YJ - Sufa

[tekach]

Hello everybody,

I'd kindly ask you for some information and advice. I am really sure all those questions were already answered 100 times, but unfortunately I can't understand Hebrew.

I have a YJ 4.0, year 1995 and have recently bought Sufa's dana 44 rear axle from Israel. I'd need to install different ratio ring& pinion, replace bearings, seals and install locker.

Problem is that shops in USA where I'm buying spare parts and upgrades don't know what to sell me. They of course don't know this axle, also Bill of material numbers don't return anything useful.

My questions for Sufa experts:
* Which spare parts can be used when rebuilding differential (for which car/model/year)?
* Which alloy axle shafts will fit the axle housing and differential carriers (for which car/model/year)?
* Which locker will fit in the axle housing?
* I've noticed that pinion yoke on Sufa's dana 44 is bigger than pinion yoke on original YJ dana 35. Apparently, everything was built stronger. Did Sufa use slip yoke eliminator on NP231?
* Is there also front dana 44 axle?

Thank you very much for your help.
Best regards from Slovenia,

Andrej

[davidror]

hi try to ask it in this web u will get the best answer

http://www.cjcllub.co.il/forum/

look for סופה טכני

good luck

[נמרוד]

My questions for Sufa experts:
* Which spare parts can be used when rebuilding differential (for which car/model/year)?
* Which alloy axle shafts will fit the axle housing and differential carriers (for which car/model/year)?
* Which locker will fit in the axle housing?
* I've noticed that pinion yoke on Sufa's dana 44 is bigger than pinion yoke on original YJ dana 35. Apparently, everything was built stronger. Did Sufa use slip yoke eliminator on NP231?
* Is there also front dana 44 axle?

Thank you very much for your help.
Best regards from Slovenia,

Andrej





Andrej hi and welcome!

Any locker for Dana 44 30 spline will fit.
The pinion yoke is bigger - it is dana 44, not 35.
I would look for parts meant for Cherokee XJ with rear Dana 44 from the early 90' s these are the same axles.
Sufa comes with 231 or 241 T-cases and standard slip yokes, no eliminators. because of the longer wheelbase and rear driveshaft there are no drive line issues requiring an SYE when lifting up to 4-5 inches as is common here.
No, there was no dana 44 front axle, just plain YJ dana 30 axles.

[tekach]

Thank you very much for your help.

Best regards,
Andrej

[tekach]

I plan to attend desert race with YJ - www.sahara-masters.de (http://www.sahara-masters.de) in October 2009.
Since you all have quite a lot of experience with Jeeps in the desert, I'd kindly ask for your advice again.
Current configuration is like this:
- Jeep Wrangler YJ, 1995, manual, 6 cyl as a base
- cut fenders, soft top, snorkel
- jet performance computer chip, open exhaust, K&N filter
- Dana 44 from Sufa in the rear, ARB locker, chromemoly shafts, 30 spline, 3.73 gears
- Dana 30 in the front, open diff, chromemoly shafts, 27 spline, 3.73 gears
- Rubicon Express 2.5" lift, extreme duty
- NP231 with SYE with HD shaft
- BF Goodrich M/T 32" x 11.5, little bit worn, on steel rims 15" x 8"
- I plan to use hydraulic bump stops and good set of shocks

Questions:
- Can anyone comment this setup? Does it any have potential?
- What ususally breaks on YJ if pushed hard?
- What shocks would you recommend?
- Suggestions for mods welcome - would you configure budget desert racing vehicle any different?
Thanks again!
Andrej

[coas]

First and foremost - cooling system, replace what ever is in doubt, hoses, water pump, fan clutch or radiator, and flush the system. Look for HD fan clutch.
Oil, use HD engine oil like Shell Rotella or a like. It will be nice having an oil cooler too. For best oiling use 15W-50 oil.
Get rid of the K&N and use a closed box paper air filter
A locker in the front will be helpful


:Some of the obvious
A proper cage if you don't have it already
An air compressor on hand

[tekach]

Hello Coas,

I have K&N filter for a closed box (square) in combination with snorkel.

I am somehow reserved using locker in front as it dramatically increases chances of breaking. Were you refering to Limited Slip or alike?

What about shocks?

Thanks for advices :-)

Greetings from Slovenia
Andrej

----------------
www.klativitez.si
www.4x4exe.net

[coas]

The K&N filters is an old debate, read more here (http://web.archive.org/web/20060704233604/http://home.usadatanet.net/%7Ejbplock/ISO5011/SPICER.htm).

