Project Apache

57423 Views 628 Replies 29 Participants Last post by quicksilver, Mar 21, 2022

quicksilver

Discussion Starter · Mar 22, 2013

Finally decided to start a build thread, though its gona be slow one as my budget permits. I'm working with a '95 Cherokee 4.0L with the ax-15. I already got a few things done, though they're all cosmetic really, including a light bar, front bumper, etc. I do have parts on standby that will eventually go into this jeep.... as soon as I get them out of my old one: axles, the lift that's in the old one temporarily til I can afford something good. Once I do a lift, I have some 32's that I would love to put on my jeep.

My main goal atm is to fix any maintenance issues, right now I have a cracked manifold due to bad motor mounts. I already placed an order with iron man andy to get some bomb proof mounts. They actually should have shipped today. I'm going to pull the old manifold off the other jeep since its been welded and has held up for well over 10k since.

I have a second electric fan from the old jeep also that will also be used on the new. Its the older 6 blade style where as the one I have in my new jeep is the 10 blade. I will move the 10 blade over and hook it up to a hayden thermostatic controller, and in turn I will remove all the ac components and a few non necessary pulleys as well. This will help save on weight and rotational mass.

Reactions: 1

561 - 580 of 629 Posts

quicksilver

Discussion Starter · #561 · Mar 1, 2021

Ordered a new rms, I'll get to that once I work on the front axle, im just going to drop both axles to regear then, while also addressing other issues I have with the jeep, ie rear saggy springs and the leaky rms. The axles themselves also were in need of work, leaky pinion seals, so I guess this is just the expensive way of replacing worn out seals, lol.

Pics to follow in the coming week. Just spent some time cleaning out the 20ft conex I had in my yard to get it gone, have a few more things to move out of ut yet, but those items will be going to a different location. I fit as much junk as I could in my shed, had to make sure I have the most needed items such as welder and press, as well as the axle stand I built.

Going to be picking up a 9000w generator later on to power some of the equipment in the shed for the short term, really need it for the house when I disconnect power to upgrade the service wire from the pole. It will help me get done some of the much needed work to the jeep to have it ready by summer time. I want to wheel like crazy this year...... as much as the wifey will let me, lol.

See less See more

quicksilver

Discussion Starter · #562 · Mar 1, 2021

2

Almost forgot to add picture of the clean out work I did

There was a ton more junk in here than this, my back aches after moving it all if that dont tell ya nothing.

The rest goes to my brothers house this weekend hopefully.

See less See more

Reactions: 3

quicksilver

Discussion Starter · #563 · Mar 9, 2021

Just put in an order for chromoly axleshafts for de front through RMS, the dude is great to work with, he was willing to price match another competitor when I asked him about it. If you need any axle parts at all, I'd recommend going through Ron's machining service.

Im going to start work this coming weekend and can't wait to dive in. I got to thinking about beefing up the diff covers, thought about buying some, but for 150 a piece ill pass. I have a ton of steel and can build a guard for the front and rear. I have a torch to cut with and a grinder to clean edges, then the welder is now operational as well.

Motor vehicle Gas Art Gadget Machine

A view of my humble workshop for now, lol. I won't add anything else til I come back with some progress. Oh yea, cant wait!

See less See more

Reactions: 2

XJSuperman

· #564 · Mar 9, 2021

Solid brand covers are $65 each

Gluckmysock

· #565 · Mar 9, 2021

Always remember, your time is worth something, consider how much time it will take to fabricate something verses just buying it pre-made. this doesn't apply for everything, just the few things that are better off bought. Just my 2 cents.

quicksilver

Discussion Starter · #566 · Mar 10, 2021

XJSuperman said:
Solid brand covers are $65 each

They never popped up on my radar when I looked. I found em for 80 a piece from poly performance.. where you finding them for 65?

quicksilver

Discussion Starter · #567 · Mar 10, 2021

quicksilver said:
They never popped up on my radar when I looked. I found em for 80 a piece from poly performance.. where you finding them for 65?

Said screw it and ordered those covers. Not a bad price for no messing around. Not sure when I'll have them, but surely they'll be here before I finish one axle at least.

Reactions: 1

XJSuperman

· #568 · Mar 10, 2021

I think they are usually $65 on their direct website.

solidaxle.com

Differential Covers

We've produced our Solid Axle Industries differential covers since 2006 for Dana, Ford, AAM, and Chrysler axles. Our nodular iron covers feature a lifetime warranty against breakage. The covers feature a machined seal surface and are powdercoated to resist the elements. Zinc plated hardware and...

solidaxle.com

quicksilver

Discussion Starter · #569 · Mar 10, 2021

XJSuperman said:
I think they are usually $65 on their direct website.

