I plan on swapping the 4.10 gears that I have on my 98 2.5L 4cyl xj into my new 1990 4.0L 6cyl xj woody. For rear I'm just going to swap the whole axle (C8.25, 4.10's, fresh brakes, new pinion seal for dana35).
My question is for the front. Can I swap just the gears over to the 90 dana30 from the 98 dana 30. I'm assuming the current gears in the 1990 are 3.55's (havn't verified by cracking the cover yet). Also the 90 dana 30 is not a vacuum disconnect which surprised me cause I thought most were for this year... Question is also vice versa, can I put the gears from the 90 into the 98 with no problems?

 

Why not just swap the whole axle? If you do just the gears you will have to set them properly (re-shim, backlash, etc) or your risking it.

 

Swap the whole axle, put the 98 shafts into the 90.

 

why would he put the 98 shafts into the 90 axle which he's taking out? :-p

 

Swap the whole axle. You'll get rid of the Vac Disconnect. Certainly the way to go.

 

He wants to swap the gears from the 90 to.the 98. If he swaps the shafts hell have the larger ujoints. He already said his axle wasn't vac disco.


Edit. I read that wrong. I thought he wanted the 90 gears in his 98. I thought he wanted to build the 98 LOL. But he wants the 98 gears in his 90. Swap the whole axle. Don't change anything.

 

so I'll just swap the axle then. Will the the 1990 front driveshaft work with the 1998 dana 30. 1990 has a np 242 and 1998 has np 231

 

Should be fine.

 

should bolt right up.

 

What about the rear driveshaft. I've ordered 2" spacers for the front (thinkin I should have got shackles too). I'm thinking of using the air shocks I installed on my 98 and swapping over to the 90 in order to achieve 1-1.5" for the rear. Also have an extra xj pack so may use that too, or instead of.

Anyways, 2" is the goal for now. I want to know if the dana 35 shaft will be ok with only 2" of lift. I've read about what can happen if it isn't and dont want any part in that. Soundslike people have been fine retaining the dana 35 shaft when they are 3" or higher. Couldn't find much mention of this working on almost stock height cherokees.

 

2" isn't much to be concerned with. You may find the D35 shaft too long and have to use the C8.25 shaft from the '98

They're both AW4s, right? Transmission length is very important.

 

No they are not both aw4. The transmission behind the 98 is a manual and therefore is an ax5. The 98 also has a np231, driveshaft is at least 4" longer.

 

Oh... Well try the D35 shaft then, might be too long though.

 

No. Not gonna risk that. Reading into it more, sounds like even people with lifts higher than 3" have problems with the swap retaining d35 shaft.
Its my dd so don't want to find out one day that it was too long. What are some other options?

 

Junkyard, Kijiji, local forum, or go the SYE route if you plan on going higher.