Time to do some upgrading on the XJ and need some opinions.....
First off the jeep is not a DD and gets driven 7 miles (under 60mph) by road to my hunting property and that's the most road use this one will see. Running on 33's and that's the biggest i will put on it. Want it to be a capable trail vehicle, not building a crawler etc.

Currently in the parts stash ive got a 8.8 LSD with 4.10s and a dana 30 from a wrangler with 4.10's that was too cheap to pass up even though its not a "bolt in" for the XJ. And a D30 lock-right locker.

My original plan was to go the budget route, find a XJ D30 w/4.10s and bolt it in along with the 8.8 with LSD and 4.10's...
So far no luck on finding a XJ D30 drop in but can pull the carrier and gears from the wrangler D30 and have them set up in mine and still not be in it too deep.
With that scenario for another $150 outlay for gear set up in the D30 I can be done with it and have 4.10s front and a rear with LSD.


Now heres the catch.........While searching around i came across a new set of D30 4.56's and install kit and a 8.8 full spool and purchased them. Another deal too cheap to pass up... Everyone seems to be down on the LSD's anyway right ? and these will go on another build if I don't use them here so they wont go to waste.

Sooooo, do I keep the original plan A above......

Or since the D30 will need set up anyway put in the 4.56's I have, buy a set of 4.56 and C clip eliminators for the 8.8 and install the spool at the same time since they will have to be set up?
Im figuring another $500 for 8.8 4.56 gears/parts and set up.

$150 to complete the 4.10's set up or $650 to complete the 4.56 ???

Is a spool and 4.56 really going to be worth the extra $$$ ?

 

if you see any rocks it will, lol. It really depends on what YOU want. with 4.10's and 33's I would think 4-lo would do anything you need it to, but if you want something a little more extreme for rock crawling or pulling down trees, the 4.56 may be the better option. Again, it's all just a matter of opinion.

 

If it were me, I'd go (and am going 4:10) and save those $500. You said it's rarely street driven so you won't miss the power difference and mpg, that you'd normally gain to go to 4:56.

Sell the 4:56 and make a profit.

 

I've got an D30/8.8 (both locked) and run 33's / AW4 /4.88's.........totally love it. It is my DD and does see highway speeds and it does great.


In the past I've ran 33's, AW4 and 4.10's. I hated it very much. Very doggy and under powered in my opinion. That's why I ended up running 4.88's.

4.56's would not be awful (especially if you already have them) but, if it's a 95% trail only Jeep and funds allow..........I'd suggest 4.88's.