And a busted rockwell

 

I hope I didnt sound like I have an unlimited budget guys. I wont be dropping a ton of cash on this thing all at once. I'm going to buy the rear axle and build it first, then the front and then order the lift. It will eventually get a 4link rear setup. I may go ahead and do it in the beginning.


I'm not a full on fabricator. I do have a buddy that's pretty good but he stays pretty busy so I'm kind of looking for bolt in stuff to save time.


I want to drive it in the shop on Friday in stock form and drive it out Saturday evening with lift, wheels, tires and axles. Do I have to? No its not my only ride. I did buy it mainly for a trail rig and hunting rig and well now I drive it more than my truck.


I just want something I can drive up to Arkansas and do some wheeling and drive home. Granted I will be way more likely to take it easier than some probably would. I just want to know that I'll have good parts under it if I do decide to beat on it. Here in Mississippi we really don't have anywhere to do any real crawling. I may decide to trailer it around some and really beat on it. I wouldn't feel it to be as necessary to trailer it with big parts.

 

So not a crawler and 35s your going way over kill on the axles then.The stock dana 30 and chrysler 8.25 beefed up will be more then enough axles for you.And not rock crawling that rear 4 link is way over kill also.You could buy a zj or wj both came stock with rear coil springs and a v8 option,A good size lift and beef up the stock axles in that would do what you want and a lot cheaper then what you got planned.

 

it will get some crawling action just not every weekend. its about a 5 hour drive to the closest to place to do any crawling but when I do go I plan on making weekend trips.


I don't wanna drop a bunch of money in the stock axles when I could put $800-1200 more into something that will hold whatever power and tire I can throw at it.


Im a drag racer at heart so power is my thing. I could probably do everything I want with the 4.0 offroad wise. but the motors suck IMO.

 

ls swap it

 

oh its getting an LS swap for sure. I already have a 5.7 shortblock. I'm gunna put rods and pistons in it and put some decent heads on it( maybe a set of tea 243s) and do get my ole buddy down at engine power systems in baton rouge to hook me up with one of his "cheater" cams. I already have a Fast 90 intake with a direct port system plumbed in that was going on my 408 for my foxbody, but its getting a different setup.


main reason for wanting a little overkill on axles. I can see 600rwhp getting nasty with 35s on an 8.25. A 9" isn't out of the question yet tho.

 

I hate to say it but if your not trying to take some really tight trails,Why not start with a full size rig ?A bronco or k5 would be easier to axle swap and both can run a small block or big block or even a diesel if you want.

 

Its primarily a hunting rig. Most of the roads on my property and the lease I'm in are rather narrow roads. The lease also has some pretty bad hills and wash outs that get pretty ruff during the rainy season. The XJ fit the bill perectly as a lightweight narrow vehicle that still had enough room to store my stuff in the back.


Honestly a D44 should be suffiecient for the power level but why not over build a little and have room for more tire or motor down the road? D44s don't seem to be much cheaper if any to build or at least from what I'm seeing.

 

A dana 44 is only good tell about a 35 inch tire same thing as your stock axles.I would just beef up what you got its easier and cheaper then axle swaps.

 

I just can't see that little dana 30 handling a possible 600whp tho. If I was intending on staying with the stock 4.0 I wouldn't worry that much about it.

once I get a bigger shop built I'm hoping to eventually tool up and build a full blown rock bouncer.

 

People v8 swap wranglers and run up to 37s on the stock axles which are the same as the xjs.Its all about the driver and picking your line.If your a lead foot you'll break any axle if you try hard enough.I had a f350 on 37s i snapped a axle shaft or two in that dana 60 being a lead foot.If i had a front wheel pinned i though i could floor my way out of it.Well that don't work i should have backed up and picked a better line.

 

600 to the wheels I'll eat my hat if you can show me those dyno numbers on 35" tires


you're building a 600hp hunting rig this thread is smelling more and more fishy


I dare you to put a D44 in there


gee I wonder what the weight difference is between a f350 and a Cherokee breaking 30 spline stubs under a full size is very common