Another Scrambler Purchase/Road Trip - UPDATE- BODY ON FRAME AGAIN
- Thread starter spankrjs
- Start date
- City
- Biloxi
- State
- MS
You, my friend, are a wealth of knowledge and greatly appreciated around these here parts.
Thank you Toby, but I believe you know much more about these things then me, and your input is greatly appreciated and respected
After I get done with Red/Moab, need to get Tan ready for August
- City
- Cobourg, Ontario, Cana
- State
- da
Thank you Toby, but I believe you know much more about these things then me, and your input is greatly appreciated and respected
After I get done with Red/Moab, need to get Tan ready for August
I agree with all of this!!
- City
- Landing
- State
- NJ
Sweet. I want to see Tan in MI!! Plus it has a significantly less chance of grenading the tranny en route ! 
- City
- Biloxi
- State
- MS
Sweet. I want to see Tan in MI!! Plus it has a significantly less chance of grenading the tranny en route !
Yes, I hope the new 700R4 makes it to Michigan and back in one piece
But, I am hoping this AX15 makes it to Moab and back, plus bunches more
I have blown up more transmissions in the last 1-2 years then most people do in a lifetime
Hoping to change my luck
- City
- Biloxi
- State
- MS
- City
- Biloxi
- State
- MS
Not that one, you silly goose, I'm talking about the Acme that weighs about 500 pounds
- City
- Dexter
- State
- MI
Silver Lake is a family outing. We don't need Connie or Tiffany removing their tops.
Oh, wait. I read that all wrong. Sorry.
- City
- Biloxi
- State
- MS
- City
- Biloxi
- State
- MS
Ok, back on topic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Installing the Dana 300 to the AX15 using the Novak Clocking Ring
I will let the pictures do most of the talking. I took the pictures as I was experimenting, so not everything is in as good as order as it should be, bear with me.
The Novak clocking ring comes with 4 sets of holes, 0, 9, 18, and 27, with 0 being flat and 27 being angled down.
The O degree rotation will not work without major shifter modification, and maybe even floor board modifications.
Picture with the studs at the 0 degree setting. I did not even attempt to install it like this.
Up next, I tried the 18 degree set of holes. No reason why I tried this setting next, I just did. Picture with the studs at the 18 degree setting.
Quick picture showing the gasket, loosely fitted. NOTE - it will only go on one way!!!!!!
A picture of the transfer case strapped to the jack, studs in the 18 degree setting.
Hmm, at 18 degrees, the transfer case wont slide all the way in.
And this is why, the stock Dana 300 shifter holder thing is fouling on the AX15 case.
I "think" you could get this 18 degree setting to work, but it would require some grinding/trimming of the shifter bolt support thing.
Up next, lets try the 27 degree setting, the most angled setting.
Studs installed at the 27 degree setting.
And it wont work with the 27 degree setting, the shifter support hits hard. You would have to completely cut off the inward support arm.
Ok, so the 0, 27, and 18 degree setting will not work, without modifications. So, lets try the 9 degree setting.
Studs installed at 9 degrees.
Installing the Dana 300 to the AX15 using the Novak Clocking Ring
I will let the pictures do most of the talking. I took the pictures as I was experimenting, so not everything is in as good as order as it should be, bear with me.
The Novak clocking ring comes with 4 sets of holes, 0, 9, 18, and 27, with 0 being flat and 27 being angled down.
The O degree rotation will not work without major shifter modification, and maybe even floor board modifications.
Picture with the studs at the 0 degree setting. I did not even attempt to install it like this.
Up next, I tried the 18 degree set of holes. No reason why I tried this setting next, I just did. Picture with the studs at the 18 degree setting.
Quick picture showing the gasket, loosely fitted. NOTE - it will only go on one way!!!!!!
A picture of the transfer case strapped to the jack, studs in the 18 degree setting.
Hmm, at 18 degrees, the transfer case wont slide all the way in.
