It has been a long time sense I have updated this build thread. I've been super busy with school and work and that leaves almost zero time for wrenching and wheeling. But, now that my spring semester has come to an end, I've already drove head first into this build for the summer.

So, lets kick things off with some items that have been checked off my list.
-repainted the floor with bedliner
-installed some new carpet
-new starter

Now, lets get to the good stuff...I went to a local junkyard last Friday that I had never been to before. A buddy tipped me off about it and said it had opened not too long ago. So, curious, I headed out there. I got there and immediately found a jeep with factory skids and made an offer on them. But, the owner of the jy wanted to sell that XJ whole because "it still ran." So, I then got my doubts about that place but still kept looking.

I then stumbled upon a nice big selection of XJ's. One by one I poked around them looking for anything useful until I came across this 89 4 door. Naturally I always check the rear end for high hopes of a 44 and bam! There she was. A dirty 44 just smiling at me. After I came in my pants I pulled the axle and proceeded on my way. After tax I spent a whopping 75 dollars to take that axle home with me.

Here she is all cleaned up

 

Damn you're lucky!!! What gears are installed? What junkyard by the way? Cause I'd like to find some lucky finds lol.

 

it was 3.54 gears and the jy was up near northlake just down the road from Northern tool on statesville rd. I didn't see any other 44's out there but there was a good selection of cherokees out there.

 

Now I'm trying to get rid of the 35 with the locker if you know anyone looking for an axle or just the locker

 

Man, those doorless pics make me kinda regret passing on a 2 door. Good looking rig. Nice job so far

 

Thanks man. And I almost passed up this 2 door for a 96 4 door. I sure am glad I didn't

 

Alright...got the D44 in this morning and sold the D35. It's funny though because I sold the D35 for more than I've spent on the D44. Anyways, I'll have pics up in a little bit of the swap.

 

Out with the old and in with the new

 

Damn that D44 cleaned up nice. What did you use to clean and paint it with?

 

Took a pressure washer to it but avoided the brakes. Then took a few sheets of 80 grit sand paper and scuffed it up a bit and then some cheap black paint I got from work. Price break down below

Axle 75
Gear oil 20
Cover Gasket 5
Wheel bearing 45
Wheel seal 15
Paint 10
Wheel cylinders 20
Brake shoes 25
Spring Kit 7
Ebrake kit 20

Total cost ~250 and about 10 hours of total work

Selling D35 tomorrow for 250

 

Haha, damn good deal man!

 

Yup. Gonna take that cash and buy a bumper from L&L hopefully within the next week. Already got a winch, just need the bumper. If all goes as planned, it will be on and ready before the trip to Uwharrie on the 15th

 

44 looks sexy under there. Good thing your buddy let you know about that junkyard

 

Yup, and he had the full opportunity to claim that axle but didn't haha. Anyways, thanks for showing me that jy...things have come out great. I'm thinking about going again tomorrow before work. You need anything?

 

I didn't have the money anyways haha. Well I'm always in need of 97+ factory fog light switches. I might need a radiator overflow as well but I'm not convinced.