3rd Annual Colorado Jeep-CJ Trail Report

[Posi]

I'd like to have you join us. Next year will be the last.It will most likely be the last week of August again. Do you have far to come?

Thanks, it would be a 35 hours 2,355 mile trip. Last spring I traveled to the Mojave Desert. Silverton would make for a nice trip next summer.

 

[BusaDave9]

I'm thinking this: G2 Axle & Gear 982032002 - G2 Axle & Gear 27 Spline Front Axle Kit for 82-86 Jeep CJ-5, CJ-7 & CJ-8 Scrambler with Dana 30 Axle - Quadratec

The axle shafts are extra strong but I can't find much info on the u joints that are included.
It's the U joint that broke but the axle shafts got damaged in the aftermath.

I called up G2 Axle and gear to get an answer to my question about the U Joint in this kit. Yes, it is the bigger 5-760X U joint. I'll order it today.
$660 ouch. It's worth it but I hate putting more money into these little axles.

 

[Posi]

As for my axles, I welcome everyone's suggestions.

I wouldn't put $660 cash into a Dana 30 it's not money well spent IMO. At the end of the day it's still a Dana 30 . You could build a 44 for less then the cost of that kit and be ahead of the game. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Torxhead]

I would suggest keeping that narrow housing and installing those G2 axles and ditching those massive swampers. I would think it would make driving on those deteriorating Colorado sidehills a bit safer. Like when part of your tire is hanging over the side of a cliff. My 2c

 

[Posi]

 

[Petescj]

You could build a 44 for less then the cost of that kit and be ahead of the game. Just my 2 cents.

Not comparable to his. He already has 4.88s and a Detroit in the Dana 30 . With those axles I like that Dana 30 . If your hedging on going to bigger axle Id skip right over the 44 and go 60s.

 

[Posi]

The Detroit would be a game changer for me didn't know, was guessing lunch box.

 

[Petescj]

The Detroit would be a game changer for me didn't know, was guessing lunch box.

I think the Detroit was a game changer for his U joint as well.

 

[Posi]

Lol, I'd agree

 

[Old Dog]

Dave, you should be good to go with the new axles. I ran 35's on mine for a couple years with no problems.

 

[BusaDave9]

Thanks for your input. Pete is thinking along the same lines as me. I have priced out Dana 44s and 60s. I've found a 44 from a '75 Blazer for $175 but would take a lot of parts and time to set it up like my present axles. If I were to do a swap I would go right up to a pair of dana 60s and 5.38 gears. I am only worried about off-roading and slower highway use. But the Dana 60's I found were over $1000 and needed lots of work to fit under a CJ. I would want to narrow them.
Parting 02 cummins 3500 4x4
Parting Dodge Diesels
Dana 60 axles

My thoughts are that I have already been putting money into these axles and I guess I might as well keep throwing money down this bottomless money hole. It's always like, I've just got this one more weakness to take care of, then it'll be just the way I want it.

In hindsight I wish I bought a a CJ5 in stock condition and built it from there the way I want it. I love CJs, even the flat steel dash. All very simple and functional. Then I would ditch the axles and install dana 60s with 4 link in the rear. I like the idea of moving the axle back because of the very short wheelbase of the CJ5 . You just can't go back that far with leaf springs.

 

[Posi]

Dave, the list of 60's you posted is not a desirable model for your CJ some listed are ball joints and driver side drop. Look for the 60's with kingpin p-drop [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]77-87 K30, [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]84-88 CUCV, [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]75-89/[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]92-93[/FONT] D-600, and [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]81-89/[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]92-93 D-700. Also, the rear 60 is a good axle but it has the same size shaft as a Dana 44 however, you can bore out the spindles or swap on D-70 spindles and run larger 1.5 shafts, or go with the 14b. Hope this helps.
[/FONT]

 

[Petescj]

I know Ive seen you on here recently Dave , but how are things out there? Everything I read around here tells me things are worse not better. Are you alright in your area?

 

[BusaDave9]

I know Ive seen you on here recently Dave , but how are things out there? Everything I read around here tells me things are worse not better. Are you alright in your area?

Thanks for asking Pete. I'm doing good, very good. We had 10 days of rain. The ground got saturated and any more that would fall would just run down the hillside toward my home but no damage. It totaled about 5 inches. I thought that was a lot but Boulder CO had 21 inches of rain. Unreal, massive flooding.
I got wet but not flooded.

They sent me out of town on business. To where? Denver. But the rains have subsided.

So overall I'm doing good.
Thanks again.

 

[cj7inthetwigs]

Just read about the flooding, didn't know who was from where. Glad to hear you are ok and dry. The numbers are devastating up there!
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2

 

[Petescj]

Thanks for asking Pete. I'm doing good, very good. We had 10 days of rain. The ground got saturated and any more that would fall would just run down the hillside toward my home but no damage. It totaled about 5 inches. I thought that was a lot but Boulder CO had 21 inches of rain. Unreal, massive flooding.
I got wet but not flooded.

They sent me out of town on business. To where? Denver. But the rains have subsided.

So overall I'm doing good.
Thanks again.

Good to hear. I think Boulder was where the major news was coming from. Lots of lost homes and people missing.

 

[007]

I'd like to have you join us. Next year will be the last.It will most likely be the last week of August again. Do you have far to come?

Why is 2014 the last???

 

[gert]

Why is 2014 the last???

Dont give up yet, Im trying to get my bucket of parts on the road this year I would absolutely love to go on a trip

 

[BusaDave9]

Why is 2014 the last???

Each year I get low turnout even though there is always lots of interest in the beginning. I think a lot of people are thinking they''ll wait till next year. I am hoping to get a good turnout this one last year.
Get you jeeps ready. It'll be a good time.
Next year Ouray will be the base. It will be the last week of August. I will start a new thread announcing the details before spring.

:grinjeep:
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[gert]

gotta get home and get my pile working then