That's pretty cool that he made that all work but If I'm gonna put a 60 in, I'm gonna do it right ha. Gotta be able to keep up with the big boys! Besides, the 60 doesn't have factory brackets on it anymore ha ha

So what brand gears do some of you prefer? im finding all sorts of different brands, some that say "these are not for quiet running vehicles" i dont really wanna save 20 bucks and get gears that arent gonna last. Also im really having a hard deciding wether to go 5.13 or 5.38 gears... i know 5.38 will be low enough to benefit alot on the trail but i also want to drive my jeep TO the trail without running 3K rpms at 65mph. i plan on running either 38 or 39.5" tires. Any input is appreciated

Okay so since this build is on somewhat of a budget i decided i would record every expense related to the axle swap, so far its like this:

Axles and rims- 200.00
Pack of cutoff wheels- 24.00
Deep socket for sterling lugs- 8.00
Torch tanks re-fill- 64.00

Total so far- 296.00

Not to bad seeing as how that is two one ton axles and they are stripped down ready for brackets (except one Sterling leaf mount, they are welded all the way through and my cutoff wheel is not up to the task and torch is empty). I will continually update this amount as the build progresses. Here is a list of things i will most likely be doing. It may change of course but i have given it alot of thought and think it is the direction i will be heading. Everything with question marks i either havent found a price for, i havent decided where to buy it from yet, or i will be building it. I also listed where i am getting the item from as well.

Dana 60:
5.38 gears- 174.89 (MY4BY.com)
4.56 ratio up carrier- 81.26 (MY4BY.com)
Master install kit-?
New pinion Yoke- 60.00 (summit racing)
EMS 1 piece shaft- 325.00 (emsoffroad.com)
Locker- Free (lincoln.mig)
Ford Hub conversion- 70.00 (local junkyard)
Ford balljoints- 104.00 (autozone)
TRE's- 68.00 (autozone)
Dom for steering- 12.00 (local steel supply)
Coil buckets- ?
Link mounts- ?
Truss- 50.00 (local steel supply)
Track bar bracket- ?
2 caliper bolts- 4.00 (sunroc)
Brake pads- 36.99 (autozone)
Brake lines- 60.00 (evco house of hose)
Rotors- 110.00 (autozone)
Solid diff cover- 65.00 (polyperformance.com)

Total- 1221.14

Sterling 10.25:
5.38 gears- 189.73 (MY4BY.com)
Long version yoke- 5.00 (local junkyard)
Master install kit- ?
Brackets- ?
Truss- 10.00 (local steel supply)
Brake shoes- 20.00 (autozone)
Brake line- 40.00 (evco house of hose)
Solid diff cover- 65.00 (polyperformance.com)
Locker- Free (lincoln.mig)

Total- 329.00

Of course I know I am forgetting things and that there will be other odds and ends to tie up, but this is a rough estimate. This doesnt even include suspension or steering haha.

ya the shaft is bure beef! the 14 bolts are only 30 spline, this is 35 spline
Ya the carrier was in there good but with some finesse and a ratchet strap it came out!

SO your trying to tell me that the axle i SWAPPED in, Bought bearings for, Pulled out of the explorer at the junkyard, Have the diff tag for, Bought gears for, Made brackets for, Measured the ring gear and shaft diameters- is a 7.5? ****, autozone must have labeled their packages wrong and given me 7.5 bearings in a 8.8 box- oh wait they didnt.
If you think thats a 7.5 come on over and inspect it, its an 8.8. You think i would put all that work into it and not know what axle it is? wow ha

didnt see this post earlier otherwise i would have got to it quicker. thanks for the false input tho!
Here is a picture of the diff cover notice the two "notches" in the bottom corners, or do i need to cirle it in red and repost it?

Okay a little more progress today...
Took the jeep out to play on the mountain behind my house for one last time before she gets tore down
Some poser shots of course




And the money maker


I have never pulled up on a rock this high ^ it was about a foot or so higher then my hood. Maxed my flex out tho im pretty sure, ill have to do it again when the swap is done. Of course pics dont do justice... here is some more of the rock



Okay now onto the progress.
turns out the 15" wheels i have are not gonna work with my axles, go figure. They are backspaced alot but still hit the front calipers when bolted on, so i will be getting rims as well in the future-probably 17's.
Well i intended to pull out the rear axle today get some measurements taken BUT my jackstands are not big enough to reach the frame on the heap. So i am gonna build some raises for them. In the meantime i decided to get as much as i could off..
Here is how it sat before-


Here is after the removal of the tire carrier,bumper, skid plate, and gas tank


Wow talk about freein up space eh?
It will be nice when that gas tank is raised up high, dont think ill be reusing my rear bumper or tire carrier so that may be for sale soon... As well as my 8.8 along with a 3-link wishbone longarm setup.
Also tore out the carpet to get ready for the cuts


So not a whole lot of progress today BUT..... i ordered some stuff from ballistic fab as well
tomorrow im gonna go refill my torch tanks, get some DOM for new arms, metal for brackets,truss,etc. Work swing shift all this week so that gives me a little time in the mornings/early afternoon to get stuff done. Not sure when the ballistic stuff will get here but when it does.....well ill work on it duh

How close to fitting are those wheels?? They were previously bolted on a 60 and worked great with a little bit of grinding on the calipers.

What year and make of 60? No they are not even close,like 3/4" from fitting they hit

Damn, that sucks. Probable a late 80's 60. So different from that one. I guess the up side is you should be able to sell them for more than what you paid and find some 17's? What about a 1 inch wheel spacer?

Ya I'm gonna sell them and that's my goal ha, plus I have always wanted 17's. With how offset the rims already are,I think running spacers would put alot more stress on everything...

Awesome build man. Makes me wish I still had my old zj.

Thanks man, ya I love my zj and have been hooked since my first one- but cherokees are slowly growing on me.... that will be my next one ha

I loved my zj. Then wanted an xj. Now I want another zj lol

Nice build. The things is a beast.

Thats why i have both an xj and a zj Love the v8 power(on the zj). But it only sees light wheelin.