I'm planning out what direction I'm gonna go with my XJ. I plan to end up on 37s...eventually and because of that I would like to build my Jeep accordingly. thus would trussing a D30 and putting money into my stock axle be a smart route to go(it is a disco axle so the tubes are stronger than non-disco tubes)

or should I buy a full-width D44, cut it down and put that under my XJ for 37s?

I will obviously plan on running lockers and probably have a 4:1 kit by that point in time.

Opinions and constructive criticism are more than welcome.

 

The disco axles are actually weaker since the tube is not solid and the 30 won't hold up to 37s even with chromo axles if you actually wheel it. Get a waggy 44 and you won't have to narrow it because they are the same width as what you got, 60.5".

 

i would imagine running 37s you would want to go with a d44. well i would anyway. what kinda wheeling do u plan on w this rig?

 

Negatory Optimus. Don't put a dime into that D30 if you're planning on 37's and a locker. HP D44 or bigger. Even then, you will need to build that 44 to the ***** to prevent breakage.

Here's a good guide;

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthrea...xles+for+rocks

And another;

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthrea...t=dana+44+tech

 

If I get a D44 I I'd like to be able to go a few inches wider than stock to help keep the COG under control. I don't want to go all the way to full widths but would like to go wider than stock.
I plan on beating the hell out of it. Mostly rocks and riding trails. I'm not too far from places like Rausch Creek(about 5 hours) and various other ORPs. And trips to moab or the rubicon trail would hopefully become bi-annual events for me.

I know that if I stay small and plan for say 33s I'll only want to go bigger eventually. 37s are really big for an XJ and I think that will keep me happy for a good long time.

if I get Waggy 44s that requires a change in lug pattern correct?

 

Where in the world have you been? We need more people like you on CF

 

Meh, I've been over on NAXJA, Pirate, and my local forum. Go ask this same question (about your build) on Pirate and watch what happens. This about sums it up ---> LOL.

 

Thats why I stay away from NAXJA and Pirate. From my experience and that of others most people over there tend to be douchebags. There may be less experience here at CF but that is slowly changing and the people are a hell of alot nicer and more helpful. I'd **** too many people off on NAXJA and Pirate anyways.

All I see are more and more reasons for me to buy a welder. Now to find the money to do that(if you haven't figured this out already, I like to plan ahead and don't plan to be on 37s anytime soon) I've considered building the D30 and keeping it small and then selling the 30 when I'm ready to go bigger but I figure I might as well do the work once and build a 44 out of the box.

 

Pirate yes, NAXJA no. I've been on NAXJA for almost 4 yrs and it's treated me very well. They can be a little hard on you, granted. But it's been a huge benefit because it forces you to do a lot of research, searching through old build threads and posts, to try and find an answer on your own first, then ask the question. You learn a lot more that way than just constantly being spoon-fed answers. You just need to be a little thick-skinned is all. Now Pirate, LOL, that's an entirely different animal. I don't post over there, just read and read and read. Don't get me wrong, CF is a great forum and will only continue to get better. But in my experience over the last 4 yrs, there is no better XJ tech on the net than Pirate and NAXJA.

 

Yes the waggy is a dif bolt pattern but get a Isuzu Rodeo 44 rear (with disc) to match and some 6 lug steelies and you're good to go. I went with full width 44 and 60s with 8 inch wheels with 4" of bs and my track width is somewhere in the neighborhood of 78-79". That's only about 6" wider than I was with stock axles. Wheel spacers and adaptors are always an option.

 

I agree with NAXJA and Pirate having terrific XJ tech. Sometimes there's so much BS in threads on Pirate that I give up reading. Or there's so much technical information that goes completely above and beyond anything the normal reader needs that its a big turn-off. I haven't spent much time on NAXJA mainly because I've spent most of my time here on CF. trying to branch out but life is crazy busy right now.

 

Didn't care for how NAXJA edited my post so I quit the site.

 

You quit the site...over one post?

As to your previous post. I'd probably get a Ford D44 for the front and cut it down and then a Waggy D44 in the rear. or potentially an XJ D44 thats been trussed.

 

Understandable. By the way Optimus, I meant to ask you...

What are your plans for the rear? You could build an XJ D44 with a 35 spline Detroit or ARB and run chromoly shafts and be "ok" on 37's if you stay out of the throttle and don't get stupid in the rocks. However, the general rule of thumb is, once you hit the 37" mark, you need a D60 in the rear for any kind of serious wheeling. What's your plan?

 

This thread is more of a dream that I'd like to see come to pass than reality in the future as of right now. If I'm ever going to go through with it there will be much planning and research done.

I'd rather not go D60, the loss of clearance isn't worth it to me. I know I've seen people shave them down to reduce that but I'd like to keep it D44 in the rear.

To supply power to all of this(I feel that this is a very relevant part of what I'd plan to do) I'm looking at a Cummins QSB3.3, which makes 115hp and 300ft-lbs of Tq stock at 1400rpm. With tuning and some work I can see 350+ft-lbs of torque being a very reachable number. With all that power at 1400 rpm going deep into gears wouldn't be as much of a requirement. From my understanding in a D44, when you put big tires on them and run Chromoly Shafts the weak point becomes the ring and pinion. the shallower the gears, the stronger the ring and pinion are.

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on any point here. I'm also not trying to be a competition rig, this would be purely for pleasure/recreation.