The Survivor Project-driveway frame swap/33's "build" by EricsGreen98Tj

4 minute(s) of a 57 minute read

Going to pick up a Ford HP D44 Friday after work. He also has a Ford 9" too but IDK if I should swap that in or go with an 8.8....opinions/thoughts???

Both of the axle's are geard to 4.10 and since I'll be losing an OD and 4th is 1:1 I think I'll be good to go but Im not sure. It feels like 4.56's would be the way to go cause right now with my Ax5 in 4th(1:1) and 4.88's im good until I get on the Interstate or anything over or at 60-65. I CAN run 70 in 4th if I want to but the RPM's are kinda up there....Im going to have to screw around with one of those gearing calculators.

4-28-2012

Well got the Hp D44 yesterday, along with an OEM Ford Np435 to Np203 adapter. Man that adapter is gonna make this transformation ALOT HARDER! Sucker is like 8" long!!!!  

So I found that Jeds Machining has a Short Adapter(<2.5") long BUT i have to have a Dodge Np435 mainshaft(23 spline output) machined to the right length and resplined to the ford 31 spline. After Jed's does this then they heat treat it but Im thinking about having it sent off for Cryo treatment too...

Anyway all thats holding me up at this point is finding a good Dana 300 case to flip and some cash But thats how it always goes right? I did put in 18hr of overtime this week and about 9 last week to try to fund this a little faster...it will still take me like a year to get everything bought and ready for a weekend install though...

Anyone have any opinions on what 203/300 doubler setup to go with? I like North West Fab's cause it easily clockable and can be used with a different case at a later date by buying a different peice but its also ALOT more than Jed's or a similar weldable steel mount....

5-7-2012

Went and got my FORD HP D44 and the adapter for the tranny from a fellow WV wheeler: NOTGOIN2MAKEit, a week or 2 ago. It was a tight fit into the back of my Tj....  

I think Im going to retube it completely...Just something to tinker with for a while.

I may put everyting from the C's out onto the other HP D30 that I have laying around...IDK yet..

Also should mention that I went wheelin this Saturday night with a buddy and his STOCK Yj with MT's in the 235 flavor!. We left about 10pm and I got home about 330am. There was a little grassy bank that he tried to go up for 10 min and the Yj just wouldnt go. He pulled to the side and said show me how its done. I put it in 4 low, didnt even put the front locker on, and walked right up it in 1st gear! I guess it insulted him cause he got a run for it and all but it just wouldnt climb the hill. He eventually tore 2nd gear out of the crappy Ax5.  

We had some "severe thunderstorms" for 3 days and when whe went up to the Mtn, the ruts in the road had gone from the usual 2' to 4' to 5'! They were MONSTERS. It took me like 10 attempts to make it up a rock ledge that is uaually gravy. I'll try to get some pics of the place...