40 Dollar G80 Locker and Junk Yard 8.8 LSD TJ hill Climb Test

99 Jeep TJ SE 2.5L 5 speed with 4.56 gears on 31 10.50 with a 2 inch lift. the 8.8 swap is a great upgrade to any jeep XJ or TJ. The open diff in the dana 30 has been swapped out for a Volvo G80 and locks up nice when you need it but will not affect your on road driving. I built my jeep for more of a overland type trips to get back to hunting grounds and to go camping. as you can see I did not air down my tires or disconnect the sway bar links.

[@SD-pi9co]

The GMC G80 is not limited slip

[@masterdebater8757]

Eaton's Mlocker (g80) isn't designed for front axles you will wear out the clutches in it fast... Yes it has clutches like a LSD and a mechanical locking flyweight that locks putting pressure on some (dog plates) increasing pressure on the clutch pack while sliding a collar to lock the shafts... Eaton's Detroit Truetrac is the way to go for front axles if you want road manners and durability in a mechanical type auto locker.

[@masterdebater8757]

Also the locker from a Volvo doesn't look like a G80 unit to me it has a bulkier housing that is way more square looking also has no identification marks from manufacturer.. I honestly think that is a knock off version of the Eaton Mlocker. Inerested to here anyone that can shed some light on that. If it was a major manufacturer on not.

[@hunttomuchwolfe]

It only locks at slow speed so no I don't have a problem on the road or for the 50k miles I put on it with zero problem so I'm going to call it good it still works like the day I put it in

[@masterdebater8757]

Yes it locks at low speed and unlocks around 30mph (if the load on it is low) but still uses clutches that get worn on front axles while turning. I wasn't saying it wont last I am saying it was not designed for front axles. That is the way LSD side of g80 works "it does until it don't". If you look at Eaton site they specifically label there diffs if they are for front axle use. But all said for 40 bucks do as you wish you got your money back well before it is worn out.

[@fonzs6360]

Did you guys regear that yourselves? If so how much pinion did you have to adjust the pinion depth to get a good contact pattern and backlash?

[@JohnWayne-es8gl]

Where in the world did you find a 40 dollar g80? My buddies went out and they were 350 to 400 dollars used everywhere.

[@hunttomuchwolfe]

Pick a pull we found it pulled it and they charged us 40 for a diff for a Volvo

[@JohnWayne-es8gl]

Oh that explains it . I was looking for one for a Chevy truck. Supply and demand lol

[@AB714AA]

am new to this 4x4 thing and been watching a lot of videos to learn more about it its fun😎

[@hunttomuchwolfe]

Jeeps are easy most things can be fixed with a few tools and if you want to mod stuff its easy as well we pull parts from wj xj tj and even ford dodge and put it in are jeeps and still keep cost down. I have over built my jeep not so much for lift bit for gearing and 4 wheel disk breaks truss 8.8LSD G80 all I need to do next is up grad the bumpers like the XJ. You will get it just have someone go with you and start slow any problems just ask away

[@mybadlsc1]

That looks like the ElPaso area

[@hunttomuchwolfe]

Yeah it is

[@fonzs6360]

Hello, I pulled a G80 LSD out of a Volvo to put in my Dana30 on my XJ but found that even with all the shims removed the backspacing was still to tight against the pinion and the carrier would bind. Did you have this issue and if so did you have to regear the pinion? Im thinking that taking a shim out of the pinion might do it but the pinon shims may only be a few thousandths and might still be a little tight. Any info you can give would be appreciated TY.

[@hunttomuchwolfe]

Alfonso Solis I had 4.56 gears in the tj the lt xj we went with 3.73 gears and it fit just fine are you running 3.07 or 3.55 every time we have built one up it's been with just over stock gearing

[@fonzs6360]

I was trying to use the stock gearing but was binding against the pinion

[@hunttomuchwolfe]

Alfonso Solis I think you have 3.55 do you have a auto in your Jeep if so I think it's because any thing below 3.55 can't be used on one that fits 3.73 because anything 3.73 can be geared lower 4.10 4.56 4.88 what size tires are you running

[@fonzs6360]

hunttomuch wolfe I have 33s and yes an auto trans

[@hunttomuchwolfe]

Alfonso Solis you need to switch to 3.73 or 4.11 to get you back to stock shift points and regain your power the lt xj has 3.73 in it with 31 and it's shifts easy and don't bog on the hills 3.55 on 33 is a little harder

[@AB714AA]

nice keep us updated cause my 90 xj is my daily too and I take mi familia With me sometimes don't want nothing to happen when am driving on the road

[@hunttomuchwolfe]

I have put 15.000 miles on my jeep with the G80 and 8.8 towing my ATV wood from west tx to wi to mo and I have had zero problems I trust it if I find anything bad about it ill let you know

[@AB714AA]

good to hear it been looking forward to add this locker on my jeep I have a question my rear end I believe it's a d44 positive can I still install that g80 on the front?

