Thinking about switching the axles / transfer cases in my 2006 RHD TJ & 2005 LJ Rubicon

[RustyAutoholicGuy]

Oh boy,

What I'm suggesting is going to be considered sacrilege to so many people!

This idea hit me last night and I haven't been able to stop thinking about since it got in my head. So for those of you who don't know I own two Wrangler's currently. A stock 2005 LJ Rubicon that I got for a steal in February and a 2006 Right Hand Drive TJ that I got back in 2017 that I've been doing a Kubota diesel swap into.

Currently the RHD TJ has a 1.25" body lift, 31.7 pizza cutter tires (235/85r16) and I've managed to tuck the entire drivetrain above the bottom of the frame-rails. It has a NorthWest Fab Doubler and an AW4 automatic transmission as well. This is going to be my offroading/overlanding rig.

My 2005 LJ Rubicon is basically my Wrangler to pickup my kids and go get groceries. It's bone stock, new soft top, new tires, and a manual NSG370 6-speed transmission. I don't mind driving it on the road but it's not my favorite driving offroad. I really prefer driving an automatic offroad!

SO here is where my idea hit. I'm planning on going to Moab next year and have been told having lockers in my axles would be a benefit. Also right now I feel like I'm revving the heck out of my 4.0l driving my LJ Wrangler around.

Currently my RHD TJ has a Dana30(Open)/Dana44(LSD) with 3.73 gearing. My LJ Rubicon is Dana44(Selectable Locker)/Dana44(Selectable Locker) with 4.10 gears. My RHD TJ has a NP231 that has been upgraded to a super short SYE that will plug into the factory harness as well.

If I put my axles from my RHD TJ into my LJ, I drop all my cruising RPM so I'm not revving my engine as much. My 65mph RPM would go from 2469rpm to 2246, my 55mph would drop from 2089rpm to 1900rpm.

If I put my axles from my LJ into my RHD TJ, I would put my cruising speeds at 55mph and 65mph within the ideal power band of my diesel engine. My AW4 has a 0.70 overdrive ratio which is much lower than my NSG370 which has a 0.85 overdrive. So with my current axles in my RHD TJ 55mph would be 1521rpm just barely in the ideal power band for my diesel engine. However if I swapped in the 4.10 Dana 44 axles my rpm at 55mph becomes 1672rpm which is right where you want the diesel to run. Same with 65mph as well, it increases from 1797 to 1975, but I can accelerate from 55mph to 65mph without having the transmission to downshift.

As for the transfer cases, I'm never going to really use the low range on my LJ Rubicon currently. I might stick it in 4-Hi if I'm moving around my yard or something but I'm never going to need the 4:1 low range in it. However in my RHD TJ, YES I have the doubler, but really that gives me 1:1, 2.72:1 and 7.4:1 ranges! Not bad at all. HOWEVER if I swap in my NP241OR into my RHD TJ I would have the following gearing available to me 1:1, 2.72:1, 4:1, and finally 10.88:1 .

Also thinking about it, the rear Dana 44 in my RHD TJ is a Limited Slip which if I put it in my LJ which I use to pickup my kids and get groceries is better suited for driving on the road in bad weather conditions as I have more tractions compared to the unlocked Dana 44 thats currently in it.

To further add to all of this I've thought about making my LJ Rubicon into a pickup truck for towing my CJ-2A once I get it built and having an LSD in it works wondering for towing. I have a LSD in my Diesel Liberty right now and it's been great for towing in the rain and slippery conditions.

I know in an ideal world I would just pickup a set of Rubicon Axles and another NP241 transfer case but even if I got a smoking deal on all three, I would be looking at $4000 if I was lucky.

Am I just completely crazy OR is this something that I should consider?

Thanks
Grant

 

[CharlesHS]

Dropping the LJ 4.0L RPMs down that much would be on the low side of the power band at the speeds you quoted.
All of your other ideas and plans are sound.

 

[BuildBreakRepeat]

Do it! Swapping seems like the most ideal option for your uses. Save some money and still have great use.

 

[RustyAutoholicGuy]

Dropping the LJ 4.0L RPMs down that much would be on the low side of the power band at the speeds you quoted.
All of your other ideas and plans are sound.

But isn't that the RPM range for a stock TJ with a NSG370? I thought only Rubicons came with 4.10 gears generally?

 

[RustyAutoholicGuy]

Do it! Swapping seems like the most ideal option for your uses. Save some money and still have great use.

I'm really debating it, it seems crazy and yet sound at the same time!

 

[Rick Flair]

I don’t see the downside unless you sell the LJ, it devalues it. Otherwise, do it!!

 

[CharlesHS]

But isn't that the RPM range for a stock TJ with a NSG370? I thought only Rubicons came with 4.10 gears generally?

My mistake.... I misunderstood your post...
Too much time at the new house with the contractors in the sun.
There is no downside to your swap.

