After the original D35 rear in my '92 XJ took a dump on me, I'm now in the process of ditching it and upgrading to an 8.25" which already has 4.10 gears to better power my 35" tires. While I'm at it, I'm also ditching the crappy lift (3" pucks up front and 3" lift blocks in the rear) that the previous owner put on it and replacing it with 4.5" coils and 3" springs in back.

It's my understanding that I'll have to use the shorter driveshaft from the 8.25" rear end, or have one made. It makes sense to me that a shorter shaft would be needed since the 8.25" is larger, but does that sound accurate to you guys? I'm sure several have done this swap, so I thought I'd get some feedback and advice.

I also have a question about re-gearing the front D30. I'm not positive but believe that it currently has 3.55 gears. Since this will rarely be on the street, I plan to add a lunchbox locker (any recommendations on what to use or what NOT to use?) and obviously matching 4.10 gears. Will I also have to swap carriers when going from the 3.55 to a 4.10?

Thanks for your input.

With your 4.5" lift an SYE would be a good thing to add, then you can use a front driveshaft for the rear. A lunchbox locker would be fine for the front axle, Spartan and Aussie are the most popular, you will need a carrier for a 3.73 and up gear set to put 4.10 gears in the Dana 30.

Where would be the best "one stop shopping" place to buy the carrier, locker, and gear set? I hate to order all of that from multiple places on eBay.

I got my gears and carrier from Ron's Machining Service.

Rwk Haus is where I got all my stuff, they were great and they run sales sometimes in vender spot here.