Hello All, I want to upgrade my 1992 4.0, 2WD, 5 Speed's Rear End. It's my DD and don't do any crawling since I am more of a Jeepspeed Racing fan. I have about 5" of lift at the moment. A few years back the crap D35 went belly up and I replaced it with a 8.25 out of a 96/97 2WD, 5 speed XJ. I'm not really sure what gears it has currently, but I'm guessing it most likely has 3.07 gears that come with most 2WD manuals. It runs fine on and off road, but I want a lil more pep and traction out of her. I'm thinking of pulling a rear out a 98+ 4WD. I'd like to have a Limited Slip Rear with 3.55 or 3.73 gears. I figure it's a cheap upgrade with better gears than the 3.07 gears I have now. Any advice would be much appreciated. Cheers!

Was the donor with the 8.25 an auto or manual?

Manual

I've always wanted a 2wd 5sp DD. in this situation I'd be tempted to go 4.10 if you stick with 32's. the donor jeep was 4.0L right?

It would have to have been, the 4cyl got like 3.73 or 4.10, if they had a towing package it would have 4.88, 4.0s got 3.07, 3.55, 3.73 and I think a few sneaked out with 4.10s

Yes, donor was a 96/97 4.0L, 5 Speed, 2WD. Had a tow package on it, but no tag on the Diff.

For an old 92 XJ with 230k miles and rebuilt AX15 tranny, my 2WD really has a lot of power & life in her.

I was thinking of going with 4.10 gears, but I didn't want to tear it apart for only gears, may as well upgrade the diff to limited slip... But I figured I could save a lil dough and just pick up a 98+ rear out of a 4WD, that has 3.55 gear and limited slip. They run like $200 at my local JY.

Do 98+ 4WD Auto's come stock with 3.55 gears & Limited Slip???

I can't think of any factory XJ limited slip... except for maybe xj 44?? this is why I'm a big fan of the 8.8 swap for a bad *** DD. 4.10 and LSD.. or 3.73

Do you not count the factory "trac loc" that exists in both D35 and chry 8.25 as a limited slip?

For people with 5speed and DD, you've nailed the range. Some go 3.55, some go 4.10. 3.73 is more rare in chry 8.25 than Ford 8.8, so your options are (in no particiular order):

1. Find a Ford 8.8 with 3.73 and limited slip (and all that goes with that)
2. Find a chry 8.25 (or D35) with desired gearing and LS (http://www.car-part.com/ could help here)
3. Pay to regear to 3.73 (if 3.55 and 4.10 won't satisfy you)


from here:

Gearing

3.07 - used with 4.0L engine / manual transmission
3.31 - only available on older (pre87?) 2 door XJs with "Fuel Economy" package
3.55 - used with 4.0L engine / automatic transmission
3.73 - found in some XJs with the towing package
4.10 - used with 2.5L engine usually, and older XJs with the "Off-Highway Vehicle" package.
4.56 - rare but can be found on some older (~ 89 ~) models with 2.5L engine and auto transmission


My plan (5speed+DD+32/33) is to search for a JY axle in chry 8.25 form and grab whatever I find first (3.73 vs 4.10).

Just get an 8.8 with 4.56, lsd, and rebuild the posi with Ford racing clutch packs. 400$ total, and a better axle all around