Transfer case pan raise after SYE?

[RPDNLV]

2003 Wrangler X
4.0
5 spd manual
3" lift
33" tires
Stock Dana 30 and 35

Previous owner had the stock rear driveshaft and no SYE.
He had the transfer case skid plate lowered 1" with spacers.
I just got an SYE and new drive shaft for the rear axle.
Can I remove the 1" spacers and bring the transfer case pan back to a flat frame mount?

 

[OldBuzzard]

Do you have adjustable rear control arms, and did you point the pinion up in line with the driveshaft?

 

[RPDNLV]

Do you have adjustable rear control arms, and did you point the pinion up in line with the driveshaft?

Negative.
I dropped it off at a shop before going on vacation.
I had a broken transfer case output shaft so I gave it so a shop to take apart since I don't have a place to do that kind of work.
Off Road Warehouse in Las Vegas did an SYE and rear driveshaft. They didn't recommend any additional work.
That looks like the only thing they did.
Stock control arms.
Stock axle.
Stock 3.07 gears.
The driveline is angled up a degree or two at the yoke.

 

[RHanna]

Is the transmission mount correctly connected to the skid plate?

 

[RPDNLV]

That's it.
That's all they did.
SYE on the transfer case.
New driveshaft.

 

[RPDNLV]

Is the transmission mount correctly connected to the skid plate?

Looks like it is.

 

[Rickyd]

This is how the different types of driveshaft should be aligned. It takes adjustable rear control arms for this

 

[Rickyd]

I would get some adjustable rear arms and put the transfercase skid back up. Then align it like the pic. Maybe put the yoke slightly down. .5-1*

 

[Rickyd]

As a previous owner of 3.07 gears i gotta say get rid of them!! 5th is almost unusable and its like you have no first gear. Some 4cyl 4.10 axles for cheap or ideally some 4.56 axles would be best.

 

[RPDNLV]

Looking at a couple videos and reading articles, the driveshaft and pinion angle can be less than 10°.
I don't have a gauge or tool to measure my angles but eyeballing them I'd say I'm in the neighborhood of 2°-5°.
It does drive smooth with no vibration at freeway speeds.
I'll drive it to work tomorrow and see if I have something to measure the angles with.

 

[Rickyd]

Looking at a couple videos and reading articles, the driveshaft and pinion angle can be less than 10°.
I don't have a gauge or tool to measure my angles but eyeballing them I'd say I'm in the neighborhood of 2°-5°.
It does drive smooth with no vibration at freeway speeds.
I'll drive it to work tomorrow and see if I have something to measure the angles with.

I have no idea what you were watching but those degree numbers don't mean anything on an sye tj. Do as i said and point the pinion at the transfercase output. Then play with slightly down.

 

[RPDNLV]

As a previous owner of 3.07 gears i gotta say get rid of them!! 5th is almost unusable and its like you have no first gear. Some 4cyl 4.10 axles for cheap or ideally some 4.56 axles would be best.

That's the next project.
I do need lockers of some sort, at least in the rear axle.
Dana 35's have a bad reputation. I told the shop I wanted some type of mechanical auto locker for the rear and chrome axles. He said don't waste the money.
Instead he recommended a Dana 44 rear axle with E- lockers.
Hmmm...

We'll see.

 

[RPDNLV]

I have no idea what you were watching but those degree numbers don't mean anything on an sye tj. Do as i said and point the pinion at the transfercase output. Then play with slightly down.

It's actually pretty close to that now.
I'll try to get some measurements tomorrow and see where I'm at.
It did drive smooth and steady at 70 mph heading home last night.

 

[LONGJP2]

It's actually pretty close to that now.
I'll try to get some measurements tomorrow and see where I'm at.
It did drive smooth and steady at 70 mph heading home last night.

If there's no vibes, you're good to go.

 

[Woodrow]

That's it.
That's all they did.
SYE on the transfer case.
New driveshaft.

View attachment 449536

View attachment 449537

View attachment 449539

That looks pretty close to correct and the fact that you have no vibes suggests it is as well. So option 1 is don’t fix what isn’t broke as @LONGJP2 said. There are 2 advantages to removing T-case drop: clearance and it looks better. BUT, it may mess up your angles enough to give vibrations. Its not so hard to try it and see. However, be prepared to put the drop back or get adjustable rear arms as @Rickyd said. Angle finders are pretty cheap, btw. Your phone can do OK with it, too.

 

[RPDNLV]

As a previous owner of 3.07 gears i gotta say get rid of them!! 5th is almost unusable and its like you have no first gear. Some 4cyl 4.10 axles for cheap or ideally some 4.56 axles would be best.

That's the plan.
Eventually gear down and add lockers.
Thinking of adding chromolly axles for the rear.

 

[JoseA]

That's the plan.
Eventually gear down and add lockers.
Thinking of adding chromolly axles for the rear.

Cue in Jerry to inform you that 4140 shafts on a dana 35 is a bad idea. You will want 1541H for the Dana 35.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

That's the plan.
Eventually gear down and add lockers.
Thinking of adding chromolly axles for the rear.

Chromo shafts in a stock ‘35 (27 spline) are not strong enough to run a locker - even with smaller tires. The minimum solution for a locker is to do a super 35 upgrade which gives you 30 spline axles shafts along with a locker. You are also good for up to a 35” tire.

 

[RPDNLV]

I have no idea what you were watching but those degree numbers don't mean anything on an sye tj. Do as i said and point the pinion at the transfercase output. Then play with slightly down.

Looks like it's already down slightly (pinion below drive shaft).
I am shopping around for adjustable upper control arms for the rear.
If I remove the 1" spacers from the skid plate that will raise the drive shaft and I would definitely need adjustable control arms then.

Any particular names I should look for when shopping for control arms?
Metalcloak is one of the higher priced names I've seen.
I don't want a cheap knock off brand. But I don't want to pay the highest price either.

 

[RPDNLV]

Cue in Jerry to inform you that 4140 shafts on a dana 35 is a bad idea. You will want 1541H for the Dana 35.

YES!
Awesome tip.
That's the kinda thing I'm looking for on these forums.
Thank you!