Huaco

So... after over a year of "wanting" a jeep, I finally have acquired one. In an even trade for my '98 chevy S-10 I now own a '93 2WD Cherokee Country with an I6 4.0, an AW4 and 220,000 miles.
Now... The question.

(Is it bad of me to already be dreaming up things to do to this thing?)

I really wanted a 4WD but situations being what they were, I had to get something I could fit the family in for a few weeks 'till my wife's car gets the tranny rebuilt.
Is it possible to make the change from 2WD to 4WD? If so, and if you know of a build thread having this preformed on a '93 XJ (or close to that) please spill the beans and share the info.
What would it take?
I have put my "thinking cap" on and it seems like all I would need is a front axle, transfer case, 2 drive shafts, and the center console.
What I don't know is weather the parts are "bolt-up" simple or is there some MAJOR fab-work that will need to be preformed?

I know of a good salvage yard that is a pick and pull full of Cash For Clunkers... there are SEVERAL XJ's in that yard right now and I spied no fewer than 3 Dana 44 rear-ends this afternoon! Are those really worth what all the hype is about?

I am TOTALLY new to "Jeeps" so excuse any ignorance in my posts for a while. I am in the learning curve. I will try to get some pix up tomorrow evening.

CheapCherokee

yes those 44s are worth quite a lot IMO. ive only sold one but it sold for $400 i keep an eye out for 'em everytime i hit up the junkyards.

fishtaconc

Congrats, on the aqusition.... Do a search on this matter lots of people do this swap, its fairly straight forward as far as things fitting in the front 2wd used a dead axle beam in the front but the suspension is the same. If you are mechanically inclined you do this fairly easily. Just a hint try to find a tranny and transfer case as set because the input shaft spline count changed. ****** up as many of those D44s you can keep one for you sell the others to finance your build.

djb383

If you put a locker in the rear diff of your 4X2 XJ, you may have as good, maybe better, traction than some 4X4s. Check out the video.

fishtaconc

good point, My buddy in his tacoma prerunner with the Elocker can follow me in my 4x4 tacoma.