About the front locker, I was referring to a real automatic locker, you can get by without it but it's always better having more traction on the sand. With reckless driving anything can brake, but on a second thought, if you're not familiar with sand driving it's better without it.


I'm not knowledgeable enough in shock observers and such, I'll leave these to someone else.


Good luck

[דרור ברלי]

Hi andrej!


best filtration for sand conditions will be the original storm m-240 ("sufa", as we call it) HD air box with the standard HD paper filter.


an HD 3-row radiator from armored-model sufa will be great for the desert conditions. dont forget to take spare rubber-hoses...


the front dana30 is not a super-strong axle with tyres bigger than 31', but if you will be gentle with it, i believe it will not break.
many of us here in israel have a not-so-good experiance with the ARB selectable-locker for the dana30... an full-locking automatic locker such as Lockright, Easy-locker or No-slip in the front such as in my-own sufa, is not recomended for this kind of race-use because of its bad influence to the steering in 4 wheel-drive mode... any way, this is a high-speed-race, not a super-slow rock-crawing, so i think Front limited-slip such as trac-lock or detroit true-trac will do the job.
in the rear, and for every off-road application i can imagine, i will always prefer the good-old super-strong detroit-locker over the troublesome ARB locker.



dont forget a strong-built FIA roll-cage...



good luck!!!


dror

[tekach]

Woah, I am shocked about those K&N facts. Very useful info.

Dror: I attempted to upgrade strenght of dana 30 with chromo shafts. They're supposedly 30% stronger. I wont be gentle with them :P

If I understood correctly, Sufa had bigger radiator and air filter box?

I have mixed feelings about Detroit. It's rock solid, proven, but automatic - therefore ideal for some applications but not for all - sometimes one would prefer open diff in the rear. Besides, it sometimes engages when it should not.. check for detroit shuffle

Many thanks for info!

[asafk]

the original SUFA has a larger air filter, a round unit with internal fins that adds a cyclone effect. an option is to use an air filter used in off-road machines (tractors) that is similiar to the SUFA original equipment.
the military SUFA uses oil cooler for the engine that reduces the temperatures. highly recomended. you can buy a "sandwich" oil filter adaptor and connect an oil cooler to it.

among other weak points of the Jeep, I would mention the rear shocks mounts to the chassis. they tend to break downwards - when the axle drops down.

Asaf.

[דרור ברלי]

oops, i forgot you'r using chromoly shafts.... sorry;) your front axle will propably survive....
about detroit-locker, fact is, that detroit is engaged all the time! it suposed to disengage
in situationes such as tight turns. i like the rock-solid relaebilty of this locker and dont like ARB's because of the possibilty to air-leaks and other problems at the proper second you realy need it

sufa's air cleaner is designed for desert use, hard-dust conditiones, and is bigger and far more better than YJ wrangler standart element. about the sufa's radiator - the standart is 2row, i'm using the armoured-model HD 3row unit in my sufa, and recommend it for your application.

be sure to use brand-new original mopar water-pump, and take one in your tool-box for spare - be careful from japanese-made cheep replacements

[Subzero]

Hi Andrej.

I'd vote against the ARB as well, especially for racing conditions. If having the possibility for a fully open rear diff is that important to you, I'd have a look at the OX lockers (http://www.ox-usa.com/ox/).
These are cable operated lockers made in USA (if I'm not mistaken...) and they have a reputation for being vary sturdy and reliable once setup correctly.
I my self don't have any expirience with those but I believe it's an option worth looking into

Itsik

[tzagi]

You made me shed a tear....
whats next?
A forum in the Queen's English?

[coas]

תראו מי יצא מהנפטלין...

כבר אמרתי לך מזמן, אתה לא מדבר אנגלית, אמריקאית זו שפה אחרת לגמרי, נחותה..

[tzagi]

Look who is talking.....
You Anglo Moroccan mutation from hell

[tekach]

I'm happy to let you know that I won the Sahara Masters rally.

Asher & Projeep: thank you for organizing Sufa's dana44 for me.

I'd also like to thank forum's members for all the support and valuable advices.

More info about rally can be found here:
- http://www.marathonrally.com/news/13810.0.html
- http://www.marathonrally.com/gal-update/gallery3/gallery.php?gid=950
- www.sahara-masters.de


http://www.marathonrally.com/gal-update/gallery3/watermark.php?i=72065

http://www.marathonrally.com/gal-update/gallery3/watermark.php?i=72071

http://www.marathonrally.com/gal-update/gallery3/watermark.php?i=72099

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Play hard.
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