In before Super HG! Oh wait
.
I've battled in my head for years now on this very subject.
The D30 is getting built up a bit. Here's why:
I've sleeved, gusseted, yukon zip locked, and swapped the ring and pinion ( thanks, @waynehartwig) on a JK D30 on a weekend. Not cheap but now that I've done it a couple times, the labor isn't that bad. You just have to be patient and get it right. I now understand how awful it is that you need shims at all. Everyone else is cheating with an adjustable third member.
This particular vehicle is going to stay leaf spring under the axle. If I am going to clean off axle tubes and build it from parts off @ruffstuffspecialties, it opens a can of worms that needs to be on a different rig. When I build a crawler, it will start from a different platform. This thing is just to get me from spectator point to spectator point, fairly gnarly trail rides for what it is, or show up the Jeep Clubs struggling up some bs with "rigs" that cost 10x what mine did.
This thing was stock and cherry when i bought it. I've built it myself the whole way, including rebuilding the t4 on the floor of my garage. I actually wheel it somewhat frequently and I try my best to keep it ready to go at all times (minimal down time). Maybe it's a bit sentimental or "my baby" or something. But it's come a long way and I see the end. We've got a ways to go, but I'm only taking this one so far.
I'll do my best to document the D30 work here in between the comments on how HG I am for doing this. I know, not popular tech.
oh btw
86 Jeep CJ7 Renegade
4.2L bored once, decked. head cleaned up with new guides, seals (by pros) I reassembled.
Carb'd! MC2100 Carb. Man I thought that was the shit when I did it. Needs EFI (it starves downhill)
t-4 rebuilt by me on the floor of the garage
d300 needs rebuild and 4:1
D44 rear yukon grizzly locker 4.88 gears installed by me under the jeep on the floor.
D30 front 4.88 gears installed by me as well
Brake booster off a YJ (No power brakes for years! Had gears and a rear locker first!)
Still no power steering (I've got a stock set up on the shelf that I "recently" got for free. Just need to install)
I guess I'm a glutton for punishment.