And this is why, the stock Dana 300 shifter holder thing is fouling on the AX15 case.
I "think" you could get this 18 degree setting to work, but it would require some grinding/trimming of the shifter bolt support thing.
Up next, lets try the 27 degree setting, the most angled setting.
Studs installed at the 27 degree setting.
And it wont work with the 27 degree setting, the shifter support hits hard. You would have to completely cut off the inward support arm.
Ok, so the 0, 27, and 18 degree setting will not work, without modifications. So, lets try the 9 degree setting.
Studs installed at 9 degrees.
- City
- Biloxi
- State
- MS
Bingo!!!!!!!!!!! Using the 9 degree setting, the Dana 300 slid right on to the AX15, like it was meant to, no modifications.
PLEASE NOTE - I have a 1" body lift, I am not sure if the 9 degree setting will work without the body lift, the shifter will foul the body.
A few pictures showing the stock Dana 300 shifter, it should work/clear just fine, after some minor bending.
Now that I found a setting that will work, I glued the gasket to the adapter ring.
And put RTV on the back of the transmission.
One interesting note - Novak states that the clocking ring will create a "wet" cavity between the transmission/transfer case. This is why I have been sealing all of these surfaces with RTV. But, their adapter comes with a weep hole. If this is a "wet" cavity, transmission fluid will be constantly leaking from this hole:
So, I plugged the weep hole with RTV. The instructions do not mention this, but if fluid does get into this cavity, it will leak out here.
On the stock CJ "adapter housing", which is the rear part of the transmission housing, there is a weep hole. BUT, on the stock CJ set up, the Dana 300 input snout slides into the rear transmission seal, creating a leak free environment. On a stock CJ, if oil leaks out of the weep hole, you have a bad seal, either the Dan 300 input or transmission rear output seal.
On this Novak adapter, they say it is a "wet" cavity. If this is the case, and the Dana 300 input snout DOES NOT seal the rear transmission seal, if you do not fill this weep oil, transmission oil will pour out.
Well, that's my take on it.
PLEASE NOTE - I have a 1" body lift, I am not sure if the 9 degree setting will work without the body lift, the shifter will foul the body.
A few pictures showing the stock Dana 300 shifter, it should work/clear just fine, after some minor bending.
Now that I found a setting that will work, I glued the gasket to the adapter ring.
And put RTV on the back of the transmission.
One interesting note - Novak states that the clocking ring will create a "wet" cavity between the transmission/transfer case. This is why I have been sealing all of these surfaces with RTV. But, their adapter comes with a weep hole. If this is a "wet" cavity, transmission fluid will be constantly leaking from this hole:
So, I plugged the weep hole with RTV. The instructions do not mention this, but if fluid does get into this cavity, it will leak out here.
On the stock CJ "adapter housing", which is the rear part of the transmission housing, there is a weep hole. BUT, on the stock CJ set up, the Dana 300 input snout slides into the rear transmission seal, creating a leak free environment. On a stock CJ, if oil leaks out of the weep hole, you have a bad seal, either the Dan 300 input or transmission rear output seal.
On this Novak adapter, they say it is a "wet" cavity. If this is the case, and the Dana 300 input snout DOES NOT seal the rear transmission seal, if you do not fill this weep oil, transmission oil will pour out.
Well, that's my take on it.
- City
- Biloxi
- State
- MS
And a few comparison shots:
Stock Dana 300 angle:
My current Dana 300 angle, using Novak's 9 degree setting:
And a side shot:
NOTE - I will not take advantage of this new found clearance UNLESS I modify/replace the stock skid plate, which still has the low hanging "bump".
Well, that is all fine and good, but there still can be one issue - oil leakage.
