Project Land Yacht! Full size Dodge Diesel 4 door

[jeepdreamer]

Rear diff...

Try Ruff Stuff...they make some diff covers that would be right at home on an MRAP!:drool:

 

[Outback]

Thanks JEEPDREAMER,
Unfortunately they dont make one just yet. Maybe before the end of the year. I have the ultra strong AAM 11.5 rear axle. Guess I will just wait for now.

 

[Regcabguy]

I replaced my stock ATF+4 tranny fluid w/Amsoil Universal ATF with good results. It has slightly better cold weather shifting characteristics than the stock ATF. Tranny holds 6.2 qts and the transfercase 3 qts I believe. The Amsoil site has all the capacities. I've ridden in a 2.0 Carli system. It'll work out fine for you. The trackbar they provide is far better than the stocker.

 

[zonker]

I have an '06 Dodge CTD with the 11.5" AAM. Put on a "Rockcrusher" rear diff cover. It is seriously stout and it provides for a few extra bottles of gear oil. I just noticed that the ICON Toyota that is for sale in the Expo classifieds has a "Rockcrusher" for its rear diff protection. They definitely appear to be VERY tough and UnCrushable ductile iron!

Fit is excellent with no leakage problems after installation. As a side note.. the fill hole is quite high on the cover. So much so that I believe you would over fill the diff if you used the hole as a reference. The oil level should sit between the bottom of the axle tube and the bottom of the axle. Consequently I ended up with 7.0 qts... a bit of an increase over stock. Just FYI should you go this route.

 

[Outback]

I replaced my stock ATF+4 tranny fluid w/Amsoil Universal ATF with good results. It has slightly better cold weather shifting characteristics than the stock ATF. Tranny holds 6.2 qts and the transfercase 3 qts I believe. The Amsoil site has all the capacities. I've ridden in a 2.0 Carli system. It'll work out fine for you. The trackbar they provide is far better than the stocker.

Thanks for the info. I had already ordered all the fluid after my wife got back from Dodge. I had a list for them to fill out......:sombrero: The transmission with filter change takes 6.5 quarts. The transfercase takes 2.0 quarts. I talked to the Amsoil Tech dept and they said as you did to go with the Amsoil Universal ATF. Since we are talking oil capacities I will also include the axles. The front 9.25 AAM axle takes 2.1 quarts. The rear axle AAM 11.5 takes 4.2 quarts (stock diff covers). I ordered Amsoil Secvere Gear lube 75W 90 for both axles. I ordered a case of each so as to have a few bottles left over to store in my rig. The Amsoil will arrive Wednesday and the truck goes in the shop Thursday to get the front leaky axle seal replaced and have all of the fluids changed out.

 

[Outback]

I have an '06 Dodge CTD with the 11.5" AAM. Put on a "Rockcrusher" rear diff cover. It is seriously stout and it provides for a few extra bottles of gear oil. I just noticed that the ICON Toyota that is for sale in the Expo classifieds has a "Rockcrusher" for its rear diff protection. They definitely appear to be VERY tough and UnCrushable ductile iron!

Fit is excellent with no leakage problems after installation. As a side note.. the fill hole is quite high on the cover. So much so that I believe you would over fill the diff if you used the hole as a reference. The oil level should sit between the bottom of the axle tube and the bottom of the axle. Consequently I ended up with 7.0 qts... a bit of an increase over stock. Just FYI should you go this route.

Yes the Rockcrusher looks like a good HD unit. But I just got a call back from Great Lakes Off Road and they do indeed make a 11.5 AAM Rear Diff cover.

 

[Outback]

PART TWO of front axle skid plate install

Ok so I drilled out the two holes for the U bolt. The correct U bolt size is 3 1/2". I used a Sharpie to out line the holes and used a tampered drill bit (not sure what they are called) This worked out great since it left a burr free side. I simple flipped over the skid plate and cleaned up the other side with a quick spin of the bit. A few passes with some black paint and its ready to install. I also picked up two nuts and bolts with washers and lock nuts. You need to first install the one on the far end onto the vehicle and just have it hang loose. Then you slip the side of the skid plate onto the bolt. The plate is slotted to do this. Then I simply dropped on the 3 1/2" U bolt and some locktite. While everything is still loose I added the second nut and bolt and tightened everything down. I used some Cat Locktite which is Blue in color. Not sure how strong it is but I suspect everything will hold up just fine. I then added some nylocks onto the top of the U bolt nuts and washers. I need to trim the excess U bolt threads but for now its all looking good. Here are the pics. Just to make things easier when you order your skid plate make sure you order those two extra nuts and bolts.

 

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More pics

 

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And more pics.

 

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Some good protection. The Skid plate is very solid and makes for a great addition to the protection gear on this rig.

 

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Final results.

 

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Well Great Lakes Off Road called me back. They do indeed make the rear diff cover for the AAM 11.5 rear axle. There covers are made from 1/4" wall steel plate with 1/2" steel mounting surface. I had them add a drain plug. Cost $130 plus shipping. Will post some pics when it arrives Saturday.

 

[Outback]

Well Great Lakes Off Road called me back. They do indeed make the rear diff cover for the AAM 11.5 rear axle. There covers are made from 1/4" wall steel plate with 1/2" steel mounting surface. I had them add a drain plug. Cost $130 plus shipping. Will post some pics when it arrives Saturday. Here is a link to there site.

http://www.greatlakeoffroad.com/diff.html

 

[WVF150]

Stopping by to say hey and I will be following your build looking forward to seeing your new camper top flippac.. Let me know so I can order one.

 

[Outback]

Stopping by to say hey and I will be following your build looking forward to seeing your new camper top flippac.. Let me know so I can order one.

Hey right back.. I will post all that I find here. Thanks for joining the group.:victory: