The Dark Side: V8, V6 & 4 Cylinder Engine Conversions and related radical modifications (brakes, transmission, suspension, drivetrain) for MGB, MGA, Midget and all other MG models. Purists beware!
I just bought a low mileage (7k) Trac-Lok dif on the cheap ($75 with 3.7 gears) and need to have installed it with either 3.3 or 3.54 gears in my 3.0 postal Jeep axle. I have absolutely no idea how much to expect to pay for the labor to have this done.
Can anyone give me a ballpark figure?
a 4wd shop should charge around $300 to get you set up. New R&P parts are going to be a couple hundred.
I used to get ring & pinions installed for $100. Find a mechanic that will do it on the side.
Carl, I think it would be better doing in front of him, hard to change a gear set on the side. Is it better on the side? LOL
1744 Wrote:
HEY! I think the Jeep unit is a Dana. If so, there is a special fixture, Dealer tool, that requires you to "do it sideways" . It allows you to pre-LOAD and then set the Pinion. next you roll the Ring gear in the Carrier. Now comes the problem, Blacklash. If you get no backlash, you have it under control. you can finish the operation and then go set up the CWP.
Hope you have the sequence correct now. see you in P.W. Wi.
SAFETY FASTER!
Thanks for the input. I picked up the carrier today and I'll start looking for someone to install it on Monday. I was happy to find a posi in like-new condition for such a cheap price and I've already found a few sets of 3.3 and 3.54 gears for $25-$50. I'll have about $400-$500 in the complete axle using MGB brakes when I'm done. I'm doing my own work other than setting up the CW&P.
workinearly Wrote:
Jim,
Yeah, I was lucky. Good old Craigslist is great.
The carrier that's in my axle may be a posi. It looked kinda nasty when I opened it up so I didn't get past just glancing at it and deciding to find another. If it is you can have it if you want to go through it. What gear will you need? You're welcome to the 3.0 that's bolted to it.
I'm on the fence with mine. I'm leaning towards 3.54's but I'm tempted to stay with the 3.7 gears that came with my new carrier because of the small difference between the two ratios. What do you recommend with my 300 and .63 T5? 3.3.3.54 or 3.7? I have a 3.7 MGC axle now but decided go posi and I didn't want to take out a second mortgage to install a Quaife.
I have 3.3 I put in a B axle but it had a tooth missing on the ring gear so I wouldn't use it behind a V8. I ran it in a 4 cylinder car for a few months and it did fine.
David, we'd be quite happy with a used posi. As for the gears, I wouldn't mind having them for spares but I don't think we really need them. I don't know what tire you're running but I think I'd lean towards the 3.54 and even consider the 3.31 since that 300 is a pretty torqey motor. It really depends on how you drive. More hills, curves and backroads, 3.54. More straight and level, 3.31. Unless you like stoplight drag racing a lot. You'd probably be pretty happy with either one, just remember that you can fine tune your axle ratio with your tire diameter. The 3.7 is pretty close to the stock axle ratio, so your steps will be about the same going from that to the 3.54 and then the 3.31. A 3.90 literally screams for a 7 grand redline. The lower gears, not so much, and quite a few owners are very happy with a 3.08 as it gets them down around 2 grand at cruising speed. Might be a bit much with that overdrive ratio though. Hope that helps,
Jim
Jim,
Thanks for the advice. I bought a new 3.54 CWP on e-Bay for $35. That should get me..........
