got a good link to buy this? im doing the same but its already converted to xj specs

sry to hijack

 

http://www.alljeep.com/oscommerce/pr...ucts_id=167208

 

a gentleman and a scholar! thx, did you find that you needed a u-joint conversion as well? how was your driveline angle after swapping in the 8.8? if it wasnt to par, how did you fix this?

 

the flange adaptor is all i needed,

and the driveline angle is really dependent on what pinion angle you weld the axle in at, and your lift height obviously.

 

and thats my derp moment of the day. thanks for the help,greatly appreciated!

 

just did this swap, and really not much too it. As wader218 had said deff talk to Iron Rock Offroad. amazing guys, cheapest kits to do this swap (w/o axle truss $112) and they have EVERYTHING so only pay shipping cost once. I was rockin' a dana 35 so it made sense, but with the 8.25 why go threw the hassle of swapping when you could swap some chromoly shafts and a lockers/ gears and rock it?

 

Also you will need a longer driveshaft with the 8.8 swap from an 8.25. The 8.25 has a pinion that is just about 1 inch longer than the 8.8.

D44 and 8.25 have nearly the same length pinion and thus drive shaft. Dana35 and Ford 8.8 are very close also.

 

so then no need for someone like me with a dana 35? im running on a 5.5RE lift which im sure impacts that.

 

So you are saying with a 5.5 you are still rockin the stock driveshaft?! Must be at least some vibrations. I have a 4in and when i swapped to the 8.8 i did a hack and tap w/ a refurbished front shaft from IRO. night and day difference.

 

WHY?? seriously unless your planning on running 36"+ tires, the swap doesn't make any sense.take the 8.8 money and put it in the 8.25.there a lot better axle than given credit for.. 27 spline 8.25 can handle 33's no problem..

 

with SYE but as far as im aware yes haha, i bought it this way and zero vibrations to 80mph

 

I'm getting ready to scrap my d35 for an 8.8 - I have people who are alot brighter than me when it comes to this to help me and I've done a ton of research. The one thing I can't wrap my head around - and this is clearly going to make some of you groan - is what do you do about the fact that the 8.8 is narrower than my stock d35? Spacers? Different back spacing on my rear rims? Or is the difference too insignificant to worry about?

 

I have did this swap on my 2000 xj. I had the Dana 35 with 35" MTRs. Like most people said it also depends on what you want to do with xj. I felt I was wheeling on borrowed time with the Dana 35 with the tires I have. My swap was a little more than replacing the axle. I also did a regear to 4.88s. But just getting the axle in takes the following steps:

1. Cut off the spring mounts and sway bar mounts. Weld the tubes to the housing.

2. Remove the old axle and place the new axle under the xj to mock everything up. Remember to center the axle from the wheel mounting surfaces or equiv. (The housing is NOT centered on the axle)

3. Setting the pinion angle will depend on if you are using a SYE or not. I am using a SYE and set my pinion angle to a degree below being pointed to the yoke from the t-case. (If not using a SYE place the pinion angle its shaft's center line is parallel with the shaft of the yoke from the t-case). I did not need to adjust the drive shaft, I had enough travel with 6" of lift. Get the right u-joint flange adapter to fit the xj's u-joint.

4. Bend brake lines, weld everything up, shoot paint, and bolt up to the xj.

It can be more involved than this but is it very doable. I used the mounting kit from RuffStuff but had to modify and reuse my Dana 35 shock mounts. The hardest for me was getting the e-brake cables to work.

Here are some sites that I have used:
http://www.bc4x4.com/tech/2003/xj88/
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/8-...-write-up-880/
http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums...d.php?t=371713 (Regearing and other different part numbers)

Good luck with what you decide.

Bryan

 

Thanks for the info - I think I have a pretty good handle on that aspect of the swap. The thing that I can't understand - I'm not much of a gearhead - is the fact that the 8.8 is narrower than my current axle. What issues does that bring to the table if any? As far as what I'm going to do with this, this jeep is going to be my hunting, fishing, and play vehicle. It is going to see some fairly aggressive wheeling when I go on runs with the jeep club I'm in and the terrain will run the gamut from snow and mud to rocks, mountains and canyons. I'm not always with the club and all of their help when I go so I am trying to build it as reliable and heavy duty as I (and my wallet) can...

 

Just noticed you are in Montana also, I'm doing the 8.8 swap in mine currently. Send me a PM and I'll give you my number, or give me yours and I can help. Also, where you at? Plus if you just want to go 8.25 I happen to have two of those!