Axle swap on jeepster

[JeepersJeepster]

Hey guys....used to be an old-time member, but due to time and all that mumble jumble that we all have in our lives, lost a lot of time. Anywho, good to be back and back in rebuilding the jeepster. Summer is around the corner and i want an operating rig to get out and about. Trying to decided whether or not to start the project up again, or just buy a little pick-up to get me and the dogs around (my current vehicle...bicycle). okay - lets get to the point! my front axle on the jeepster (d 27) is shot, therefore i need to replace it either with an upgrade or the same. The only problem is, is there are no cj7 axles in my area. What can i do or get without making it an even bigger project. Honestly, would like to get it up with all the other rigs, but as for now, just want to drive it around and kinda show off a jeepster around this part of town. There is a 72 Scout II dana 30 on craiglsist...would that work or is it one of those projects where i would have to modify the onboard springs? Always have appreciated the responses and looking forward for a few more. Thanks all



P.S. a little more info about the jeep
Its a 1968 c101 Jeepster commando
Got the 225 oddfire Buick V6
A 3 speed manual (T-14) with the Dana 20 T-case
Dana 27 front/44 rear with the splicer 20

...most of you pros may already know - but what the hey :0)

[wiretwister0]

I have a D27 I removed from my 69 Jeepster. I'll take $150 and you pay shipping from central TX

[Randyzzz]

Man, I sold my stock D30 for $50.00 before Christmas. Give Ryan at The Jeep Guy Home Page a call, I'll bet he has something. He's in south Portland. There's also the 4X4 swap meet in Puyallup, WA the second weekend in March- Moonshiners Jeep Club. I know there will be axles there- the swap meet is acres big!

[Tim]

Pretty sure I still have a D-27 from a '71 Jeepster with 3.73 gears laying around. Send me a pm if you're interested.

[JeepersJeepster]

Would like that a lot Tim, but if im swapping out axles, should i just do it the right way the first time and get a D30? your the pro...what do you think?

[Tim]

Depends on what you want to invest in it. Ideally a D-30 with disk brakes would be the bee's knees. Chances of finding one with the same gears as your rear axle are slim to none, so it would be appx. $300-$400 to re-gear one of the axles to match the other. If money is not an issue, then disk brakes started showing up on 1977 CJ's. Up to and including 1983 models would still be narrow track to match your rear.

The minimum cost approach to a D-30 would be one from a '72-'73 Commando, as it should have 3.73 gears, (assuming that's what you have now). You could convert to disks later, if you wanted.

But for absolute min. cost replacement, a D-27 would probably be the ticket.

The Moonshiner's swap meet will be the place to find the axle of your choice, should you decide on a D-30 or whatever. Moonshiners Swapmeet

[zipper162]

I have a spare D27 out of an early Jeepster for 1 3/4 springs and Ross steering. It has 3.73 gears and is complete minus the steering rod and hub locks. I am in Portland, OR.
I am also working towards installing a D30 with 11" finned drum brakes which will free up the installed D27 with 2" springs and saginaw steering. It has 3.31 gears. I am hoping to use the steering rods on the D30. It has the Selectro (I think) hub locks. They have the duel levers.
Let me know if you are interested. Either would be very cheap.

[JeepersJeepster]

cool...think I will just go back to stock for now and drive her around a bit more. get a little more used to her. Thanks guys and will be back when i find another problem. cheers!