Can you do a direct swap on a dana 30 from a 97 or 98 grand cherokee into a 2000 Cherokee if the gearing is the same? I need to rebuild my front end and wanna try and learn myself with some help from friends. I have to find another front end to use while I do all this because my Jeep is my daily and I can't be out a vehicle too long.

 

Yes, it will bolt in. However if the vehicle had all wheel drive, it will have a different type of U joint in the axles. It will have a CV type (Rezeppa). The splines going into it are necked down and not as strong as the U joint type. You should be able to swap them out

 

 

It has the CV axles

 

Would it be easier to just find another dana 30?

 

That depends on you and if you are going to disassemble it anyway. Those joints operate smoother than the cross style. Depends on what kind of use you are going to subject it too

 

If it is out of a ZJ it likely has 3.73 gears also, so you would need to change the gears if you want 4x4.

 

I ended up going to the just yard and finding a hp out of a 98 that had the same gears that I got for 175. Hopefully I'll still be able to use my front driveshaft I got from adams driveshaft since my 2000 has the LP dana 30.

 

You will