Tworley build

[tworley]

Looks like I have a new project coming up.

I'll be picking up 2 HPD30 housings from a local WF member. One from a 92, the other from a 97. The 97 has reinforced control arm brackets (gussets), new artec trackbar bracket, stock knuckles, and unit bearings, bad ball joints on the passenger side, bombshell diff cover, and missing the bracket for the steering dampner. Also a couple tie rod ends, and drag link. The 92 is just that, an empty 92 housing. Plan for this is to use the 97, maybe sell the 92. Ill media blast and repaint the housing and knuckles, maybe upgrade the gearing to 4.88 or 5.13 (maybe). I'll reuse my bearings, rotors, brakes, and axle shafts. Install mini skids. This will be somewhat of a slow build, probably over winter. I want to service it completely with new ball joints, seals, and bushings, etc. Maybe try to regear it myself. Or...go the other way with the 92 and block the vacuum disconnect, and install 3/16 brackets and mini skids, and all the other jazz.

 

[tworley]

Some new, functional goodies coming next week. I went with YJ brake lines, vacuum pump, and copper washers to go along with the new BMB brakes.

 

[tworley]

Finally got my BMB brakes on along with YJ brake lines. Just got done doing the initial break in test. After the cool down and on about the eighth 40mph moderately agressive stop I started to really feel them grab. I'll do 5 more stops in the morning on my way to work.

 

[tworley]

Putted around Grandby on Saturday. Nothing technical, really I wanted to get out of the house and city. Spotted this moose off in the distance. Shot thru my Leupold binoculars.

 

[tworley]

My two HPD30 axles were delivered an hour ago. I also have an artec trackbar mount I am receiving tomorrow. The red diff cover is an alloy brand and is 5/16" thick. Plan with these, like I stated a page back or two, is to media blast, paint, and build up over winter. I'm going to do 3/16" brackets around, mini skids, Johnny joints, and Spicer ball joints. 4.88 or 5.13 gears along with my ARB locker. The other I may put a little money into with stock brackets, ball joints, at least gusset them, and try to sell.

 

[Chris]

Nice score on the HP Dana 30 axles. One of these days I'll put a HP axle in the front of my Rubicon.

 

[tworley]

Nice score on the HP Dana 30 axles. One of these days I'll put a HP axle in the front of my Rubicon.

I paid 200 for the pair. I tried to get them both for 100 but he wouldn't have it. It's not the deal of the century but once I sell the other I think I'll make money back. Im excited to build these, I've hit my yoke plenty of times on the rocks and with the TT I think it will help angles. Plus it's an excuse to gear lower!

 

[Chris]

I paid 200 for the pair. I tried to get them both for 100 but he wouldn't have it. It's not the deal of the century but once I sell the other I think I'll make money back. Im excited to build these, I've hit my yoke plenty of times on the rocks and with the TT I think it will help angles. Plus it's an excuse to gear lower!

At least you didn't get ripped off or anything. Aside from the clearance, I believe the other advantage is the reverse cut (is that right, or is it standard cut?) gears, correct?

I think someone explained it to me once by saying that with a HP axle, the gears weren't trying to push themselves out... or something along those lines.

 

[tworley]

I know the guy well who sold them to me. The one with the red cover has been well abused. These use the coast side of gears since they are reverse cut. So it is stronger.

 

[tworley]

A trip to Holy Cross yesterday with a small group. Its an old mining town at 14k ft. They state the trail is a 7-9 out of 10. This is the hardest trail I have done but along with that it may be my new favorite. Great scenery, very fun obstacles, and historic to boot. We came across two fellows who, the night before, sheered the ears off his stock Dana 30 axle shaft and took out ball joints too. They were in a tough position but manged to make it up yesterday and repair it all. I came down hard on a rock and broke the bottom half of my fan shroud, we think the dynamic load may have caused the engine to move within its bushings which caused the fan to break it apart. My copilot was jjvw, he led me over Mosquito pass on the way home which was a great way to end the day.

 

[tworley]

I believe I am going to go with Artec axle brackets for my hpd30. They are 3/16", include perches, trackbar mount, and steering dampner mount. The sway bar mounts are also 2.75" higher than stock, which would give me the option of flipping my currie steering down the road (if I ever choose to do so). They also offer lower control arm mounts with skids and a single 9/16" bolt hole. This appeals to me since my last two axles had the CAM slots and horseshoes. My current setup is allowing my passenger control arm to slide within that slot, even with johnny joint washers from Black Magic Brakes. The slot has been wallowed out causing the clunk and has also broken the weld on the horseshoe.

 

[Rob5589]

View attachment 52151

Didn't you read the sign? Says no stacking rocks

 

[tworley]

Didn't you read the sign? Says no stacking rocks

Ill be damned if I (or we) know how that got there. His spring was arched sideways in the wrong direction. Backing up spit it back out though!

 

[jjvw]

And of all the people for that to happen to!

 

[jjvw]

Here! This is the one I was thinking of.

https://www.greatlakes4x4.com/showthread.php?t=318690

 

[tworley]

Here! This is the one I was thinking of.

https://www.greatlakes4x4.com/showthread.php?t=318690

I just spent a couple hours at the junkyard looking for something that would fit, this may be a better option. I did grab some GM spray nozzles today though! I also tried to find a Dana 44 cover but I couldnt locate one there.

I did find this beauty though. $75 for everything

 

[tworley]

Not jeep related, but I was picking up the garage Friday evening and thought, "I need more space". I ended up pricing some lumber and figured the cost for an L-shaped counter top to be roughly $120. 9' on one wall, close to 6' on the short side, and 2' deep. I ended up spending $87 dollars and wound up with the long side being 8ft. Only because I thought adding a section of 1' would not be strong enough. Counter top is white melamine that I got for $15 due to one side being damaged. Support braces are mounted using face mount joist hangers. Next weekend I am picking up white pegboard (to brighten things up) to go above the entire bench, it will fit below the hung cabinets on the left, step up to the higher over head ones, and then cover the entire wall where my jersey and keystone can is. I also plan to build a low-profile roller for my deep freezer, this way I can keep it underneath the bench to save space. Hopefully this winter I can get a vehicle parked in here.

 

[tworley]

A little more progress. 1/4" white pegboard and pegs with tools mounted. Going to hang the leftover board tomorrow and place my extension cords on it, right now they are hung up by these 14" hooks and portrud quite a bit, I'm going to eliminate that!

 

[tworley]

I believe I am done...

So far I am very happy with how it turned out. I have everything put away after two years of living here. I may swap the two floor cabinets for the freezer underneath the bench, I'm struggling finding a roller that will work with the freezer, it would be nice to have the small work area that I have available but time will tell. Made the shelving for my jackstands out of old wood floor slabs and the 14" hooks that were were mounted to the wall. And I can now open and close the back door easily since the shovels and paint brushes are now mounted to the wall. I can easily get my wife's Jetta or my Jeep in here this winter

 

[tworley]

Received my items from Metalcoak this afternoon. I decided to go with a steering box skid, axle bushings, and a sweater. This has me eager to start stripping down the axles on the garage floor.