The Big Green Build Thread (Updated 1/27/09)

[rckrdyxj]

Ok, so long awaiting purchasing of drive train parts has become a reality.

This week i will be ordering what i need to get my rear D44 installed in to my xj.

The original plan is to get 4:56 gears, with master OH kits, rear tera flex disc brakes jks shock mounts riddler diff covers, and a front locker of some sort and an sye with tom woods drive shaft.

I am leaving the rear open and locking the front. My theory (from experience) is that i would rather pull my self over an obstacle then try to push my self over an obstacle. Kristas old 97 tj had a lunchbox locker in the front with 35" mtr's like mine and it was amazing off road and great in the winter despite wha teveryone says about front lockers in the winter.

Then before next summer get alloy usa d 30 shafts and rear locker of some kind, bilstein shocks and tnt customs trac bar.

This week i will be purchasing te rear d 44 4:56 gears, master OH kit, JKS shock mounts, Riddler Diff cover, and Tera Flex disc brakes.

Then once i have recovered from spending exhaustion and all my parts have arrive i will install the tera flex brakes myself, and get the gears and OH kit installed by a local shop for $300.


At this point the d 44 will be completed and repainted while i save for the front end parts.

Next i will order my sye and TW shaft, Front d 30 4:56 gears and master OH kit, and a locker of some kind.

HERE IS MY QUESTION. What kind of locker should i put in the d 30?

I can go EZ-Locker again like the tj to save cash (Good idea) or try to save up the extra dough to get a selectable locker like an arb air or manual locker or the auburn ECTED locker.

DC4WD is wherei am purchasing everything from and they reccommend the auburn locker. I have read on here and else where of people having issues with it.

Next question. I am not going to change the leaf spring perches.
How much should i shim the rear axel. i am going to get teh RE shims that are incorporated to the leave pack via a new center pin.

Jason form jeepin outfitters said 4* shims but i want other opinions.

i will be updating this thread regularly as i receive parts and complete parts of my build.

[KtmRacer419]

god damn you remind me of sharpie

[Uncle Hawk]

I got an open box deal on a d44 overhaul kit for ya. just needs some RTV and gear marking compound and it's good to go. I'll even throw in the RTV! $45

[rckrdyxj]

ktmracer419 said:

god damn you remind me of sharpie

Why? Yes i read his d44 article but i am not posting pics everything or saying stupid shit in general.

I take that as an insult and smite you for it.

[KtmRacer419]

homebrew shock mounts: $1.69
jks shock mounts: $65
zj disc brakes:$100
teraflex brakes:$700


so i just saved you like $700 to put into other important things.

locked rear axle > unlocked rear axle.

[HeavyMetal]

ktmracer419 said:

locked rear axle > unlocked rear axle.

Tennis203 (11:26:06 PM): front locker > rear locker or rear locker > front locker
RangerZ24 (11:26:13 PM): rear > front
Tennis203 (11:26:29 PM): X10,000,000,000,000 and so on

[XJLI]

u r confoozed me.

[KtmRacer419]

locked rear > locked front.

no matter how amazing that front locker did on the tj a rear locker would have been more amazing in 98% of all wheeling situations. (excluding when the front is on dirt and rear is on ice)

[XJLI]

admin said:

Tennis203 (11:26:06 PM): front locker > rear locker or rear locker > front locker
RangerZ24 (11:26:13 PM): rear > front
Tennis203 (11:26:29 PM): X10,000,000,000,000 and so on

just that confused me actually.

rear lockers ftw.

[DUG]

Tennis203 = Rambopants

Does that help?

[DUG]

ktmracer419 said:

locked rear > locked front.

no matter how amazing that front locker did on the tj a rear locker would have been more amazing in 98% of all wheeling situations. (excluding when the front is on dirt and rear is on ice)

X10,000,000,000,000 + -55 +69

[rckrdyxj]

ktmracer419 said:

homebrew shock mounts: $1.69
jks shock mounts: $65
zj disc brakes:$100
teraflex brakes:$700


so i just saved you like $700 to put into other important things.

locked rear axle > unlocked rear axle.

ZJ discs require getting a custom adapter made which is someting i dont have accessibility to get done. (not many machine shops locally)

Tera flex brakes are a complete bolt on kit that comes with everything needed including the e brake setup. $600


Lets see these $1.69 home brew shock mounts na dif i can make them i will.

admin said:

ktmracer419 said:

locked rear axle > unlocked rear axle.

Tennis203 (11:26:06 PM): front locker > rear locker or rear locker > front locker
RangerZ24 (11:26:13 PM): rear > front
Tennis203 (11:26:29 PM): X10,000,000,000,000 and so on

i call

has anyone saying this ever wheeled open rear locked front, vs locked rear open front?

I have both first hand and the locked front was like magic. Where the locked rear was getting stuck more frequently and spun the tires much more.

What goes up a hill better in the snow. a rear wheel drive crown vic? or a front wheel drive impala? If driven by the same driver under identical conditions i can almost guarantee the fwd will go up the snowy hill easier than the rwd will.

Besides i also stated that i want to lock th rear i just cannot afford to do it right now but by spring i will have a no slip for the rear. That will take a sat morning to install myself.

[HeavyMetal]

rckrdyxj said:

ZJ discs require getting a custom adapter made

def not

rckrdyxj said:

Tera flex brakes are a complete bolt on kit that comes with everything needed including the e brake setup. $600

you can get it way cheaper than that

[HeavyMetal]

rckrdyxj said:

ktmracer419 said:

homebrew shock mounts: $1.69
jks shock mounts: $65
zj disc brakes:$100
teraflex brakes:$700


so i just saved you like $700 to put into other important things.

locked rear axle > unlocked rear axle.

ZJ discs require getting a custom adapter made which is someting i dont have accessibility to get done. (not many machine shops locally)

Tera flex brakes are a complete bolt on kit that comes with everything needed including the e brake setup. $600


Lets see these $1.69 home brew shock mounts na dif i can make them i will.

admin said:

Tennis203 (11:26:06 PM): front locker > rear locker or rear locker > front locker
RangerZ24 (11:26:13 PM): rear > front
Tennis203 (11:26:29 PM): X10,000,000,000,000 and so on

i call

has anyone saying this ever wheeled open rear locked front, vs locked rear open front?

I have both first hand and the locked front was like magic. Where the locked rear was getting stuck more frequently and spun the tires much more.

What goes up a hill better in the snow. a rear wheel drive crown vic? or a front wheel drive impala? If driven by the same driver under identical conditions i can almost guarantee the fwd will go up the snowy hill easier than the rwd will.

Besides i also stated that i want to lock th rear i just cannot afford to do it right now but by spring i will have a no slip for the rear. That will take a sat morning to install myself.

fwd/rwd in snow on road is irrelevant, because we have 4wd systems anyway.

we have experienced first hand the rear locker doing more than a front alone, sam will get me on this

the rear is the key, the front is just an aid. the reason you need a heavier duty rear axle is the jeeps weight is on the rear axle a lot of the time..that is where you need to generate your traction first and foremost. i'd lock a 44 over a 30 on 35s anyway, and i did.

no one with a front lock only has ever gone anywhere i couldnt with a rear lock only

[DUG]

Not to mention... the stress on a D30 locked.

Ask Ben aka HeapXJ what a D30 locked on bigger tires does. snap snap snap. around that many times.