Might be the dumbest question ever but.....

loosvelt · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 10:52 pm

Why doesn't a vendor, or us (say a group buy) get some entity to make a replacement front diff in steel? Any tool and die shop people on here! Is it possible, or am I an idiot? If you got enough people to buy in it couldn't cost that much per diff right? If a vendor made it, it'd be a gold mine for them.

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:10 pm

Because the collar works just as well (as far as we know), and it's a lot cheaper than it would cost to buy a new differential?

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:38 pm

I would say with design, tooling, building them etc any place would need an order of at least 10/12 to begin with and also 20,000 bucks at least or more. Money upfront also non of this sure I will buy it someday. Oh yes then a new front custom driveshaft $500, Custom made CVs another what $1000, new cradle, lets be conservative $700. So now you have at least 4000 and change, plus oh yes your new gears , lets add some lockers as well, maybe new spindles.
So do you have the money to do this today?

fdems · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:46 pm

Or just get this

http://www.arbusa.com/dana-differential-cover.php

dloc_jeep_KJ · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:49 pm

tommudd wrote:

I would say with design, tooling, building them etc any place would need an order of at least 10/12 to begin with and also 20,000 bucks at least or more. Money upfront also non of this sure I will buy it someday. Oh yes then a new front custom driveshaft $500, Custom made CVs another what $1000, new cradle, lets be conservative $700. So now you have at least 4000 and change, plus oh yes your new gears , lets add some lockers as well, maybe new spindles.
So do you have the money to do this today?

i sure wish i did :lol:

!!! one day, one day (soon i hope)

and they dont make that ARB cover for the Dana30a (yet)

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:54 pm

and they dont make that ARB cover for the Dana30a (yet)[/quote]

beat me to it dloc! , I think a lot have not really looked at how the D30A mounts up as that would never work

dloc_jeep_KJ · **Posted:** Sat Feb 09, 2008 12:22 am

that is true. i doubt there will ever be a "cover" for it.it just isnt that easy as the say the rear is. i still am going to try what we talked about with the cutting and fitting of a D30 and a D30a. i think for the money its the best way to go. plus in my case labor will be free. i also just got in good today with my colleges auto shop teacher and he gave me the ok to use their lifts and tools!!! heck im getting a free alignment next week in the shop

loosvelt · **Posted:** Sat Feb 09, 2008 12:36 am

I don't understand. Why can't you just get a housing made exactly the same, but in steel. Couldn't you reuse all the parts such as gears.

dloc_jeep_KJ · **Posted:** Sat Feb 09, 2008 12:42 am

its just not that simple like tom said. as far as gears yes u could but since u have it off if u were going to do that why not just change the gears and get a locker and so on. its not that u would have to its that if u are going to do it u might as well do it right. with the way that the front diff is made though its not as easy as u think. go look at it. hope i have helped in some way

tommudd · **Posted:** Sat Feb 09, 2008 12:48 am

loosvelt wrote:

I don't understand. Why can't you just get a housing made exactly the same, but in steel. Couldn't you reuse all the parts such as gears.

Its not that easy to "just make it in steel, you have to have places in there for bearings to set, gears, etc etc , not like say welding up a ..bumper and you dont see people welding them up on every corner.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Feb 09, 2008 1:23 am

loosvelt wrote:

I don't understand. Why can't you just get a housing made exactly the same, but in steel. Couldn't you reuse all the parts such as gears.

And still be limited to 4.10's as the lowest gear ratio? In a few months a solution may be available,it won't be cheap if it is feasable,starting at about $2000,lockers will add more $$$.

Just have to wait till I get my cradle pulled from under my KJ to see if it will work.

tommudd · **Posted:** Sat Feb 09, 2008 2:03 am

OK Troy so I was feeling bad for you since you didnt get that job overseas, but maybe now that will change and I and lots of others will be happy you couldnt go! :wink:

Tom

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Sat Feb 09, 2008 9:18 am

tommudd wrote:

OK Troy so I was feeling bad for you since you didnt get that job overseas, but maybe now that will change and I and lots of others will be happy you couldnt go! :wink:

Tom

x2 again, what is wrong with me that is twice in one morning i have agreed with tom.

tommudd · **Posted:** Sat Feb 09, 2008 11:17 am

WoodysKJ wrote:

tommudd wrote:

OK Troy so I was feeling bad for you since you didnt get that job overseas, but maybe now that will change and I and lots of others will be happy you couldnt go! :wink:

Tom

x2 again, what is wrong with me that is twice in one morning i have agreed with tom.

Scares me, .......you have to argue with me on everything and you know I am always right!!! :wink:

Tom

jelohead · **Posted:** Sat Feb 09, 2008 9:22 pm

beepbeep, can u shoot me a PM with info about this "collar" that you speak of?

Might be the dumbest question ever but.....

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