 

[Goatman]

I would take that path too. It just makes sense for both vehicles. And they could always be swapped back if for some reason you wanted to. I would start with the axles and try that out for a week or two to confirm you are doing the right thing. Then swap the transfers. It really seems like an ideal way to get both of them closer to what you want from each. Full report during/afterwards I hope.

 

[Apparition]

Or, engine swap them and take the LJ to Moab where it belongs.

 

[Alex01]

With the price you paid for the LJR it makes sense. On the flip side, you could sell the LJR and likely afford new axles and a T-case with just the profits.

Let's assume you decide to leave the LJR alone for the sake of discussion. Have you looked into salvage auctions? You could likely find a rubicon that could be parted out.

 

[RustyAutoholicGuy]

Or, engine swap them and take the LJ to Moab where it belongs.

Unfortunately the LJ is a manual and I really prefer to wheel with my automatic, and I think my entire family would kill me for being this close to being done with my diesel swap if I took it apart and swapped them around.

With the price you paid for the LJR it makes sense. On the flip side, you could sell the LJR and likely afford new axles and a T-case with just the profits.

Let's assume you decide to leave the LJR alone for the sake of discussion. Have you looked into salvage auctions? You could likely find a rubicon that could be parted out.

This is actually a really good point. I haven't yet looked at that route. I know my wife would be happy if I sold the LJ, paid off some of our debts and used some of the profits to get a salvaged Rubicon, this might actually be the better route to go truthfully.

I have a ton of respect for the Rubicon and there is a part of me that feels bad for stripping it when it's all original. Hmm I'll have to do some looking around. Thanks for the idea @Alex01

-Grant

 

[Apparition]

Unfortunately the LJ is a manual and I really prefer to wheel with my automatic, and I think my entire family would kill me for being this close to being done with my diesel swap if I took it apart and swapped them around.

I figured the tranny’s would swap also.

I was being somewhat facetious though I didn’t expect you’d want to go that route.

 

[RustyAutoholicGuy]

I figured the tranny’s would swap also.

I was being somewhat facetious though I didn’t expect you’d want to go that route.

I'd be completely lying if I said I didn't think about doing that exact thing the day I bought the LJ

 

[RustyAutoholicGuy]

@Apparition the other thing about it is my 2006 RHD TJ was my first Wrangler I ever owned, and for some reason that is important to me, I can't tell you why though.

I think the other major factor for not swapping the drivetrains around is ever since I was a little kid I've had a love for Postal Jeeps. I remember going to the main hub in my hometown when they still had DJ-5s and watching them being loaded and unloaded. Really that is where my love for Jeeps began. So to own a TJ which is Right Hand Drive as well is very satisfying to the 4 year old boy in me!

 

[Irun]

Since you're not attached to the LJ, I'm in the camp of selling it. As you already know, there's a strong market for the LJ Rubicon. Especially, if it's stock and has a manual transmission. FWIW, I've picked up two TJ Rubicons, with rust or other issues, for $5300 or less. I pulled the rears and transfer cases, then sold everything I could. They're out there. You just need to be patient and jump on them when they do pop up.

 

[Goatman]

That LJ is only going to increase in value. The longer you hold onto it the more it will be worth. Unlike a wife that doesn't like LJ's. They are a dime a dozen. Hell, even I had one of those. Keep the LJ, but don't let the (ex)wife read this. Somehow it'll be your fault for reading it.

 

[RustyAutoholicGuy]

Since you're not attached to the LJ, I'm in the camp of selling it. As you already know, there's a strong market for the LJ Rubicon. Especially, if it's stock and has a manual transmission. FWIW, I've picked up two TJ Rubicons, with rust or other issues, for $5300 or less. I pulled the rears and transfer cases, then sold everything I could. They're out there. You just need to be patient and jump on them when they do pop up.

Yeah I'm thinking that is what I'm going to end up doing, I need to fix some really minor things on the LJ but I think I'm going to put it up for sale.

That LJ is only going to increase in value. The longer you hold onto it the more it will be worth. Unlike a wife that doesn't like LJ's. They are a dime a dozen. Hell, even I had one of those. Keep the LJ, but don't let the (ex)wife read this. Somehow it'll be your fault for reading it.

I've been through one divorce already and my current wife built my 24x28 shop for me to work on my Jeeps . . . I'm inclined to keep her happy

Also your last statement I can confirm from previous relationships is true . . .

 

[zebra12]

Long term plan for 15 inch stretch on the diesel?

Good read here if you have not seen it:

https://bit.ly/2YTH2kE

 

[RustyAutoholicGuy]

Long term plan for 15 inch stretch on the diesel?

Yeah actually, I love what they call a TJ-8, I'm actually trying to get the metal floors and rails so I can do the stretch on the Facebook group. Call my crazy but I really like my Right Hand Drive. Also I like how much closer the rear axle is to the tube compare to the LJ, it's not a huge difference but the departure angle is so much better!

 

[AndrewLJR]

In my opinion, sacrilege! Dont tear apart a perfectly good LJR. It's your Jeep and money but you're better off selling it and sourcing a salvage rubicon or rubicon axles.