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Retitled: 83 Scrambler resto-mod finally gaining momentum

thanks Randy... we're about as far apart as two people in this country could be but, I'd imagine shipping isn't much more coast to coast or cross town.. if you, or anyone else has a used set, please let me know here or via PM with what you're looking for (money wise) for them

I stopped by my auto craft shop today to talk to the techs there and my "go to" guy told me that, while they have the tools there, none of the techs are very experienced with gears, they outsource that to a 3d party who does it for cash on the side.. unsure how easy it's going to be to find that guy.

so, bottom line, once I can source some parts, I think I'm going to have to source some labor

any thoughts on other services that I'm not even thinking of while I'm in there? I've never worked axles but I'm sure there are some other seals, bearings, or something I might take advantage of access to.. looks like I've got homework to do..

lockers?
 
Suck. For a quicker/cheaper answer, I'd find a local 20 with the right gearing and pull the cover before buying to check the gear condition and confirm the ratio as Randy mentioned. I'd sell off the 44 to someone looking to build a rear end and recoup some $$ still worth cash to folks looking for those, or at least sell the axle shafts off as spares for someone with one.

If you're going to run that axle, I don't see any point in doing anything inside if you're not going to replace the pinion, carrier and shaft bearings along with all the seals. That's what I did with my HD20 when I did the swap and did the regear/locker. Why not just know it's all set?

I forget what size tire you're looking to run, but if you stick with much any sensible size tire on a CJ44 you could do a lunchbox locker and in that case you don't have to do it right now. If you want to go to a full detroit or a selectable, that should really go in with the rest of this stuff because you *should* reset the gears if you replace the carrier with any full locker. A lunchbox just replaces the spider gears and wouldn't affect the gear mesh.

My :twocents: anyway.
 
Ok. I found the 3.31 gearset. Looks to be in good shape. It should fit in a flat rate priority mail box, so shipping would be in the $12.00 range. As far as how much do I want for it- pay me for shipping, take a look at and if it will work out for you, just make a donation to your local animal shelter/humane society. That's all I ask. If that's ok with you, PM me your mailing address and I'll get it mailed out before this weekend.
 
Randy,

will send PM with details.

Thanks for taking the time to look and hook me up.

BW,
points taken and I appreciate the input but, as I have a bad 20, a damaged but repariable 44, and have to do the work to swap an axle anyway, I'm going to attempt the upgrade to the 44.. in the end: if I"m investing time/money, I'd rather pay (in time/money) to get it right.. even though I don't plan on running anything over a 32-33" tire in the end.

Now I just need to find a local shop to help me with the work.
 
my CJ7 for sale in the "other Jeeps" section

of the classifieds..

20101223frontthreequarters-1.jpg
 
quick update..

sold the CJ7.. sad to see it go, but I think the guy who bought it will be a "worthy" owner.. as much as I'll miss it, I don't mind having the worries about it's future off my shoulders..

rear end dropped off at a local guy that does work out of his house (used to own a biz called "Enhanced Offroad", apparently closed due to some family situations, now does work on the side).. we'll see how it works out.. he was someone I found recommended in the Emerald Coast Jeep club.. otherwise I'd be rolling the die around here as I'm new to the area..

he's installing a set of gears sent to me by Randy.. and in turn, Randy.. here's some Karma forward..
RUFFforRandyzz-1.jpg
didn't spend long there but the place looked like it NEEDED some help so, perhaps our deal will make a difference..

no actual progress on the truck lately but in other news..

it's a girl ;)
20101227Bump21x2-1.jpg
 
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Congrats! We will give a little slack on the build.... You may a break in short order tho. Get back at it-- but give Mom a break too- "aint nobody happy if mom aint happy". :thumbsup:
 
Bushmaster6 said:
here's some Karma forward..

no actual progress on the truck lately but in other news..

it's a girl ;)
Click to expand...
Congratulations! When is she due? My daughter is expecting our second grandchild in June.

And thanks for the Karma!:thumbsup:
 
Bushmaster6 said:
no actual progress on the truck lately but in other news..

it's a girl ;)
Click to expand...

Congratulations! Great news for the New Year. :thumbsup:

Since the CJ is bound to take a step back in priority you might wanto change the thread title to gesto-resto-mod in honor of the upcoming Jeep Grrrl! ;)
 
15 july

15 JUL due date so, wifey will be max discomfort here in the FLA panhandle summer heat...

Randyzzz said:
Congratulations! When is she due? My daughter is expecting our second grandchild in June.

And thanks for the Karma!:thumbsup:
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thanks all for the congrats/feedback... I had a vision of two little boys (one to join my 22 month old son).. but I was sure he was going to be a girl before we got the tests done on him.. been wrong both times, and no regrets either way.. she'll have a big brother to help watch out for her, and based on his performance last night (came in to bed with us at about 2 AM and proceeded to kick me in the head all night with his little feet), he might be a blackbelt in training
 
Bushmaster6 said:
15 JUL due date so, wifey will be max discomfort here in the FLA panhandle summer heat...



thanks all for the congrats/feedback... I had a vision of two little boys (one to join my 22 month old son).. but I was sure he was going to be a girl before we got the tests done on him.. been wrong both times, and no regrets either way.. she'll have a big brother to help watch out for her, and based on his performance last night (came in to bed with us at about 2 AM and proceeded to kick me in the head all night with his little feet), he might be a blackbelt in training
Click to expand...

