Tural

so, a while back i had acquired a 29-spline C8.25 to replace my D35. the plan was to regear it to go along with my D30 with 4.10s. not too long after, i got a good deal on a disk brake explorer 8.8 with 4.10s and 74k miles.
they've been sitting in the back yard for a while. a couple of weeks back, my buddy Adam wrote me over facebook from Iraq and told me that he wants me to go ahead and pick him up an 8.8 and a HP D30 for his ZJ. he also wants to do 4.10s.
i told him that he can just buy my 8.8 and i'll regear the C8.25... and he can have the HP D30 that's in my XJ right now, because i've got another one with 4.10s...
now i'm thinking.... do i want the 8.25 or the 8.8??? for what i'm gonna do, most likely 8.25 will be sufficient. i was gonna just do 33s and front+rear lockers. but you know inchitis... some day i might decide to run 37s on this sucker.
the con of an 8.8 for me is the extra weight. i brought the 8.25 to the back yard by myself. for the 8.8, i had to call Adam to come and give me a hand. one lift and i knew i wasn't gonna try to manhandle that thing.
so,
8.25- low weight, no welding required, gotta regear, have disk brake conversion handy, correct width, will handle 33s with lockers with no problems, probably will not pay me back if i try to sell it
8.8-heavy as a boulder, storonger than a 44, gotta weld perches and set pinion angle, already has disk brakes, 1.25" narrower (have spacers if needed), can run 37s, would probably bring in decent money if i need to sell it.
i can get Adam an 8.8 with 4.10s any day for about $150-200.
what's the verdict?

freegdr

8.8 you no your gonna go bigger on tires sooner or later...

Tural

yeah, but i wonder if 8.25 is gonna keep those mpg numbers any better compared to an 8.8. and also, i think 8.25 has an inch more ground clearance.

Tural

Well, I guess it's gonna have to be the 8.8... Anybody want a 29 spline 8.25 cheap? Lol