D30 Upgrade

Last year around this time I picked up a narrow track D30 for "free" . I know these things are never free. 3:73 gears but it does have disc brakes. I like the idea of a selectable locker but other than that my D27 has held up just fine. I really doubt I will be stepping up to 35" tires any time soon.
Here is my question. In reviewing other post about the D30 all or most say you may need to change the driveshaft. When I installed the SM 465 I had the front driveshaft made with 1310 u-joints. Why would I have to change the driveshaft? Does it need to be lengthened or shortened?

 

My 57 is a F134 and my D30 lined up perfectly. No changes required of the shaft or joints (or plates or shocks or much lol). The issue comes about whether you had the 225 or F134 initially and the yoke/ujoint mismatching.

 

Thanks for the reply. Since I already upgraded the u joints I should be ok. I am going to build a roll around stand tomorrow to start tearing it down.

 

Length may still be a problem as the axle tube to rear flange is longer on the Dana 30, I had to cut about an inch off the factory Dana 30 shaft to fit with proper spline stroke.

 

I managed to get the shaft back in mine when I swapped, but Mcruff is correct, the Pinion is slightly longer on a D30 than the 25/27. You *may* have to shorten things... Of course lift springs can throw this out the window as well as some other mods too.. Every old jeep is a little bit different...

 

U-bolts and spring plates....

 

I hope to start tearing this down today. Thursday I built a stand with a bunch of home project leftovers, some dollies my dad had and a pair of Harbor Freight jack stands.


If this needs moved or if I should start another thread somewhere please let me know.

 

I am going to try but I really suck at documenting with pictures. Please go ahead and move it.

 

I tore into it today. It has 3:54 gears, disc brakes and Warn hubs. One hub turns freely but the other is stuck. I will need to take a closer look when I get them off. I removed a Rancho steering stabilizer. Probably going to ditch it.
I need to change the ring & pinion to match my 4:88's. The rotors are probably shot.

Whoever designed the caliper/brake line was not thinking. One caliper bolt is behind the brake line. I was able to get the pass side brake line off but of course the driver side is stuck. Trying to get it off ended up stripping the brake line bolt.
I was able to get the pass caliper off after using my impact on the bolts. I may be able to rebuild the calipers but will need to take it apart first.
The diff had no gear oil so I was a little nervous. I took the cover off and there was only surface rust. Lucked out there.
I'll post pics later tonight or tomorrow.

 

I'll be watching this. I may join the D30 ranks after all these years. Not sure how I feel about this power locked Dana 27 yet. Gotta get some miles on it before I decide.

Ultimately, I'd do a 4.88 dana 30 with a selectable locker and maybe the stronger Ford style hubs like someone here has done. Steve maybe. Not sure. Anyhow...I'm watching. I like part numbers for reference if you think of it.

 

I am still trying to figure out what year this is.
A couple of pics from yesterday.
Warn hubs and really rusty discs.

Gear ratio tag - 3:54

Insides, a little surface rust but not too bad.

 

I don't know if they have numbers stamped into the axle tube or not, like the rear 44s had. You can narrow it down a bit by the thickness of the rotors and the caliper mounting set up. I'm not sure what those specifics are at the moment but, it should turn up in a search here pretty quickly.

That surface rust isn't too bad. It's all coming out anyway and get a thorough clean up then. You'll be swapping gear cases anyway to go from 3.54 to 4.88 right? Don't forget to mark the bearing caps for their orientation.

Jeep Factory Axle Identification Chart | Quadratec

Jeep Axle: Dana 30

 

The part number on the tag indicates 1979 vintage.

 

Thank you Jim! The one on the gear ratio tag?

 

Yes 5358563

 

Might have been Posimoto who did the Ford hubs. Been searching but haven't found it yet.


Edit: Found this. I'd like to see a full write up on this as I'm an idiot and need it spelled out for me, pitfalls included. Looks like a great upgrade though, it may not be of interest to you. I dunno. Going back to my corner now.

Opinions on Hubs

 

Here is a pic of the dumb caliper/brake line set up.

I ended up cutting off the brake line and I was able to get the caliper off.

Pulled off one Warn hub. Do you think these are stress cracks?

And of course one allen head bolt holding on the pass side hub is rusted and now the head is stripped. I drilled it but need to get an easyout.

 

6 bolt hubs and vented rotors..........how wide are the rotors? 1.125"
I thought that option ended in 1978??

 

Boy, that is a stupid set up. So you can't remove the caliper without removing the brake hose?

Found some ford hub info. Added it to my previous post above.