To stretch or not to stretch?

[Sj's TJ]

I need some opinions and doing a stretch front end on the TJ. I picked up 3 axles. A Dana 44 with ARB locker, 4.88 gears and upgraded shafts for the rear. In addition I got 2 HP D30s. One with matching 4.88 gears and Aussie locker, but in a stretched and trussed setup. The other is an empty housing. Either I need to go to the stretched setup or swap the gears over to the other housing. I imagine I would need to do more to run the stretched setup. Thoughts?


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[Bigmac]

I need some opinions and doing a stretch front end on the TJ. I picked up 3 axles. A Dana 44 with ARB locker, 4.88 gears and upgraded shafts for the rear. In addition I got 2 HP D30s. One with matching 4.88 gears and Aussie locker, but in a stretched and trussed setup. The other is an empty housing. Either I need to go to the stretched setup or swap the gears over to the other housing. I imagine I would need to do more to run the stretched setup. Thoughts?


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Trussed sure, but what's a stretched front axle look like exactly? There's a reason most guys stretch the rear and not the front. From what I understand the front is a nightmare and you can really only get like 3 or 4 inches for a metric shit ton of work.

Custom steering if not full hydro being the biggest obstacle.

 

[Sj's TJ]

Trussed sure, but what's a stretched front axle look like exactly? There's a reason most guys stretch the rear and not the front. From what I understand the front is a nightmare and you can really only get like 3 or 4 inches for a metric shit ton of work.

Custom steering if not full hydro being the biggest obstacle.

That’s what I was thinking. He basically welded on new, longer spring/shock mounts and such. Here is a picture of the guys Jeep that I bought the axles from:

I am heavily leaning towards just switching the gears over to the regular HP Dana 30. Shouldn’t be to expensive as they are out of the vehicle.


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[Bigmac]

I am heavily leaning towards just switching the gears over to the regular HP Dana 30. Shouldn’t be to expensive as they are out of the vehicle.
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At least you know where the end of that rabbit hole is... That's the route I'd go. 600 bucks vs potentially thousands.

 

[astjp2]

Just dont stretch the front, I did it on a YJ, pain in the ass to get the steering right, if you want a stretch, buy an LJ.

 

[Sj's TJ]

Just dont stretch the front, I did it on a YJ, pain in the ass to get the steering right, if you want a stretch, buy an LJ.

Thanks for the info. That’s what I thought to, just wanted to confirm my suspicions.


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[Sj's TJ]

One other follow up question. Do any of you know if I will need a different length front drive shaft with the HP Dana 30?

Thanks

 

[Bigmac]

One other follow up question. Do any of you know if I will need a different length front drive shaft with the HP Dana 30?

Thanks

Vice a low pinion 30? No you'll be just fine with the first one, length wise. As long as the yoke is the same it should bolt right up.

 

[Sj's TJ]

Vice a low pinion 30? No you'll be just fine with the first one, length wise. As long as the yoke is the same it should bolt right up.

Thanks @Bigmac !!

 

[Goatman]

One more question if it pleases the court... what fenders are they running on that TJ?

 

[Alex01]

One more question if it pleases the court... what fenders are they running on that TJ?

To me they look like factory fenders that have been cut to look like flat fenders.

 

[Sj's TJ]

One more question if it pleases the court... what fenders are they running on that TJ?[emoji2956]

Not sure, but they just look cut:

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[Goatman]

Oh, not leagle in the great communist state of New York. Need to find a good looking way to extend my stock width fender and flair at least another inch.

 

[Fouledplugs]

To me they look like factory fenders that have been cut to look like flat fenders.

Not sure, but they just look cut:
View attachment 97553


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They are factory fenders that have been cut, essentially making it a flat fender.

Flat fenders are actually only required when stretching the front, allowing room for front tire up travel when stretched.

 

[Fouledplugs]

I need some opinions and doing a stretch front end on the TJ. I picked up 3 axles. A Dana 44 with ARB locker, 4.88 gears and upgraded shafts for the rear. In addition I got 2 HP D30s. One with matching 4.88 gears and Aussie locker, but in a stretched and trussed setup. The other is an empty housing. Either I need to go to the stretched setup or swap the gears over to the other housing. I imagine I would need to do more to run the stretched setup. Thoughts?


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https://www.tntcustoms.com/jeep_par...rotation_kit_97_06_wrangler_tj_lj_tnt_customs

 

[Sj's TJ]

I’m getting the gears swapped on Thursday and then will be selling the stretched housing. This kit further validated my decision [emoji1787][emoji1787]


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[astjp2]

https://www.tntcustoms.com/jeep_par...rotation_kit_97_06_wrangler_tj_lj_tnt_customsView attachment 97749

Yeah, go ahead with that, and let me know how your radiator interferes, and how the pitman arm doesn't quite align up...even with a body lift.

 

[Fouledplugs]

Yeah, go ahead with that, and let me know how your radiator interferes, and how the pitman arm doesn't quite align up...even with a body lift.

It states in the description, “Sets you up to achieve a 3 inch front stretch with additional mods.”

After reading it, I took away that the TNT kit is just one solution(there may be more kits out there from different companies) for moving the steering box. I also read that this kit “sets you up” for a stretch and it also mentions the steering box stretch kit will need additonal mods to fulfill the full 3 inch stretch.

I wasn't under the impression the TNT I linked was all you needed to do a 3 inch stretch. It leaves out a stretched ds, longer links, brake lines, and of course instructions on how to do some custom work to make it fit. My thought was not that it was a bolt on kit.

 

[astjp2]

I ran into serious problems with the lower steering shaft and lines hitting the radiator, even with a 3" body lift, had to notch the radiator to get it to not rub...more headache than it is worth. Just because you can doesnt mean you should...as @mrblaine said, its much easier to stretch the rear than the front and that is why he prefers to stretch the rear.. For me it was a hard lesson to learn.