Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler JK engine mounts

What did you do to your JK today?

Here ya go. It’s a soccer mom special. Completely untouched.

IMG_8980.jpeg


IMG_8979.jpeg
 
made a deposit and scheduled my regear to 4.56. I went back and forth between so many different ideas I was getting nowhere slow.

While some say that Dana 30 will fall to pieces the minute it’s used, I’m okay with taking the risk.


Also ordering tires. Going with the Falken AT4W in 35x11.5r17

I really like my 75th anniversary bronze wheels so that means I’m stuck with spacers. I don’t like the idea of spacers but I like the wheels and so that’s the tradeoff. I may splurge on some of the Quadratec replicas that have a more friendly backspacing but not today.

No lift yet. Waiting to see what rubs with this before doing anything. I’m thinking the AEV 2” spacer lift. Currently my Jeep has no rake to speak of and all the lift kits seem to have an adjustment for rake. Unless I find a different spring lift solution going to with that spacer lift.

Going to be mall crawl ready by spring.

Unless you're rock crawling or super stuck and givin er hell, your 30 will be fine. Everyone will say what they will about spacers too. I ran them on my WJ for 10 years. Zero issues. Spend the money on a good set. Make sure you put some Loctite those threads too!
 
made a deposit and scheduled my regear to 4.56. I went back and forth between so many different ideas I was getting nowhere slow.

While some say that Dana 30 will fall to pieces the minute it’s used, I’m okay with taking the risk.


Also ordering tires. Going with the Falken AT4W in 35x11.5r17

People have been saying for years that the D30 will brick as soon as you touch it but evidence has proven otherwise. It's like anything else, don't be an idiot with it and it'll be fine. Get it reinforced if you want the extra assurance. I might do a Rubi D44 swap myself down the road but it's not a priority any time soon.

I can't wait to get my 5.13s installed at the end of the month. I'm also going up to 35s with Mickey Thompson Baja Boss ATs. Your wheels look awesome.
 
People have been saying for years that the D30 will brick as soon as you touch it but evidence has proven otherwise. It's like anything else, don't be an idiot with it and it'll be fine. Get it reinforced if you want the extra assurance. I might do a Rubi D44 swap myself down the road but it's not a priority any time soon.

I can't wait to get my 5.13s installed at the end of the month. I'm also going up to 35s with Mickey Thompson Baja Boss ATs. Your wheels look awesome.

Thanks for that confirmation. I went round and round with myself on needing tons just to get down the road. Then I saw a guy at Kroger running 37s and he didn’t seem to have a problem at all. His jeep didn’t explode.


I do like the wheels so I stuck with 11.5s because Discount Tire won’t install tires beyond the minimum width.

If QT had the 41s in bronze I would buy them just to not have to deal with the spacers but it’ll likely be fine even with them.
 
Then I saw a guy at Kroger running 37s and he didn’t seem to have a problem at all. His jeep didn’t explode.

I wouldn't run 37s on a D30 honestly unless it was strictly a grocery getter with no hills. That's pushing your luck a little far.

Like I said though, you can truss and reinforce the D30 seven ways til Sunday but at how much it'd cost it's probably cheaper to do a D44 junkyard swap. For the type of wheeling I do, 5.13s in the D30 on 35s is fine. If I did crawling though I'd probably get the D44 first.
 
37”s are that odd “middle of the road” tire size…

If you actually wheel trails where you NEED 37”s, they’re too big for OEM JK30/44 balljoints or inner C’s to reliably hold up long term. Then, by the time you reinforce, add bigger brakes, regear, add locker, etc. then you’re basically in UD44 territory (cost wise), which will address at least some of the factory JK30/44 shortcomings, but still have some vulnerabilities.

That said, for causal trails and street cruising, the JK30 is no better or worse than the JK44 since you’re not likely going to be breaking R&P’s on the road…
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cimmerian
37”s are that odd “middle of the road” tire size…

If you actually wheel trails where you NEED 37”s, they’re too big for OEM JK30/44 balljoints or inner C’s to reliably hold up long term. Then, by the time you reinforce, add bigger brakes, regear, add locker, etc. then you’re basically in UD44 territory (cost wise), which will address at least some of the factory JK30/44 shortcomings, but still have some vulnerabilities.

That said, for causal trails and street cruising, the JK30 is no better or worse than the JK44 since you’re not likely going to be breaking R&P’s on the road…

What's your opinion on putting a locker in the D30 with 5.13s?
 
Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler JK engine mounts