Project...Kahuna 66 cj6

PM'ed ya Reid
Jim S.

 

my first real trip wheeling after the build resulted in a exploded rear inner bearing and a shredded spindle (full floater D44 5.38 gears). I decided when I got home to do repairs/swaps at the same time. I have a D44 tapered axle w/ 4.27 gears that I would swap FF parts to from the existing axle....so following the tech section write up on rolling your own FF I dove into the dark waters of the unknown
First thing I did was have a D27 front spindle turned to fit the rear axle


then I drug the old D44 out to the garage

I didn't have the correct puller for the hubs so made due w/ some couplers to extend past the axle, after tightening down I smacked the end of puller w/ a BIG hammer and they popped off


I embarrassed to say I never popped the diff cover, but was pleasantly suprised to find I had a power lock

I took the spindles/axles and swapped them into my soon to be new 4.27 D44

I got everything back together tonight, need to drop the housing from out under the 6 and bolt up the new unit....pics when that's complete.
Of course this means I need to do a R+P swap on the front D30.......man it never endsR)
Jim S.

 

so I finally finished the axle install today.

I put the axle up on stands high enough to clear the springs

I didn't put in new spring/shackle bushings when I put the 6 back together the first time so I did them with this install. After I got the springs hung I dropped the axle down into place

I broke a brake line in disassembly so had to replace it, and put in new bleeders at the same time. Bolting the U bolts went easy enough. I did use new bolts w/ nylock nuts this time, they kept working loose before

Initial thoughts after a few miles is....the 4.27 are a great setup for me w/ the V8 and 33" tires. Now onto getting parts together for the front diff R+P change.
Jim S.

 

took the 6 down to have the tires balanced and alignment checked. My tires were off from 7-13 ounces each (gonna make a difference ah), my caster was 2 1/2-3 degrees positive...I ordered 2 degree shims to add to the ones I already have, should have them mon.
Gonna try to install the soft top tomorrow...stay tuned


I love to get positive improvements done
Jim S.

 

so I got a Kayline soft top from ca51flatty (Reid I owe ya, literally bro) and set out to install yesterday. The top was complete less the door frame hardware. I put the top inverted on the hood and installed it to the WS, then flipped it over into place

Once I got a few rivits installed to hold the top I went to the hardware store to see what I could find for door frame material...the horizontel piece is a 1/2" tube, and the vertical is a 3/8" solid rod. I cut the tube to size, it slides over an exposed bolt in the WS, and cut long enough to tension the bow/top material in the back

The rod slides into the tub in the bottom, at the top I used a bench grinder to make a 1/2" long swage 3/16" around, drilled a 1/4" hole into the tube in the appropriate place for the rod to slide into...again long enough to tension the opening

The top went on fairly easily, and seemed pretty quiet at 50mph...


gonna make the ride to work much more pleasant
Jim S.

 

So after finding out I needed more caster angle I shot a PM off to Mcruff (Mike) who fixed me right up w/ 5 degree shims

got them installed last night and took the 6 out to see what it would do........................................................WOW!!!!!!!!!!!what a few degrees does for the handling....to think that those little hunks of metal make that much difference is amazing
HWY 101 here I come!!!!!!
Jim S.

 

when we did the full floater rear axle my son was w/ me as we read in the tech "roll your own FF" when he saw the black wheels he said Dad we gotta paint ours like that! He's been bugging me about it so today we took them off prepped and painted


I also picked up an overflow container from Napa and installed it, as well as my rear view mirror

.....trying to take care of the laundry list of details yet to be completed
Ray.....I can still work w/ my upholsterer on your top if you'd like

 

thanks for the props, but I gotta tell you I follow your every post on the wagon build...cannot wait to see your finished creation
Jim S.

 

I'm not usually that big on black wheels...but on your rig they really pull it together.