Alright so I got some good confirmations today.

#1 transmission is getting dropped off tomorrow
#2 wheels and tires were shipped out today and should be here tomorrow
#3 just ordered a SYE and rear driveshaft from Adams. Should be here on Friday
#4 new clutch, pressure plate, flywheel and TO bearing will be here by Friday
#5 still no luck finding a Dana 30 locally

What this means is that I might have a busy weekend. It is supposed to rain though... So I might just have to make some room in the garage so that the Jeep can fit. There is no way I will kick the Bug out to the rain so I will have to make them both fit. Time to clean the garage!

Looks like quite a bit of work ahead of you. Can't believe you're having a hard time finding a front axle. They're not too bad to find around here. Maybe just throw a D44 at it then :brows:

Well there has been one hanging around on craigslist that is a really good deal. Its fully trussed, comes with aftermarket track bar and steering for $800. BUT it is setup for a drivers side 3 link and has 3.55 gears. And to top it off, its about 1.5 hours away. If I could still use the factory 4 link, I would be all over it.

I did find another good deal while searching. Front and rear gears (4.10s) plus a front carrier for $240. Says its for a 2000 Grand Cherokee.

Edit - read the ad again. Wrong kit.

Somehow this happened. Didnt think 2 cars would ever fit in the garage. Right in time for rain. Need to get the front window replaced before it goes back outside. Leaks like crazy.


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...f4a8fb9757.jpg

What part of southern California are you in? I see dana 30's for sale on craigslist pretty often. Check out the inland empire CL

Im in san bernardino by cal state sb. As far as i have found, there is only one on cl right now and thats the modified one. If i can, i am going to check it out this weekend. Steering, track bar and a complete trussed dana 30, might just be worth the $. Would have to add on the 4th mount to keep the factory 4 link going but no big deal. Not ready to invest in a 3 link right now.

I'll definitely keep an eye out for you, I'm not too far away. Otherwise why not just go pull one from a yard?

Thanks that would be awesome!

Yes I could go to a local yard and pull one but that is no fun. No fun at all. Especially since it is raining and the yard will be a swamp for the next week. I would pay someone at least $100 to pull it for me haha!

I dont know how I did it but the Jeep is in the garage! Right in time for the rain. At least I dont have to worry about the front window leaking now. What this also means is its time to pop the trans out and officially start the 4wd conversion!

Attachment 305026

Tonight, I put the wheels and tires on. Quick recap for those who didnt read, 31" BFG KO2 tires and steel d window wheels. Nothing fancy. Here is the before and after. Both at night, sorry. Dont get to be home in the daylight that much.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...a59b3500c6.jpg


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...2c44b0804a.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...4f5c368001.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...06e2ac3677.jpg

So at this point we all know the tires are going to rub. So the question is, what direction do I go from here? I was thinking a set of Bushwacker flats would solve most of the rubbing issues. Just not sure if I need to lift more. Currently around 2". LCOG is more my style though. Thoughts?

The flat flares would be the way to go, they don't stick out as much as the cut out flares...

As I was sitting here typing away at work, a nice size box found its way in to my office. Looks like it came from some Adam guy in Vegas. So I opened it.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...022ba4056b.jpg

Looks like a very nice driveshaft to me!

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...fe4b0f38ab.jpg

After digging a bit more in the box, I found this nice SYE kit, a shirt and a sticker. Thanks Adams! You guys are great to deal with and will be getting an order for the front shaft pretty soon.

Looking good man.
Throwing in another vote for the flat flares, the extra black would really bring in some color coordination.

I got good and bad news for my weekends worth of work. My trans finally came in but somehow they forgot to put the shifter case on... so hopefully I get that half on Monday. I also plan on tearing into the t-case this weekend. I will rebuild it if needed. Sye will also be getting installed. This is my first time diving in to a t-case so should be fun!

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...b46ac6fae0.jpg

Next up is the driveline. As stated before, I got an Adams driveshaft and sye kit. This should be all I need to finish the rear half. (Besides gears)

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...5e5fe02a98.jpg

I dont like how the clutch feels and engages. It feels like a solid hub 6 puck. So I got a new one. Pretty sure the old one is close to done. I didnt want to deal with resurfacing the flywheel so I just the whole package to speed up install.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...53f4c79fd8.jpg

I am going to try to get the trans out this weekend. No guarantees. I also think I found the engine leak. Rear main. So I will need to fix that before driving it. Dont want to get oil on the new clutch. Why couldnt it be like an LS engine? It would take 2 min to change once the flywheel was off!

Thanks guys! 2 votes for flat flares so far. Just sucks how expensive they are.

Napier makes them slightly cheaper.
I'm not sure of the install procedure difference though, or if there is any.

Don't forget to support your engine from tilting when you pull the trans, although I like to lower it enough to inspect the freeze plug while I'm back there as well.

MMMmmmMmm progress. Delicious. The Tcase is easy to work on, you'll see once you crack it open. Not much to it except a bunch of snap rings

Ok guys. Running in to problems way too early on the t-case. First step was to get this dust sheild off. It wont budge. Any secrets to getting it off or is it time to bust out the cutoff wheel?

