ok so i was at my local junk yard and found a 66' wagoneer with both front and rear axles, locking front hubs ect.... my question is are they any good as a swap? i noticed the front is leaf sprung so im sure it would require some work but at $100 for the set i feel like i should jump on this deal.....

 

I think that I would keep the coils in the front and use a late model D30/97 up Chy 8.25 rear direct bolt in and quite strong unless your building a full blown crawler, then go for larger Dana's.

 

is the front a 44 or 27?

 

I wouldn't bother. Even if the front is a Dana 44, it's going to have beastly drum brakes and the 5x5.5 bolt pattern that limits what rims you can run on it. The back will probably be an AMC 20. If you want Wagoneer axles, the later years will be stronger and friendlier. Spline count went up, the knuckles changed and bolt pattern went up to 6x5.5, which has much better aftermarket support.

There's nothing really wrong with those earlier axles. There are just better options out there.

 

Yah I did some more research today and I'm not going to bother ...... Got kinda excited there for a minute .... Really just lookin for an upgrade to the front mainly can't decide if I want to build the d30 hp I have in it now or search out a d44 for the front

 

Is a passenger side drop it won't work.The fsj 63-79 was passenger side drop,80 and newer it changed to driver side drop.

 

It really depends on what size tires you plan on running and the XJ's usage. I have a D30/Chy 8.25 29 spline in mine and run 33 and 35" tires but the 35's are max, 4 1/2" of lift and I'm easy on the skinny peddle also. Both have stock axles, locked, 4.56 gears. and it is used for off road most of the time.