Differential Covers

We've produced our Solid Axle Industries differential covers since 2006 for Dana, Ford, AAM, and Chrysler axles. Our nodular iron covers feature a lifetime warranty against breakage. The covers feature a machined seal surface and are powdercoated to resist the elements. Zinc plated hardware and...

solidaxle.com

Sweet, ended up costing the same after shipping was tacked on the cost from solid.

quicksilver

Discussion Starter · #570 · Mar 18, 2021

I've got all parts together, yet sadly, I think I'm going to need my jeep to pull a truck up to this conex I have out back so they can get it gone. Thatll be this Friday since I couldn't get it gone last Friday with work and what not. Its all good, we got some nice weather coming up, itll make working out in the cold easier when its 50 instead of 30. Ill gets some pics when I get started.

quicksilver

Discussion Starter · #571 · Mar 20, 2021

7

So it begins

No more conex ^

Brandy new oil from this summer...... has a lot of metal flake in it..

The reasoning...... highly polished gears.... wondering if the added load from the locker is what caused that?? Great time for a rebuild I suppose....

This is where I ended for the night. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day for me, so ill get back to this on Sunday. More pics to come.

See less See more

quicksilver

Discussion Starter · #572 · Mar 20, 2021

This is a better photo of the pinion and how much the surface has been polished, not as blurry as the one up top

See less See more

quicksilver

Discussion Starter · #573 · Mar 21, 2021

7

Getting some things torn down

Found a lot of metal flake built up in these crevices, unbelievable how much I found.

This is one of the best tools I own for rebuilding difs.

The bearing in the photos was new over the summer, so using the bearing puller saved it and the shim even, so now I'll have a setup bearing to use and extra shims if I need. I love that I know I can remove bearings without destroying them. Love having the right tools. I need to remove the inner pinion bearing still, then its time to do some crazy math..... last time I did a regear that math got me really close on the first try and subsequent setups were minimized and got a great pattern.

More photos tomorrow.

See less See more

Reactions: 1

quicksilver

Discussion Starter · #574 · Mar 21, 2021

Silly me, forgot that the pinion gets shimmed underneath the inner race, doh! Never made a setup race and installed the baffle.... so now I've got a new baffle on the way. Son of a *. Im going to set everything up anyway, gota see what pattern reveals first.

Reactions: 1

quicksilver

Discussion Starter · #575 · Mar 22, 2021

2

First pattern, BL is at .009", od like it to be tighter, but my carrier preload is really high, so I'm going to take things apart anyway.

Drive side, id call that perfect

And the coast.

I am going to come back out and adjust after dinner. Well see what the second pattern yields after that. I dont think I'm going to remove the pinion at all, I see no reason to honestly.

Unless you guys see something I dont.

See less See more

quicksilver

Discussion Starter · #576 · Mar 23, 2021

2

Second pattern after adjusting carrier shims for preload. Removed .003" from each side, calculated carrier preload at 39-41 in/lbs. BL went to .010", drive pattern shifted slightly toward toe, coast slightly toward heel.

Tire Automotive tire Wheel Tread Motor vehicle

Drive side

Coast side. So what im going to do is shift .006" to the ring gear side from NRG side. Im firm in that the pinion depth is set to where it needs to be.

See less See more

quicksilver

Discussion Starter · #577 · Mar 23, 2021

Nailed down bearing preload, just need to dial in the back lash now. Back lash is currently .008", the pattern is very similar to the first one, just more broad across the ring gear now. More to come tomorrow.

DaingMaing

· #578 · Mar 23, 2021 (Edited)

quicksilver said:
Getting some things torn down
Found a lot of metal flake built up in these crevices, unbelievable how much I found.
This is one of the best tools I own for rebuilding difs.
View attachment 229081

I wish I had one of those last year. That and an axle stand. Having to cut and carefully cold chiesel bearings off is nerve racking. I just didn't have the extra $250 for the puller, but I almost justified the purchase. Wishing I had now. I gotta wierd vibration in my front D30, and I don't know what I am gonna see in there.

Everything's looking good, bud...

quicksilver

Discussion Starter · #579 · Mar 24, 2021

3

Backlash at .006"-.007" coast side

Drive side

I like how the drive side looks, not so impressed with coast though. May have to adjust pinion depth after all. May be too deep right now.

Anyone got anything?

See less See more

quicksilver

Discussion Starter · #580 · Mar 26, 2021 (Edited)

4

Alright, so I moved the pinion out by .008" and this is the result i got. Much better, but will end up moving it more yet, probably .003". Ended up making setup inner race and outer bearing for pinion cause it suckes to take that apart. New baffle on the way still....

So I'm running into another problem, now I will mention it since I tried to eliminate it while I had the carrier out. I have .004" runout on the ring gear, no bueno, it alters my BL for a 1/4 of the ring gear to .009" while the rest of its at .006"

This set of photos in this post is from the same setup. But there's a noticeable difference in the coast patterns on different parts of the ring gear, due to the run out.

I have taken a flat stone to it to try to remove any potential burrs from both surfaces and cleaned them. The carrier has less than .001" runout, so theres an issue with the mating surface between the two, just going to have to take it apart and clean some more. I even tried rotating the ring gear on carrier to see if that would help, I think it made it worse????

***Edit: I lied, bottom two photos are last nights last setup. The top two are from today. So its much better, just need to get the runout issue sorted out.

See less See more

561 - 580 of 629 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.