[shawnxj]

well i've calmed down now since it's been almost a week since i bought the xj and all my grand plans for the jeep may have been a little extreme. so basically i need an opinion on what would be the best easiest axles to swap into my jeep for me to run either 33's or 35's. i'm really leaning towards running 35's but not sure i wanna be hacking up ford 9's or d60's to make it work. if i can do it with either an 8.8 or d44 i'd be all about it since they're much easier to swap in.

also i've decided i have no clue what to do about the front axle so a little help there would be appreciated.

i also still plan on swapping in an ax15/np231 combo but have no clue what gear ratios to run on the axles and i may not swap in the tranny/tcase right away i may do that later in the year. i see alot of people running 4.10's,4.88's and 5.13 but would really like some first hand mpg info from people who are running those gears with 33's or 35's

this jeep is mainly gonna be used for running the beach and hopefully i'll find some trails and rocks to play on occasionally as well

anyways i'd appreciate the help if it's available

[xjfever]

A 97 or newer 8.25 will work for 33's, or 35's if you are easy on the skinny pedal. And the d30 up front will work, but you could swap in a newer model without the vacuum disco. Ofcourse those are just bolt in options. The 8.8 is a good rear with the disc brake upgrade, but you will have to cut off all the mounts and weld on the proper ones to make it work. And the XJ44 will be hard to find. As far as gears, I'd run 4:56 with 33's and auto, 4:88's with 35's and auto. but if your not gonna drive it on the street much you could use the same gears with the 5 speed.

[blackblazer92]

a non disco hp 30 with chromoly shafts will hold up to 35's no probably. as far as a rear. try to find an xj 44 and if you cant a 29 spline i8.25 it will hold up fine. i dont know why everyone always jumps on the 1 ton axle bandwagon. its kinda overkill unless you are running a high horsepower motor and 37+ tires

[leftlanetruckin]

my last rig, a yj, had a 8.8 and a built hp30. it all lasted with 37x14.50's, 4.88's and arb's, behind a bored 4.3 chevy/700r4/4.3 atlas.
so with 35's, a built hp30 will be fine, unless ye drive like ye stole it...
i loved my 8.8 in the yj, it never gave me an ounce of trouble. they are very easy to swap IMO. its only the spring perches and shock mounts afterall. and you dont even need to grind off the old perches, as explorers were sua IIRC.
do that, or buy some tj or jk rubicon 44's and be done with it...
martin

[XJ2000]

Get either 8.8 or an 8.25. If you can find a D44 from an XJ, then take that route. Either of those three will be plenty strong for 33's and/or 35's. The Dana 30 is a good axle, but may be overwhelmed by 35's depending on how hard you are on the skinny pedal. You could upgrade to chromoly shafts, larger 760 u-joints, gears and a locker.

As for going the route of a 9" or Dana 60, it's really not necessary unless you're going to move up to 37" sticky's or the like. You can make that Dana 44/8.8/8.25 to be really strong.

[shawnxj]

thanks for the input guys

what is a non disco hp 30? i'm still trying to pick up on some of ya'lls lingo. i'm assuming the 30 stands for a dana 30 but no idea what the rest is supposed to mean

[eflores]

shoot i run 33's on a stock 30/35 combo locked!.....leave it alone spend your money else where. re gear. get some better ball joints for the 30, run it till it goes caboom....if its worries you that much carry some extra shafts when you wheel.
for some added effect weld your tubes and maybe truss.

[leftlanetruckin]

Originally Posted by shawnxj

thanks for the input guys

what is a non disco hp 30? i'm still trying to pick up on some of ya'lls lingo. i'm assuming the 30 stands for a dana 30 but no idea what the rest is supposed to mean

hp30 = a high pinion dana 30. there are high and low pinion versions.
non disconnect means that the passenger side axle is one piece, not two from the pumpkin to the wheel.

martin

[xjfever]

The non-disco, is how the 4x4 is engaged. On the earlier models like yours, the 4x4 is engaged by a vacuum system. on the later models they did away with that set-up.

[oldmanriver]

While were on the subject of nondisco swaps, what do you have to change at the tcase?

[shawnxj]

what year did they do away with the vacuum engage?

[leftlanetruckin]

Originally Posted by oldmanriver

While were on the subject of nondisco swaps, what do you have to change at the tcase?

nothing as far as i know....
the yoke is the same. only difference is slightly shorter, but the slip should take it up nicely.

martin

[oldmanriver]

Do you just run a wire for the linkage? I've been meaning to look into replacing all the vac components but if its just a bolt up deal I'll just get a jy non disco. Sorry for the hijack JrTjK

[leftlanetruckin]

Originally Posted by oldmanriver

Do you just run a wire for the linkage? I've been meaning to look into replacing all the vac components but if its just a bolt up deal I'll just get a jy non disco. Sorry for the hijack JrTjK

pm sent to avoid more hijacking...

martin