Ok I'm oldschool. I like locking hubs grew up with them.
So my question is as follows, what's the easiest swap for the 99 XJ out there in junkyard land with locking hubs? I know there's conversion kits for the dana 30 but they're outta my price range.

 

There isn't much available that doesn't require a bunch of work like cutting and rewelding the axle C, more work than what you would gain by doing it.

 

If you can find a 70s CJ5 or 7 you will be able to use those parts. However your brakes will not be as good and you will have to use an earlier axle and CJ stub shaft. It is doable, but it might take some heroics

 

It is possible for sure. But it is a hell of alot of work to do and only be rewarded by getting out and running around the vehicle to turn two switches.

 

Yeah, had to do that on my 87 Chevy truck! What a PITA! The worst part was doing it after getting stuck in the mud! It didn't seem to help any with the fuel mileage either. I was getting like around 9 mpg with 33X10.5X15 tires and 4.10 gearing. It was a TANK offroad, but wouldn't fit between trees very well. I bought a jeep after following my buddy in his TJ going hunting one day! SO I can blame Chevy for my Jeep addiction!

 

This XJ lockout kit is on close out at Quadratec $300 off.
https://www.quadratec.com/products/16103_0010_07.htm

 

I couldn't help but notice that kit requires special rotors as well! It could be a problem when replacing them for a brake job.

 

The XJ has a dead set reliable uni-joint front end

I like never getting out to lock hubs

always at some **** time, and the bastards are so stiff you need pliers etc etc

 

One advantage to locking hubs is if you ever break something in the front axle, you can unlock the hubs and drive it still.

 

I had a 79 Chevy truck on 33x12.50s that had lockouts installed by the previous owner. They might have made a tiny little difference in fuel milage but I didnt notice. And I drove that thing everywhere. I was sick of locking them to get to the end of my road that wasnt plowed, then getting out in the snow and unlocking them. wasnt worth the trouble so I just left then locked in.

 

Chevy 4x4s came equipped with lock-outs from the factory. Some people swapped them with Warn because they were less of a maintenance problem. They used the NP208 t/case in my 87, same function as the NP231 except the front shaft was on the passenger's side, IIRC.

 

Mine had the 203 transfer case it was the fulltime 4wd bs. So when the hubs were unlocked the tcase had to be in 4hi. I dont know why someone installed the lockouts

 

Total waste of time, money, and effort.

 

+1

 

An early model Bronco 60-late 70 ran a dana 30 or a dana 44 front axle "If I remeber right.." I think they were about the right width to work in a XJ but it would still need to have some cutting and welding to work... They ran Lockouts and a 5X4.5 bolt pattern...
The last time i looked up the kits (A few years ago) The changed the front bolt pattern to 5X5... Not sure if still true or not...