RE: JPOR: Forced to modify ;)

["Paul W." <a4xnut@xxxxxxxxx>]

Michael Ciaio <jeep@optonline.net> wrote:
> How much do you estimate the knuckle yoke swap put you out?  It is alot of
> work though right?
>
> -MJC

Both Scout II axles (D44 rear and D30 front) were basically less than free... I
bought a parts Scout a few years ago when I had a Scout II and took the parts I
wanted and sold off a bunch of others and made back well over the $250 I paid
for the Scout.  Since my welding skills are not that good (I haven't done any
welding sinice 1981) I decided it best to pay a shop to do the knuckle swap.
They are charging me $50/hr and estimate it will be under $300.  I have the
choice of Scout D30, Scout D44 or GM D44 knuckles-out - or any combination
thereof.  Since the Scout D30 is drum braked, I won't be using it's brakes, for
sure.  I think the route I'll be going is GM D44 knuckles, caliper brackets and
calipers with Scout D30 spindles and Scout D44 hubs and discs.  Stub axles will
be Scout D30 to match the 260 series XJ inner axles for now, but will be
upgraded to Warn Scout D44 stubs and Warn 297 jointed XJ inners when I can
afford it.  Since the parts I'm using have been accumilated over years of
horsetrading, it's hard to estimate the cost, but other than the labor of the
yoke swap and gear set-up, it's not much.  (The Scout D44 was given to me and
the GM D44 cost me a whopping $35 ;)  Still, I think you could do a swap like
this, paying average want-ad or wreckinig yard prices for about the same -
maybe less - than Warn's floater kit and a gear change.  The only unaccounted
for expense I can think of is what it'll take to hook up the steering linkage -
which will probably be similar to what YJ's use... but with larger components
to mate to the GM knuckles.  The real plus to this is I'll be getting bigger
hubs and stubs than in Warn's XJ/YJ floater kit AND bigger brakes (front and
rear)... and my XJ will be able to share wheels and knuckle-out hardware with
my CJ.  :)

Paul

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