Baystate Jeepers

Well, it's taken longer than I thought (nothing new with a Jeep!) but the replacement D30 is finally under the Heep and working!


Angle shoot. There's a truss for the long side tube in there somewhere!


Tie rod is nice and high mounted over the knuckles. Draglink and trackbar angles are practically equal. All the components are a snug fit over the axle, but everything clears! I didn't notice any bumpsteer during last nights test drive.


Driver's side knuckle assembly. Look close and you can see where I gusseted the inner "C". I also rerouted the control cable for the OX to keep it out of harms way.


One of the new spring perches I fabbed out of 3/16 square tube, 3" black pipe, and 1/4" plate. The springs got moved back 3/4" to help clear the tierod at full lock. The lower shock mount is now double shear using a 1/2" bolt (no more bar pins!)

There's a little tweaking left to do (bump stops, new shocks, etc...) but I can't wait to get it out on the trails!

Now lets tally the bill......

HP Dana 30 with JCR OTK 1-ton steering, new Moog ball joints on one side, and good unit bearings/shafts $250.00
Steel for spring mounts, axle sleeves, truss, gussets, and plating LCA mounts $90.00
New tie rod end at pitman arm $22.00 (GM replacement parts are CHEAP!)
JKS LCA mini skids $25.00
JCR Offroad sway bar axle mounts $34.00
Axle shaft and pinion seals $15.00
Jam nut, tapered insert for pitman arm, and having Lou re-tap the too long draglink tube $40.00
Abrasives for the grinder $9.00 (gotta love Harbor Freight!)
Paint $10.00
Asst hardware $2.00
Time to do it.... Don't even want to think about it!!!!!!!!!!!
Being able to say "I built most of it"..... PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations! Looks like you did a very nice job.

Orange?

Nice John.... Routing the cable through the C looks a little odd to me...

JW

Looks good John! What's that red thingy between the TRE and knuckle mount?

Joe, at least we'll know which rocks are the one I've hit! Heck, I'm still thinking of doing the whole Heep that color

Jon, with the gusset on the lower part of the inner C running the cable no longer was feasable. It actually clears everything and is less apt to get pinched by a rock.

Tony, that red thingy is actually a poly spacer that gets used instead of a regular grease boot. The inverted T steering is known to have linkage roll when turning. The spacer still seals the rod end and prevents the dreaded roll.

Looks good! Cant wait to see it out on the trail!!

Now that the OX cable is really exposed, are you worried about smashing on a rock?

Not worried at all!!! It's actually less exposed than it used to be when I had run it under the axle between the LCA mount and inner C. The tierod helps protect it some and it's routing now has some give to it. I had crushed a cable way back when at Paragon when it was routed under the axle.