What's Involved In Going From A Dana 27 To A Nt 30?

Same as Jzeber, I moved my top mount. It’s in my build thread in the builders/fabricators section. I’d get you a link but too hard on phone.

 

I don't remember changing anything with the shocks??

 

I did the tie rod flip with large tie rods and the tie rod ends hit the shocks.

 

Thanks

 

It sounds like I’ve got a similar set up, large tie rods. I thought about relocating the shocks at the top, further back. I am also considering welding on another mounting spot at the bottom.

how much room should I allow between tie rods and shocks? If I move them back at the bottom of the shock, I’ve got about a half inch clearance with the wheels turned all the way over. Do you think this would be enough room?

 

Here are a couple of pics before and after.

 

Nice, thanks for the pictures! Did you just grind off the rivets to slide the hanger back?

 

Sorry I am no help. I haven't done the swap yet.

 

I’m getting through it. Only two issues so far are having to move the shocks a bit and the yoke.

the great news is, lots of help from this group!

 

The yoke is easy to find, I got one off an old D18 tcase. Pictures of the two different yokes are in my build thread if you are interested.

 

You have to grind the rivet down and drive it out. I moved the mount and tapped the frame for a bolt, welded the mount and tacked the bolt head

 

I built new spring plates, left shocks in stock location. Drilling out factory spring plates is really not the right way to do this. It leaves the edge of the plate to thin and you have to bend the u-bolts to fit since the Dana 30 axle tube is bigger than the 27. I’ll post pics of the ones I built tonight. I have sold about 10 sets of them over the years.

 

Behind the axle is the factory placement for the 30.



With the bottom center of the frame set to 90, the shock is 7.8 degrees tilted back from vertical.

You could take the opportunity to raise the shock mount, similar to what Chuck shows. This would allow for longer shocks and more suspension travel. The bottom of the inner fender would have to be notched. Some have use mounts from the Wagoneer or Ford trucks to raise the shock pins - search the internet and you'll find some examples.

 

nice!

 

Did you run into any issues where the shocks interfere with the tie rods? The guy that I bought the d30 from installed super big tie rods. I wouldn’t mind going back to stock, but he drilled out the taper in the knuckles.

I might be able to use the stock upper mounts if I move the pin on the spring plate back a bit. The problem with this is it won’t make the shocks very vertical. How far away from vertical can they be?

would love to see your pictures when you have time.

 

I can’t find any installed pics. I will get some new ones Friday morning and post them. I have standard Dana 30 tie rods. There is about 3/4” between shock body and axle tube and about 1” between shock body and tie rod tube. They have never hit under full articulation. I have Heckethorn hydro 8000 shocks.

 

Thanks, I think these oversized tie rods are the only obstacle.

 

Do stock Dana 30 tie rods work with the Saginaw swap n an Early CJ5?