I have been wanting to do a D44 swap for a while now and finally saw something pop up on craigslist.

Its a 1979 Narrow Dana 44. 51 inches long WMS (whatever that means). 3.07 gears with factory limited slip diff.

i am assuming this came off of a jeep CJ.

My question is, is this axle wide enough to fit under my cherokee?

What modifications would i need? Reweld the perches?

This will be my first time ever messing with an axle, so I want to know exactly what im getting into before I contact this guy with the axle. I have the skills and equipment necessary to move the perches, so thats not an issue.

I am going to put 4.56 or 4.88 gears in the axle, new shafts, disk brake conversion, E-Locker, and obviously sand blast / paint it.

Also, it it worth the 250$ cost? Im sure i could get him down to at least 200.

http://pensacola.craigslist.org/pts/4755483073.html

Thanks guys!

No it's not wide enough to fit under an XJ.

Thanks! I guess if it aint gonna fit then thats all i really need to now.

/thread

Yeah XJ is around 60" rear and 60.5" for the front axle wms. And wms stand for wheel mount surface....so rotor to rotor in the front, drum to drum in the rear.

Oh okay! Thank you! Makes perfect sense now.. I shoulda known that. I knew they were measured from the where the wheel mounts on each end, I shoulda put 2+2 together.

Also, thanks for the other measurements! Gonna keep that in mind for sure.

what axle do you have now? if it's the 8.25 (flat bottom along the cover), it's pretty comparable to a 44.
if it's the d35 (not flat, usually abs equipped) then it's worth looking for an xj44 from an 87 cherokee. direct bolt in (minus abs) with the d44 driveshaft.

250 for a old crusty axle hes smoking something.Honestly i would swap in a 8.25 if you don't already have one,Its bolt in from a xj and is good tell 35s.Next step up is a 8.8 from a 95-00 ford explorer it takes some welding.But the 8.8s are dirt cheap and easy to get.Next step up from that would be full width 1ton axles like a 14 bolt or dana 60.All that depends wheel size and how you wheel it on what axles you should run.

I have the C8.25 now.

Unfortunately, no one makes an E-Locker for the C8.25

That is the sole reason I want to switch.

Why not just get a Detroit?

I am set on an E-Locker. For everything I have done to my jeep and everything I want to do, the electronic locker gives me every benefit I could possibly want from a locker.

You can get an ARB for the 8.25..... Not electric but still selectable- The switches are electric of course. I love mine haha

Yes, but still requires a compressor and what not, right?

Get a 8.8 from a ford explorer you can trip over one in any junkyard.The 95-00 years only used the 8.8 but the gear ratios are different v6 and v8.Its close to stock width and same lug pattern.It will take welding on no spring perches and shock mounts but you can buy a 8.8 swap kit online from a few places.

Yea. But there are small/ cheap ones... you don't need the big expensive OBA ones. (I just use a cheap HF compressor for tires. I've had it for years- it is actually faster than most of my friends OBA)


these are my switches and how mine is mounted... (To left of the air intake)

God I love that intake.. You are the second Jeep I have seen to route it to the inside!

i want to do this.. But i dont want to go drilling holes in my firewall yet. Cuz when i am done upgrading my drivetrain i am going to build a stroker motor. I plan on doing everything I can to get 400whp from it without a supercharger or turbo charger. Then I may supercharge it. Where I live there are lots and lots of sandy trails and mud. But these goals are a couple years away. Drivetrain first!

And as far as the lockers, I am just dead set on an E-Locker. Although I do like that compressor alot. More than any others I have seen.