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...18deb530c7.jpg

Chisel and a hammer did it for me, otherwise take some cuts on it with a dremel.

Cutting did the trick! Popped off like nothing. I do have to say that I completely hate all the snap rings. They suck. But anyways, new shaft is in. Calling it a night.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...0991934bd3.jpg

Its pretty much all back together! Turned out to be pretty easy. It spins in every gear so I hope that means I did it right.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...6c882ab0a4.jpg

See, told ya it wasn't that bad. Once you crack it open you're like "that's it?". Lol.

Yep you were right. I thought there was going to be a whole lot more going on in there. Its crazy how simple of a design it is. Now I just need the back half of my trans case so I can put them together and in! Need 4wd!

Note to self for next time doing this, get the right snap ring pliers. Would have cut the time in half!

I have a big set of snap-ring pliers specifically for doing SYE kits. It comes in handy

Good work! I'll be doing mine this weekend hopefully. Everyone always says get the "right" snap ring pliers, but never really clarifies...what are the right ones?

This is the more common style of snap ring pliers. They are not what you need.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...8dc3bf84dc.jpg

You need the ones with something like a flat tip like these. There are 2 different size snap rings on the shaft so you will most likely need 2 different pliers.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...12c11b9890.jpg

Few more updates. Still collecting parts. While searching on CL for the dana 30 (which I still cant find), I found some other stuff. So I will be getting some Rubicon Express front fixed arms, Bilstein 5100 shocks and some real 3" coils. This should get me by for a while until I am ready to do the custom long arm setup.

In other news, me and my Bug made it in our first magazine! While its not a big magazine company, I am still proud! Top right of the picture for those of you who dont know what a Bug looks like haha. Too bad they said it has a turbo when it really has a blower...

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...7908098514.jpg

LSJ powered bug?

Yes, no, kinda, sorta but not really. Its a combination of about 4 different Ecotecs. My own creation. Its got the LSJ blower which has been modified for a LS1 throttle body. Then it has a 2.4 LE5 block. Then an older style 2.2 crank. Followed by a newer style individual coil 2.2 head. Add in custom pistons and rods and you got a Frankenstein destroked 2.4L. Comes out roughly to 2.3L. The last 2.2 I had in it peaked power around 7800 rpms which wasn't high enough for some tracks. So I am hoping this one spins around 8500 rpms. Haven't put the new motor in yet so we will see! My first race of the season is in a few months so I need to get the Jeep done so I can work on the Bug again!

Found a transmission under the xj tonight... dont know how it got there. Must have fallen out.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...372680263f.jpg

:pinch: Hate when that happens. The front axle/suspension fell out of mine.

I sure hate it when that happens.
Atleast it appears to be functional and may bring some small resale value.

Congrats on the Beetle victory, I've been working on one for about 5 years, when I get tired of rust repair I just find another hobby.
Happened to be Jeeps this time.
Sold my sand rail recently.... and my fiberlass buggy oh and alot of other vw beetles and baja's.
Just tired of looking at them I guess.

Ya it was the wierdest thing. I came home and everything was fine. Then 2 hours later i find the trans laying on the ground. Wtf! Lack, glad im not the only one this happens to. Is it a socal problem?

Constantine - thanks and glad to see another vw person on here! I grew up with my dad restoring them in the 80s and 90s. Been around sand rails my whole life too. Went from stock vw motor to a turbo vw, then to quad 4, then to twin turbo LS, just to finish with a twin turbo v12 bmw (all my fathers). Now its all about side by sides...

Sweet! I just got rid of my LNF cobalt SS sedan. Was a good engine and quick but the rest of the car, well, it was a cobalt.... I honestly liked my SRT4 neon better lol.

And did you say twin turbo LS

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...c8d23ca80c.jpg

I just might have... Kinda have to see them everyday. The smell of burnt race gas is just horrible isnt it??? So is the sound of a 2500hp car on the dyno. I dont know how I do it everyday.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...81350fca23.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...225c664224.jpg


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...cc99e722bd.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...0188b4fb80.jpg

I can't take all the pure offroad custom....
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...c44122c56b.jpg
Aw man I was trying not to do that mid sentence

Sadly this stuff no longer excites me. I have been around it for way too long and have seen pretty much all shapes and sizes (of vehicles). It reminds me of work! But when customers ask me to be co-pilot during a race, hang out in the pits or take their car for a spin, that puts a smile on my face! Another cool thing is that I get to see and hear things about movies that are coming out. We have been on board with the Fast and Furious franchise since the 3rd movie came out. So I get to see some of the cars in person before anyone else does.

Fun fact for the day (Jeep related too!). If you guys have seen Batman vs Superman, we were part of that too. You know when you see the Renegades flying through the city? Well they are actually 2.4L Ecotec powered and converted to RWD. We had them at the shop about 3 years ago. And the Batmobile for the next movie is LS powered...

Very cool, love the smell of burnt race fuel. Used to be around it all the time when I raced motocross.