WJ IFS Differential

Sport · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2008 4:39 pm

If there was a way to mount the diff what else would be needed once bolted to the liberty?
Axles?
Knuckles?
Drive shaft?

Would these be customs or would the KJ's work? or could you use the ZJ?

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2008 4:44 pm

ZJs have a solid front axle. So do WJs. The KJ was the first Jeep vehicle to be IFS in last couple of decades, so almost everything before it has a solid front axle. You could do something with a WK (new Grand Cherokee) diff, but you'd be spending practically as much as a solid front axle swap to make it all work.

Sport · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2008 4:55 pm

RespectMyLibertay wrote:

ZJs have a solid front axle. So do WJs. The KJ was the first Jeep vehicle to be IFS in last couple of decades, so almost everything before it has a solid front axle. You could do something with a WK (new Grand Cherokee) diff, but you'd be spending practically as much as a solid front axle swap to make it all work.

yes thats what I meant the WJ, thanks

SO, hypothetically if we had that diff under the KJ what else would be needed to make it work?

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2008 5:18 pm

WJ is the 2nd generation, more curvy Grand Cherokee (solid axle), but not the latest, HEMI IFS G.Cherokee. That's the WK. You would need custom diff mounts I bet and custom CV shafts for sure to make a WK diff work. That's at least a couple grand right there.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2008 5:30 pm

would be a ton of work to do and not gain anything really for all the work.

THERE is no cheap readily available front diffs that will just jump right in and work well.

Tom

RAYMAN975 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2008 6:03 pm

that woukld be awesome if a company made a replica of our aluminum diff housing out of steel, maybe beef it up in a couple of spots. i saw 'crane high clearance' made a custom housing/pumpkin for a rear axle

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2008 6:33 pm

send Crane a blank check and I am sure they can provide you with an awesome front diff in 6 months or so, but you better have a LOADED account for them to do it.
How many would they really sell? If everyone on here bought one it still would be tough for them to justify

moose · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2008 6:41 pm

LJ track - 58.5
LJ wheel base - 103.4
KJ track - ?
KJ wheel base - 104.7

Is the track close enough you could mount a KJ body on a LJ? Then you get the 4.0, the 4:1 (with rubi), and the SFA. Just find a Libby with a blown motor/tranny and make a frankenstien!!!

myjeepwalks · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:48 pm

moose wrote:

LJ track - 58.5
LJ wheel base - 103.4
KJ track - ?
KJ wheel base - 104.7

Is the track close enough you could mount a KJ body on a LJ? Then you get the 4.0, the 4:1 (with rubi), and the SFA. Just find a Libby with a blown motor/tranny and make a frankenstien!!!

The KJ is a unibody not sure how you would mount the body on a frame.

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:53 pm

myjeepwalks wrote:

moose wrote:

LJ track - 58.5
LJ wheel base - 103.4
KJ track - ?
KJ wheel base - 104.7

Is the track close enough you could mount a KJ body on a LJ? Then you get the 4.0, the 4:1 (with rubi), and the SFA. Just find a Libby with a blown motor/tranny and make a frankenstien!!!

The KJ is a unibody not sure how you would mount the body on a frame.

long hours with a sawz-all and a grinder and welder :twisted:

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:06 pm

myjeepwalks wrote:

moose wrote:

LJ track - 58.5
LJ wheel base - 103.4
KJ track - ?
KJ wheel base - 104.7

Is the track close enough you could mount a KJ body on a LJ? Then you get the 4.0, the 4:1 (with rubi), and the SFA. Just find a Libby with a blown motor/tranny and make a frankenstien!!!

The KJ is a unibody not sure how you would mount the body on a frame.

Duh yes it is a unibody, but we used to mount VW bugs to CJ5 frames all the time, 66 Chevelle bodys onto 3/4 ton Chev truck frames anything can be done with a welder and a hot wrench :lol:

even shrter / lenghthen a frame to get it to fit right

RAYMAN975 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:35 pm

i always thought about that, putting a KJ on a Rubicon chassis, that would be sweet!

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:38 pm

Unless it's changed in the last few months there are no lockers for the WK front diff,it's even a bigger oddball then the KJ's D30A and I believe 3.73's is the lowest gear option for it also.

Sport · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:01 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

Unless it's changed in the last few months there are no lockers for the WK front diff,it's even a bigger oddball then the KJ's D30A and I believe 3.73's is the lowest gear option for it also.

I know there wasn't a locker option but I thought there were gear options atleast.

was liberator on 3.73?

would it cost that much to have some mounts welded onto the diff that would make a direct bolt on to our cradle?

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:13 pm

Little bit more than just welding on some brackets, you need to crawl under both and REALLY look at what would need done :roll:

Sport · **Posted:** Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:46 am

tommudd wrote:

Little bit more than just welding on some brackets, you need to crawl under both and REALLY look at what would need done :roll:

Thanks tommy boy, I keep forgetting the forums aren't here to get answers to questions rather just to look at photos. :roll:

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:26 am

Sport wrote:

tommudd wrote:

Little bit more than just welding on some brackets, you need to crawl under both and REALLY look at what would need done :roll:

Thanks tommy boy, I keep forgetting the forums aren't here to get answers to questions rather just to look at photos. :roll:

I wasn't being a smart azz just stating facts , if you took it that way sorry, but facts are facts until you really lay under a KJ and look at what all would be invovled then you are kind of in the dark.

I do like to look at the photos on here though, I can take some and let you see what I mean about there being a lot of work to do to put another front diff in. And in case you are wondering yes I have had a front diff all the way out and replaced it, also have an extra laying in the corner of the garage, so know what they look like in and out of a KJ :wink:

tommyboy

OK I guess

Tom

Sport · **Posted:** Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:44 am

Sport · **Posted:** Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:48 am

tommudd wrote:

Sport wrote:

tommudd wrote:

Little bit more than just welding on some brackets, you need to crawl under both and REALLY look at what would need done :roll:

Thanks tommy boy, I keep forgetting the forums aren't here to get answers to questions rather just to look at photos. :roll:

I wasn't being a smart azz just stating facts , if you took it that way sorry, but facts are facts until you really lay under a KJ and look at what all would be invovled then you are kind of in the dark.

I do like to look at the photos on here though, I can take some and let you see what I mean about there being a lot of work to do to put another front diff in. And in case you are wondering yes I have had a front diff all the way out and replaced it, also have an extra laying in the corner of the garage, so know what they look like in and out of a KJ :wink:

tommyboy

OK I guess

Tom

I did take it that way. Don't think that I am one of those people that is afraid to get in and have a look. I have looked but I am not about to start ripping stuff apart just because I had a thought.

I kind of rely on intelligent people such as yourself with all their worldy experience to maybe lend a hand an answer a few simple questions but for some reason being a smart stupid is easier then just answering the question. My mistake.

I mean seriously how many replies and the question hasn't even been answered. I did not ask how hard it would be or how much it would cost to mount the diff. All I asked was WHAT ELSE WAS NEEDED. and you know what at this point I don't even care anymore.

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:27 am

SPORT
I think several answered your question as to why it would not be a good idea or not work
availability of gears
not much different than what we have already etc
as far as a run down as to what it would take , you would have to do it to know that, but since its not even worth doing no one has.
As far as the Liberator that you mentioned, that was a one off with very deep pockets providing the funding, they could make /use / or do anything and money was no object.

an old man sitting on a stool sees much further than a young boy on a tall tree
Malawi proverb

Tom

WJ IFS Differential

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