:rotfl::rotfl:

congrats though.
 
Sweet Scrambler, it's coming along nicely. I also have similar build ideas inspired from EXPO, just need a platform now. That ToyBox Scrambler is perfect..

Congrats on the new home and coming child!
 
so the guy that's doing my ring/pinion swap for me emailed me today to inform me that the carrier has some sort of groove worn in it that is not allowing the replacement carrier bearing to seat properly... he's offerred to continue the install, but thinks that it's going to cause me some issues down the road.. so it doesn't sound repairable.

I haven't seen the problem so I can't describe it further than that.. wonder if anyone here has any ideas on this?

I'm at maximum frustration.. I'm now 600+ dollars into a rear end that that appears to be nothing more than an expensive boat anchor. The existing AMC20 is also needs (at least) a new pionon seal and probably bearing, and who knows what else.

:banghead
 
Sounds like the carrier might have been spinning inside a bad bearing and ate away at the carrier. I'd definitely think that would cause you problems long-term if that's what it is. I'd think the situation would just get worse as you go because the tolerances won't be tight enough.

Could be something else entirely, but I can't see much else interfering with the carrier bearing install.
 
yup.. just went over to see it.. the bearing race just sits flush against it and is held in place by the bearing cap.. the whole thing turns easily even with the bearing cap on, and there's a well defined groove where the bearing race sits against it..

also, the installer suspects that my bad ring gear was the result of someone intentionally filing or breaking off several teeth in order to get at the big pin that holds the spider gears together.. makes no sense to either of us but when he showed me how they might've done it, made sense.. so instead of unbolting the ring gear to get at the pin in the differential, they just chunked off the teeth to make room to get it out..

only decent lead I've got on (yet another) rear end is a D44 from Jersey Jeeps for 450 (plus shipping $$$), and I'd STILL have to pay this guy locally to swap gears for me, as the one in Jersey comes with 2.73.. so, figure 200 shipping, 150 for the gear swap, that's 800... on TOP OF the 500 I've sunk into my D44 turd. Maybe I could get some cash out of it by parting it out (axles, backing plates, old gears, differentials, cover, etc)... or just save them for spares..

or maybe I up the insurance on my 8 and light that b-tch on fire in my driveway

decisions.. decisions.. decisions, and none of them good.. I'm getting in that "sell this thing" mood again
 
I do like BBQ's but I dont think its worth the trouble. Take a breath man. Its more important that you stop and think about the next move. You are within driving distance to other major cities. There are still axles out there that are closer to your location. Especially if you are doing the rear end. Nice to see the babies.

Want to see you finish.
 
Have you just looked for local AMC20s with the right gearing? For 32-33" tires, a 20 is fine and is stronger than a 44 anyway in many respects.

I just hate to see you losing interest over this 44 when a 20 will do and is WAY more plentiful and most often at better prices for what you're getting.

Sell of the good parts from the 44 to fund it and get back into the groove.

Sorry to hear about the trouble.

Just my :twocents:
 
Is it the carrier that's bad, or is it the actual axle housing. I've got a couple of open carriers here if you need one. I'll do the same deal as last time.:)

If it's the housing...there is a way to make it work. You get a punch and peen both the housing and the cap in a pattern 360* where the race sits. Two rows, one outer, one inner, probably about 1/2" apart all the way around. This displaces enough metal that the race now fits tightly. A second "insurance' procedure after doing that is to apply some Locktite 660 to the areas before torquing down. If it's barely worn, the 660 might be enough.

https://jdparts.deere.com/partsmkt/document/english/pmac/6357_fb_Retaining_Compounds.htm
image010-1.jpg
 
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Turzog.. no worries, I just spent a couple hundred bucks on a new bumper, spare tire carrier and a (damaged in shipping) dash pad so, not likely to burn her up yet... just a bad Friday mood.

BW... yes, among my courses of action is dumping some money into the existing axle.. it may be as little as a new pinion seal and bearing, could be more.. and if I wanted to go ahead and do 1-piece axles that would even be some more.. in the end, less expensive than yet another D44, but still a lesser axle, but at this point I'm looking at going at a 31-32 inch tire, so maybe not a big deal... I have moments when I'm leaning that way, probably faster, cheaper, easier than another swap axle, and easier to keep some momentum in a positive direction..

Randy,appreciate the offer but I'm good on carriers, I think.. I actually got 1 plus a spare with the D44 I bought.. it's the face of the axle housing, right where the axle shaft enters the cavity of the "pumpkin".. on the shaft side of the bearing cap there's a nice deep groove worn into that surface.. I think I get the general idea of what you're talking about, but would loctite hold a bearing race dealing with the torque/speeds, while immersed in gear oil? Wouldn't the face that the bearing race mates to have to be finished smooth?
 
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