Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator

New rear axle

Old Pueblo

TJ Enthusiast
Original poster
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Lifetime Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2021
Messages
199
Location
Silver City NM / Tucson Arizona / Houston Texas
Mr rear stock 44 gave up the ghost so I bought a Fusion 60. I was going to buy one from Currie, to match my front but Currie didn't want my money.

I'm not going to do The swap until the Fall. I'm in the ghetto third world swamp of Houston now, and I'm too old and broken to want to drown in my sweat. Any way, here it sits waiting.

Fusion was great to deal with and the axle was packaged very well.
I bought an output flange from JB Conversion since I was running a 1310 on the TC and the fusion has a 1350. It seemed counter intuitive to run a smaller universal on the TC end. I already spoke to Tom Woods about getting my driveshaft modified. They said they won't reuse a single part of it, so it will have to find a new home.
I may repair the 44 and sell it. A wrecking yard doesn't seem fitting for a TJ Dana 44.
I've been thinking about Bilstein 33-185514 rear shocks to replace my leaking OME's... Opinions? I hated the ride of the Ome before the started leaking they're way too stiff.
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Nice! I was just looking at their stuff today actually. Looks like a great product!
 
Rancho RS5000X and Skyjacker blackmax shocks are popular recommendations here. I have RS5000X’s and will try black maxes eventually in hopes that they are softer.
 
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Rancho RS5000X and Skyjacker blackmax shocks are popular recommendations here. I have RS5000X’s and will try black maxes eventually in hopes that they are softer.

After reading some reviews I bought a pair of the black max. They are reported to be soft, nice that the were half the price of ARB too.
 
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A 60? You going places?

God, I hope so. I hate Texas with a passion. It's funny people born here, and think traveling is going to New Orleans, have no idea that it's a ghetto third world swamp, and literally everywhere else on earth is an improvement.
Also yes, I'm retiring soon and want to put together my last Jeep. I'm going home to the mountains of the west.
 
God, I hope so. I hate Texas with a passion. It's funny people born here, and think traveling is going to New Orleans, have no idea that it's a ghetto third world swamp, and literally everywhere else on earth is an improvement.
Also yes, I'm retiring soon and want to put together my last Jeep. I'm going home to the mountains of the west.

I’m from TX. Lived there 45 years except 1.5 yrs during college. We moved W and it’s beautiful. We love the people in TX, but we were rural people and always hated the cities, and we’d never move back. I describe it as an armpit now. Two good wheelin spots in TX; Wolf Caves and Hidden Falls. That’s it.
 
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God, I hope so. I hate Texas with a passion. It's funny people born here, and think traveling is going to New Orleans, have no idea that it's a ghetto third world swamp, and literally everywhere else on earth is an improvement.
Also yes, I'm retiring soon and want to put together my last Jeep. I'm going home to the mountains of the west.

Well, if Houston (or DFW or Austin) is the sole representation of Texas, I also hate Texas with a passion. Luckily there are other, nicer places in TX. And luckily for us in LA, better places than New Orleans 🤢. Though I don’t blame you at all for wanting to be further West!

Please do give us an update on how you like the Black Max shocks down the road!
 
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Looking good. Thankfully the rear is a fairly straight forward swap compared to the front.

East Coast Gear & Supply makes the axles for Fusion.

BTW, I love Texas. I travel there several times a year for work.
 
Made some progress today.

Even more today....
My upper control arms are as short as they will go to keep the pinion angle correct and keep the diff cover out of the gas tank. Tomorrow, ill install bar pin eliminators, and my hockey pucks if they show.

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Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator