BennettXJ
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Raleigh, NC
Due to some recent financial issues, my FW project has been scrapped. so now its back to the drawing board...heres my scenario:
98 XJ, 4.0/aw4/242, hp30 (4.88, lockrite), 8.8 (4.88, lockrite), 33s (soon to be 35s) on about 6-7" of lift (longarms). moderate wheeling, mostly trails (not much mud or sand, few hill climbs).
the 8.8 is pretty new, and ive had no trouble with it at all. its a little narrow, sure, but i like that it tracks just inside the front wheels. the 30 has been less pleasant. ive gone through 4 sets of hubs/bearing in it in the last year, and the steering on it is getting really obnoxious (upgraded tierod, but bad angles with drag link) so i wanted to put in a hp44 front...
since i dont have the time or money to go FW, its going to have to be narrow-track (i guess in the 57-59" wms-wms range?). so whats the best route i should take? get a late 70s F100/150 or EB and shorten it? other vehicles any better? no chebby, i dont wanna go d300 or anything...should i just go ahead and convert all corners to 5 on 5.5 so i dont need to mess with hubs? for the 8.8, id just get dutchman shafts i guess, and have them drill my rotors, good plan? RE bracket kit seems to be the norm, i dont think i want to try and fab those up (thatd be my first real fab project outside of minor alterations and stuff), any alternatives though? im stuck with the 1/2 ton 1-piston calipers now i guess, right? will i still need a new MC to push the system?
sorry for all the newb questions, i searched some, but most people already had their minds made up, im starting from square one now!
thanks for any help
-Bennett
98 XJ, 4.0/aw4/242, hp30 (4.88, lockrite), 8.8 (4.88, lockrite), 33s (soon to be 35s) on about 6-7" of lift (longarms). moderate wheeling, mostly trails (not much mud or sand, few hill climbs).
the 8.8 is pretty new, and ive had no trouble with it at all. its a little narrow, sure, but i like that it tracks just inside the front wheels. the 30 has been less pleasant. ive gone through 4 sets of hubs/bearing in it in the last year, and the steering on it is getting really obnoxious (upgraded tierod, but bad angles with drag link) so i wanted to put in a hp44 front...
since i dont have the time or money to go FW, its going to have to be narrow-track (i guess in the 57-59" wms-wms range?). so whats the best route i should take? get a late 70s F100/150 or EB and shorten it? other vehicles any better? no chebby, i dont wanna go d300 or anything...should i just go ahead and convert all corners to 5 on 5.5 so i dont need to mess with hubs? for the 8.8, id just get dutchman shafts i guess, and have them drill my rotors, good plan? RE bracket kit seems to be the norm, i dont think i want to try and fab those up (thatd be my first real fab project outside of minor alterations and stuff), any alternatives though? im stuck with the 1/2 ton 1-piston calipers now i guess, right? will i still need a new MC to push the system?
sorry for all the newb questions, i searched some, but most people already had their minds made up, im starting from square one now!
thanks for any help
-Bennett