am Jeepless for a while! But for a good cause!

[skibum]

Very nice!

[PeaceFrog]

Originally Posted by skibum

Very nice!

\
Thank you!

[Buck]

You should see the floor of my shop. Theres a thick layer of road grime, grease and whatever else it is that lurks underneath Jeeps...

[PeaceFrog]

Today's the day! My Jeep and axle are back at Matt's shop! Matt and Buck will be installing the axle and new gears! Finally it has all come together! Hope it all goes smoothly! I won't be there to witness this.

[biteme06]

I am all exited for ya nice!

[Buck]

Well the axle is installed along with new rear brake hose, pinion seal and complete new brakes. The carrier is out of front end and I swapped the locker from the old carrier into the new carrier. Need to run a new brake hardline from prop valve all the way to rear hose, the stocker is in ROUGH shape. Also gotta throw in ring and pinion and drivers side shaft u-joints as the stocker is all bound up. Gettin there...slowly but surely...

[fluffernutter]

Thank you for the update. We can't wait to see it tomorrow.!

fluffernutter added 2 Minutes and 42 Seconds later...

Originally Posted by biteme06

I am all exited for ya nice!

Thanks Sean. Carol is pretty hyped up right now.Buck sent us pic on his phone of Dana-44 installed while on Matt's lift. All nice and clean and painted gloss black with the bright green diff cover ya!

[PeaceFrog]

Thanks so much Buck! Appreciate the pictures you sent me on my phone - I see the green Diff cover is already installed on the '44.

[PeaceFrog]

Visited my Jeep yesterday at Matt's shop. Both he and Buck worked on it starting Friday. I took some pictures (see below). The Dana 44 is installed - yaaa hoo. At the risk of sounding like someone from MA - LOL, IT LOOKS WICKED PISSA! Along with my flurescent green '44 Diff Cover.

They found some other items that needed fixing while they are in there.
Rear brake line completely rotted and had to be replaced. Front axle joints frozen (no wonder I had steering issues) and they bought heavy duty new joints to install. Had to replace rear '35 drive shaft with a '44. Installing heavy duty drive shaft U-Joints (see pic below).

The Yukon Ring and Pinion still needs to be installed in the front but it is coming along great. The Dana 30 has been completely emptied out and Buck and Matt installed my Aussie locker in the new Yukon carrier. Buck had me order heavy duty tube seals for the Dana 30 (waiting for them to come in) so that the mud and whatever gunk we wheel though stays out of my new gears.

My old Dana '35 (see pic) - Buck found brake fluid leaking into both rear drums. With the frozen front axle joints and other issues they found, this conversion did not come too soon as respect safety issues. Just looking at my Jeep on the lift, I will be needing (sooner than later) a new exhaust cat back system, exhaust maniford, need new skid plate for my gas tank (all holey and dented from slamming rocks), need new rear bumper with tire carrier (my bumper is pretty rusty I just noticed from the pics). Well for a 1997 vintage and this weather we live in, not unsual this all needs replacing. I should be getting my Jeep back some time next week. Will post when I do. Well I am into this pretty deep now so might as well keep on going!

[Buck]

Well, i hear its finished! Took a little longer than expected because some 13 year old stuff NEEDED to be replaced.
The list;
D35 SWAPPED TO D44
BRAKELINE REPLACED FROM MASTER CYLINDER ALL THE WAY TO REAR HOSE
BOTH AXLE JOINTS REPLACED, THEY WERE BOUND UP SO BAD WE NEEDED TO BASICALLY HANG FROM THEM TO GET THEM TO MOVE
CORRECT DRIVESHAFT IN PLACE WITH NEW SUPER STRENGTH JOINTS
BRAND NEW REAR BRAKES AND RESURFACED DRUMS
NEW REAR BRAKE HOSE
COMPLETELY REBUILT DANA 30 WITH YUKON R&P AND MASTER KIT
and probably some other stuff i'm not remembering.
It took a little longer than expected and cost more than expected but its beefy and its also, more importantly, SAFE.
I dont know how that rear brakeline even held fluid before. its basically crumbled apart when removed. Lots of luck there.
I cannot wait to hear Carols impressions!!!

[biteme06]

NICE need some more pics!!

[PeaceFrog]

On my way to Matt's to pick it up now! I will post more pics with the final product!

[biteme06]

Cool, I bet somebody is excited??

[PeaceFrog]

Originally Posted by biteme06

Cool, I bet somebody is excited??

HECK YA! IT ROCKS!

I think I must be dreaming - somebody pinch me quick! Yes - I finally picked my Jeep up tonight and what a difference - feels like a totally new Jeep! I had my Dana 35 in the back (took out my back seat) and even with that heavy load the Jeep never batted an eyelash when I took hills on the highway going home. Lots of power never before imagined! New rear Brakes feel great, new axle joints, everything looks and feels beefier and drives like a dream. It also sounds different - beefier sound than before - driving down the street people will hear me coming - sound like a truck now! Maybe I can do a couple of rubber burns too when I get the feeling!

Well worth the money spent to do the Dana 44 conversion and at the same time replace all those worn out parts to make my Jeep safe and drivable ... most important I don't have to worry any more ..... having a much stronger rear Dana 44 (Finally!). I am ready for anything now!

Buck advised me I have to drive it normally (no wheeling) for 500 miles until the Yukon gears break in - after that the gear oil needs changing - plus by then my front axle tube seals should arrive from 4WD and we can install those instead of the OEM crummy ones. Then it should be ready to wheel again.

I took a few pics -front and rear diffs showing - many thanks to both Buck and Matt - you guys rock! Thanks everyone else for putting up with me during this time!

Anyone interested in a "gently used" rear Dana 35 axle??? It is at my house now.

[Modeler]

Looks great Carol! Congratulations! Hope to see it soon.

[fluffernutter]

I agree Carol. After drIving it last night it performs so much better now!