building the bullet proof D30 housing

[Mr.OverKill]

start with a D30 and sleeve it with 3 inch OD tube then build stronger bracketry adding the personal touch.

these are the LCA brackets

all tacked on

still need gussets and weld out and the truss for the UCA attach points over the dif and on the passenger side will be 2X4 square tube cut to shape and fourned to fit the dif housing ( whitch has been rotated as well) the lower control arm mounts were raised 3/4 of an inch so the arms them selves will deflect the impact of the stray rock pluss they will be skidded too. alot of work done and more to come but i should be done soon enough for this season.

[tealcherokee]

so instead of polishing a turd.... your plating a turd?

[88flexj]

If you are going through the trouble of new brackets, why not put them on a worthy axle? I am not flaming you,it's just that the housing is only part of the problem with the turdy.

[gorp]

are you going to get an better shafts.

[IntrepidXJ]

nice work.

not everyone needs a bigger axle in the front of their rig....polishing the 30 isn't always a lost cause.

[cassio]

Originally Posted by IntrepidXJ

nice work.

not everyone needs a bigger axle in the front of their rig....polishing the 30 isn't always a lost cause.

i totally agree if you already have it and im guessing its already geared
not everyone has the money to go axle shoping and start all over from scratch

cas

[KarlVP]

I just trussed mine on my TJ from Knuckle to Knuckle with Dom tube. I incorporated the LCA mounts into it. For the pass mount, I made a little plate that works pretty well. It fits inside the mount to give it strength.

I know this is my TJ on an XJ board. But at least it is a HP XJ 30 under my rig.

[EricsXJ]

Nice job.

Is the 3" OD tube an exact fit around the D30 tube? I ask because I have had a similar idea of using half a tube welded to the bottom half of the D30 to act as a skid/truss. Any opinion as to how well this would work?

I've got too much invested in my 30... I may as well keep it.

[CanMan]

Originally Posted by EricsXJ

Is the 3" OD tube an exact fit around the D30 tube?

Depends on the thickness of the wall on the 3" OD tube. Nice work Troy.

[NXJ]

Holy (chr)moly! What brand and ratio (teeth count) ring gear is that? You got me curious, proper gear pattern?

I don't see how sleeving the axle tubes will lessen housing flex (or do anything at all?), either.

[Roxtar]

Originally Posted by NXJ

Holy (chr)moly! What brand and ratio (teeth count) ring gear is that? You got me curious, proper gear pattern?

I don't see how sleeving the axle tubes will lessen housing flex (or do anything at all?), either.

4.56. Motive Gear.
Everything set up perfectly.
35" Creepy Crawlers

[IntrepidXJ]

Originally Posted by kid4lyf

35" Creepy Crawlers

with my driving, i wouldn;t build a d30 if i decided to run 35's. however, it is perfectly acceptable to me to build it for the 33's I run

[NXJ]

Originally Posted by kid4lyf

4.56. Motive Gear.
Everything set up perfectly.
35" Creepy Crawlers

Hmm, what did the pinion look like after this incident?

[Roxtar]

Originally Posted by NXJ

Hmm, what did the pinion look like after this incident?

Rough but better than the ring gear.

[Jump This]

You gotta' remember Troy works for cheap!
I can understand the desire to build something that you already have.
You have the axel..locker....housing....its just you want it stronger....you have a metal supplier...you know how to weld....heck, your even somewhat accomplished at fab work.....why not add a bit of truss here....some better mounts there....and viola! You got one fancy (insert present axel here )
We know its not as strong as (insert 'next step' axel here.) but I learned a bit and I like working on my (or in Troys case, someone elses) junk!
Yeah....in the long run you probably end up with a Hi-9 because you like quality...but the trip oftentimes is more memorable than the destination.
Rick R