Topic: upgrade possibilities

[drunkencityworker]

I am putting an 8.8 in the back of my 95yjauto2.5. I am looking at the possibilities of either upgrading the dana 30 by either adding solid shaft and a locker or swaping for a 44. I may consider puttinjg a dana 300 in to match the front axle if its easier to switch to pass drop. Are there any feasable upgrades that would keep my 5x4.5 lug pattern and 3.73 gears? Is it possible to swap knuckles with another axle to keep 5x4.5 lug pattern? Or since its only a 4cyl just keep np231 and put money into the dana30?

[BarneyJeep]

tj chromo shafts, and regear to 4.88's, your choice of locker....should be good to 35" tires

there arent any bolt in upgraded front axles, that i know of for a YJ.
You already have a HP30, which is just as strong of a ring and pinion as a LP d44 front.
If you goto the one piece later style shafts and use a spicer 760x ujoint you have the same ujoints as a d44, plus you have the ground clearance of a d30 and hte driveshaft clearance of the HP.

[drunkencityworker]

to keep the price down now cant i grab a cherokee axle shaft from the bone yard? I cant afford regear at this time. If I get a lunchbox style locker would it work with 4.56 or 4.88 as well as the current 3.73 or would I have to get new locker?

[FourbangerYJ]

You can get a one piece passanger side axle from a TJ or XJ. The TJ should have the larger size Ujoint. The XJ mostlikely will have the smaller one. You will also need a seal to go in the carrier to keep the oil from coming out.
The lunchbox lockers go into the stock carrier. There is a carrier break but I forget where it's at. I'm not sure if the 3.73 carrier will work with the 4.56/4.88 gears.
The only D44 I know of with 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern was from a mid 70's Dodge. But it's not considered a upgrade. The D30 with good aftermarket shafts will be plenty strong for 35's.
The 231 is a fairly strong case. About the only reason to switch to a D300 is if you swap front ends too and need a passanger drop T-case.
The Ford D20 out of the early Bronco's is a good swap if you stay with the D30. It's a driver drop.

[Bounty Hunter]

BarneyJeep, the d30 is all fine and dandy under a 2.5L unless you want to go lower than 4.88 and/or have more (affordable) high steer options, not to mention serviceable bearings.

Consider a pair of d44's since you have a YJ and installation is relatively simple.  Don't be bound by the small 5x4.5" lug pattern.  The Waggy/Isuzu d44 package is a good option for YJ's.

[drunkencityworker]

yea but already picked up the 8.8.  is 550 a good price for a tj dana30 with arb and compressor oh and its 3.73 like my 8.8