So I just pulled this beauty out of the junkyard





It was under a 2wd '87 xj. Odometer said something around 290k so I plan on rebuilding it. I want to go 4.56 but I'm not sure what gears to get or where to get them. Could anyone give me some advice on a good gear and rebuild kit and where to get it? I'm also going to be doing the brakes and axle bearings but I already know where and how to get that stuff. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

i would disassemble, clean, inspect and make sure its straight first. don't spend cash on it until you know its worth it.

 

Of course, I meant assuming everything is copacetic.

 

2 wheel drive. If it wasn't used for desert racing or drag racing with a nice power plant transplant; then I'm sure it's strait.

Nitro Gear. Good quality, especially for the price.

 

Ps you can straighten axles if they are bent..

by 'you' I mean..the figurative 'you' meaning someone who knows how to straighten axles that are bent.

 

i agree with you, but thats an assumption. could have been in another vehicle, could have been in an accident, could have been yanked out of a ditch wrong, could have done ONE jump in its life and thats the one that bent it, could have slid into a curb...checking for straightness is not hard. better safe than sorry lol. that being said, i've read that no axle is perfectly straight to begin with anyways...

 

Nice find. Go ahead and gear to your liking. Disc brakes off a crown vic would be a nice upgrade. Enjoy the build

 

Well I'll be cleaning it up and checking it out on my next day off next week. I've heard of the crown Vic brake swap but isn't there also a grand cherokee of a certain year I could get discs off of too?
It also has the strap type yoke which I'll want to change over to the u-bolt type.

 

some fellas have done 8.8 discs on the xj 44...seen it on naxja.

 

I would like to see the front of cast housing. there are two different Dana 44 housings for Cherokee 44z, I have both, and they were both from 1987 XJs. Well, the first one is still under my Black 1987 XJ witha bit over 297,000miles.

 

I did mid 90s.. I think 96 zj rear discs on mine