I may be in strange company here, as I'm a wheeling noob, but would it be reasonable (with the clearances, oil sump, uniframe, etc) to put a HP Dana 30 from an XJ and only a very mild lift (2.5-4") on a KJ CRD? I like the simplicity and weight savings of a SFA, and CV joints, ball joints rack/pinion, etc. will start to become a PITA at some point, not to mention the potential for going to something more extreme later if the hobby and my pocketbook takes me that way.

For now, the jeep is still my daily driver and I don't want to put huge amounts of time, fab dollars, driveline swaps, etc, but would it even be feasible to simply "cherokee-ize" the front end with the axle, some new mounts on the uniframe and corresponding steering, suspension mount, and gearing changes (don't think the XJ came with the same ratio stock as my CRD)?

Just wonderin'
Dan

_________________

2005 Silver CRD Limited
245/75R16 GoodYear Duratracs
Fumoto drain | ProVent CCV Filter
Stanadyne FM100 filter | Cummins fuel pump
GDE Eco | SEGR | BoulderBars | FrankenLift | Frankenskids

Unfortunately you need at least 8"-10" of lift to fit everything needed to swap in a SFA on a KJ.Just not that much room to get everything under there without the high lift and still be able to somewhat use it still offroad.

I guess the engine and lower parts of the uniframe sit considerably lower (especially in the CRD) than in an XJ?

Dan

_________________

2005 Silver CRD Limited
245/75R16 GoodYear Duratracs
Fumoto drain | ProVent CCV Filter
Stanadyne FM100 filter | Cummins fuel pump
GDE Eco | SEGR | BoulderBars | FrankenLift | Frankenskids

Yep and the XJ was designed with a SFA also.

So, not to try to revive a dead horse, but part of me just wants to understand this better. with the parts shown here (thanks Mike):

and here:


What part(s) would bind in a mild-lift setup? Would the uniframe walls beneath the shock towers need a notch to clear (like the arches on a ladder frame)? Is it the oil pan itself, or perhaps the clearances for the upper-bar-geometry thingies that attach to the top of the axle shaft? Would a setup like a rover radius arm (C-shaped attachment that keeps the axle from rotating) help with that?

Thanks for indulging me.

Dan

_________________

2005 Silver CRD Limited
245/75R16 GoodYear Duratracs
Fumoto drain | ProVent CCV Filter
Stanadyne FM100 filter | Cummins fuel pump
GDE Eco | SEGR | BoulderBars | FrankenLift | Frankenskids

You could get away with 6" with a stock radius arm setup,less issues then what the rest of have used which is a "Y" link setup(a modified radius arm setup).

But you have a diesel which has it's own unique challenges like getting a gear box in there and you will still need a trackbar all of which needs clearance.You'd have to severely limit travel to keep it at 6" of lift.