YJ Lexus 3UZ repower

[Stokes]

Biggest weakness I see is you’re maybe running the ring gear on the coast side instead of the drive side, I think. It’s possible I’m wrong.

You can buy 35 and maybe even 40 spline axles and lockers for a 609, and could get some really expensive Dana 60 outer parts.

The ring gear will always be weaker than a D60.

Go figure I can't find the old rule of thumb for how much weaker a LP vs HP front setup is but I thought it was assumed to be ~10-15%, but maybe that's over thinking what I lighter rig needs. as in perhaps a well-built 3rd with a load bolt could be a good setup.

Every now and then you see someone running a LP 9 and I have been curious to hear how well they hold up.

my previous hesitation to consider a 9" front build was the cost of building a Hi9 but maybe its time to give it a harder look.

Flare the tube to reduce chafing at the corner.

Sleeve protrudes from it anyway.

Didn't catch that.

Yes you guys are on the right track, with the sleeve protruding through I figure chafing will be minimal.

 

[RunningProblem]

The hi9 is going to be the cat’s meow. Watch the video about. I think he was pretty open about costs. I had two 9” rear ends and someone mentioned a 609. I still don’t know where I could take a 9” rear and have them weld on inner Cs otherwise I probably would have done it. I also don’t know what length tubes I’d need on both sides.

Nice hand throttle. Things like that should be in a sticky or topic of the month or some other resource. It’s awesome.

 

[Stokes]

I gave the 44 a refresh a few days before a trip to Naches last september. I was going over items the week of and noticed my front U-joints had more deflection than I cared for so I tore it down and replaced the inner axle seals while I was that far. wont lie I was holding my breath pulling it apart, nervous to find twisted shafts ect. thankfully all was well! going on 9 years on the spartan locker/gears and 4 years with the Yukon 4340 shafts/760 spicers with Full circle clips/tacks.

4DA03209-344D-4BAD-BD55-13A5B9205FDB by Joey Stokes, on Flickr

B9DA6017-E1D7-4FDE-A73D-6AE5E0FB079F by Joey Stokes, on Flickr

F1025C69-0442-47D6-92DD-12A2CC095792 by Joey Stokes, on Flickr

5CC0B7E5-75AD-4347-8A9A-EED62A127E45 by Joey Stokes, on Flickr

FF2DC260-59D8-4A88-88BF-C9B673062F38 by Joey Stokes, on Flickr

76500D08-C0BE-47E2-AA01-27D0D7C01E6A by Joey Stokes, on Flickr

IMG_0372 by Joey Stokes, on Flickr

0415E8CA-91F3-4065-B3CE-79D4E8AB97C8 by Joey Stokes, on Flickr

3C778CCA-CAD4-402F-B5F5-C6E3AB0FE063 by Joey Stokes, on Flickr

 

[Rockwood]

Which 44 are you running?

 

[YotaAtieToo]

Looking at these pics, I really think a 9" with 99-04 outters would be a perfect fit. You could get 5x5.5 ub's and keep those sweet old school wheels. But more importantly, you could probably actually fit the housing in the same place as your D44.

I think they can be built for a similar price to any other axle that's getting everything replaced if you do it smart.

I'm sure that D44 was fine with 87hp, but it's days are numbered now

 

[Stokes]

Which 44 are you running?

It’s a ford HP44

 

[Stokes]

Looking at these pics, I really think a 9" with 99-04 outters would be a perfect fit. You could get 5x5.5 ub's and keep those sweet old school wheels. But more importantly, you could probably actually fit the housing in the same place as your D44.

I think they can be built for a similar price to any other axle that's getting everything replaced if you do it smart.

I'm sure that D44 was fine with 87hp, but it's days are numbered now

My manager was just saying today how I ruined the rig kicking the squirrel motor haha.

Yeah I know your right, it’s no fun driving smart enough to not stress things. I noticed contact marks on the inside of the 1350 rear axle yoke reminding me that a anti wrap bar is over due too!

I like the idea of building a front housing so I do appreciate the brain storming. I have a extra HP60 that I narrowed to 66wms for a past project that could donate parts (or used entirely for that matter) or a set of KP inner/outer knuckles for a rainy day like that.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

Sounds like you have some options. Do you think the Hp60 center would fit under there spring under?

I wonder how dumb it would be to add D60 outters to the current D44? If you have an arb, they make 35 spline side gears for them.

Unless you plan to just change the whole front suspension anyway. Then forget my ramblings

 

[Stokes]

I wonder how dumb it would be to add D60 outters to the current D44? If you have an arb, they make 35 spline side gears for them.

Ha! I was just pondering that a few nights ago, that with the thought of stuffing D50 gears in it with Carls bearings. probably a touch silly with the narrowed 60 there. ooh well I have time to ponder.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

Ha! I was just pondering that a few nights ago, that with the thought of stuffing D50 gears in it with Carls bearings. probably a touch silly with the narrowed 60 there. ooh well I have time to ponder.

Ya, may as well do the 609 if you're going to put new gears in.

The other thing is that you have a decent axle to sell.

 

[Stokes]

I had some time around the house recently to tackle finishing out the exhaust between being Mr Mom around the house, we just had our 4th child and I took a couple of weeks off to let my wife stay off her feet. thankful!

B231C402-4758-445A-857B-97A46094FC71 by Joey Stokes, on Flickr

F9245B27-93A5-4B54-B999-EFB3AE8ABBB4 by Joey Stokes, on Flickr

Fitting A 3" exhaust around the tank and out of the way of the rear suspension travel fought me more than I thought it would! things SHOULD not touch under full bump. I did have to remove/plate a good chunk out of the factory tank crossmember to make all things fit but I am happy where it landed.

914F582C-9821-430D-9FCA-E570436F2DFD by Joey Stokes, on Flickr

15964B17-7A99-41C5-B1B9-606656070FAB by Joey Stokes, on Flickr

the last exhaust setup had melted one or two lunch bags to the floor as well as reshaping a blow mold craftsman tool kit over the years, thankfully wrapping the exhaust this time has mitigated most of my heat issues