I consulted "BadKarma" on this, since he is running a clocked Dana 300, and he drives long distances on the highway, at high speeds. He initially had problems blowing out the rear output seal on his Dana 300. He believes this was mostly because he overfilled the Dana 300, and he was using a "bellows" instead of the normal vent line. He told me that since he started using a stock vent hose, and he installed a site glass so that his Dana 300 is not over filled, he has not had any problems.
When I drained my Dana 300, I kept the exact amount of oil that came out of it:
I do not want to install a "site glass" on my Dana 300 to be able to check the fluid level. So, once I put the proper amount of oil in the Dana 300, I will make a little "fluid check gauge", to check the fluid level. Since my Dana 300 is clocked, if you fill it to the bottom of the fill plug, it will be way over filled.
I plan on driving with my current clocked angle. If I don't have any leakage problems, great. If I do have problems, I can always go back and try the 18 degree setting. But, as long as I don't overfill the transfer case, I do not anticipate any problems, fingers crosses!!!
So, in summary, I have found on my Dana 300 to AX15 install:
0 degree will not work without floor board modifications
9 degree fits perfect
18 degree could work, with minor grinding/trimming of the Dana 300 shifter support
27 degree will not work without major trimming of the Dana 300 support
NOTE - I have a 1" body lift, which I believe is needed for transfer case and shifter clearance.
Up next, transmission mount/skid plate install.
That's it for now
Stock Dana 300 angle:
My current Dana 300 angle, using Novak's 9 degree setting:
And a side shot:
NOTE - I will not take advantage of this new found clearance UNLESS I modify/replace the stock skid plate, which still has the low hanging "bump".
Well, that is all fine and good, but there still can be one issue - oil leakage.
I consulted "BadKarma" on this, since he is running a clocked Dana 300, and he drives long distances on the highway, at high speeds. He initially had problems blowing out the rear output seal on his Dana 300. He believes this was mostly because he overfilled the Dana 300, and he was using a "bellows" instead of the normal vent line. He told me that since he started using a stock vent hose, and he installed a site glass so that his Dana 300 is not over filled, he has not had any problems.
When I drained my Dana 300, I kept the exact amount of oil that came out of it:
I do not want to install a "site glass" on my Dana 300 to be able to check the fluid level. So, once I put the proper amount of oil in the Dana 300, I will make a little "fluid check gauge", to check the fluid level. Since my Dana 300 is clocked, if you fill it to the bottom of the fill plug, it will be way over filled.
I plan on driving with my current clocked angle. If I don't have any leakage problems, great. If I do have problems, I can always go back and try the 18 degree setting. But, as long as I don't overfill the transfer case, I do not anticipate any problems, fingers crosses!!!
So, in summary, I have found on my Dana 300 to AX15 install:
0 degree will not work without floor board modifications
9 degree fits perfect
18 degree could work, with minor grinding/trimming of the Dana 300 shifter support
27 degree will not work without major trimming of the Dana 300 support
NOTE - I have a 1" body lift, which I believe is needed for transfer case and shifter clearance.
Up next, transmission mount/skid plate install.
That's it for now
- City
- Cincinnati
- State
- Oh
Do you have a real job?
- City
- Biloxi
- State
- MS
Yes
I did all of this last night, 5:30 - 9:00. Typed it up real quick this morning, about 20 minutes
- City
- Cincinnati
- State
- Oh
Yes
I did all of this last night, 5:30 - 9:00. Typed it up real quick this morning, about 20 minutes
I am just thinking if you could bottle your energy like that guy with the hot sauce, you would find a ready market for it here.
- City
- Biloxi
- State
- MS
LOL
When I start on something, it kind of feeds on itself, so the closer to completion, the more energy is available/spent to see it through, if that makes sense
I hope to get the skid plate/transmission mount installed tonight, so I can measure for drive shafts, call the order in tomorrow, maybe have this thing operational again by this weekend
I had so many interruptions early on when I started this swap, it seemed like the project was dragging. Now, that some milestones have been crossed, I am ready to have this project finished
And start back on the Tan Scrambler...........................