[@hunttomuchwolfe]

yes you can the G80 fits any dana 30 I have tried in the 88 XJ the 97 wj the 99 tj that has a dana 30 from a 06 tj you keep the same gearing you use your old gears so as long as you current gears match your good to go. the LT had a 44 in his XJ and we swapped it for a ford 8.8 LSD it was cheaper to do that then regear his xj and lock the 44 and the 8.8 is stronger and has disk breaks. as long as your gears match your good

[@gordongreninger6109]

abraham vazquez Why not just add a lunchbox locker in the 44. That way you dont have to mess with setting the ring and pinion back up. GM used the shit out of g80s and its key to their legendary failure rate.

[@AB714AA]

yeah I know that's what I heard thanks for helping me man I'll be following you

[@AB714AA]

great video guys🖒

[@hunttomuchwolfe]

I need to do another video showing how well it works. My jeep is a daily driver and is set up for overland trips with the wife and kids. And the 88 XJ has one in it and its a beast of a jeep it will climb better then my TJ

[@DanielCole]

Now that you've been running the Ford 8.8 with the LSD in the rear for a while now, what are you thoughts on the LSD vs a locker? I'm about to install a 8.8 with LSD in my XJ but I'm considering putting a Spartan locker in it while I have the axle open and pulled apart. I just don't know if its worth it because I've never driven with a LSD diff.

[@hunttomuchwolfe]

I run a G80 in My Dana 30 and it's awesome great for on road driving and off-road the 8.8 LSD has been used abused and never let me down. Not only was the LSD cheaper but for sand and snow and when I'm towing or on my farm in the wet soft field it just goes. It's quite and strong I looked into locker choices but after running it I don't think I will ever change it. I hang with the rest of the guys on the trail but it's simple I stop on the gas and hang on all 4 tires are digging and off you go.

[@gordongreninger6109]

Dan Cole If your new to this go lsd in the rear till you learn about handling traits that come with both rear wheels driven. Pedal a lsd/locker long enuff and sooner or later you will get a lesson in snap oversteer at the worst possible moment. Have a buddy ride shotgun and yank the e brake on a wet curve when you aint expecting it. Thats snap over steer. The same thing can and will happen hydroplaning ETC with a lsd/ locker equipped vehicle. Lsd is more forgiving than a locker in those situations. Good luck.

[@danielmcdaniels295]

Is the 8.8 the pumpkin in the irs

[@danielmcdaniels295]

Which volvo did you get the locker out of?

[@MrMrsregor]

0:54 looks like its not working.?.

[@hunttomuchwolfe]

MrMrsregor you have to spin the tires to get it to engage problem I have with 456 gears is I try and creep up slow if I put more power to the tires it locks up fast this was one of the first field test and I just didn't know how to use it like I do no. you can hear it eating on the hill at the top it has made a big difference on the trail

[@MrMrsregor]

oh ok, good to know. i have been watching your videos for a while now and this weekend hope to go out shopping for a ford 8.8 and a g80 locker for my xj project. thanks for all your help and info !

[@hunttomuchwolfe]

MrMrsregor I almost never use 4x4 after the 8.8 LSD swap because I just don't spin out like the old open dana did I use to spin out on every hill or obstacle I was on

[@gordongreninger6109]

hunttomuch wolfe G80 is famous for eating GM axles. Crazy failure rate. Ive only seen one guy who could pedal one without it breaking shit.

[@rayaboomboom]

Great job!

[@hunttomuchwolfe]

We are almost done wit the XJ build its going to smoke my TJ

[@punkbutler88]

nice bud. you should do a snow test on the G80.

[@hunttomuchwolfe]

I moved to MO so not a lot of snow but ill show off what I can with the ice we get every winter but ill show what I can

[@amorag59]

Nice to see jeep being used for overlanding - don't see much of it these days

[@hunttomuchwolfe]

It gets back to the camping and hunting areas very nice

[@landroverzone9824]

😐