Maybe this was already mentioned, but I think your scrambler is on the Rock Hard site showing that the front roll cage clears the factory soft top. Pretty cool
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.
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.
Looks like you did the vc just like you would do the head. Getting ready to do mine on a 4.2. My engine rebuild kit came with a cork gasket, so I'm going to see how that works. My vc is a heavy thick metal one
I wanted one of these, that JeeperDD posted up about, but they are sold out
https://www.wolffeng.com/store/p2/M109SS_Lower_Steering_Column_Cartridge_Bearing.html
As soon a s I can get one of those Wolff Engineering bearing assemblies, I will pull it back apart to install that. I will also pull the Borgeson steering shaft out and paint it. I never painted it when I installed it, it still looks OK, but needs paint.
I sent them an e-mail as soon as JeeperDD made that post and they have not returned the request. I'd be willing to buy a few just to have in stock for future builds if they would return the message. I have not found a phone number for them yet. As a last resort, they are about 15 miles from my house and just around the corner from some friends we see regularly. I guess I could drop by unannounced. Would that be creepy and seem too eager? After all, the address is just some house in a rural neighborhood.
Their website claims "****BEARING PRODUCTION IN PROGRESS****"
Don't know what that means and if really is true.
I found a number on Facebook, called, but no answer or voicemail, and emailed, no return email
I think you should stop by and talk to them, I will buy three or four units
The 4.0 does make more power/likes to rev higher then the 258, so if I kept the rev's over 2,000, it never bogged down.