I am likely going to be maxed about 35's. There are no xj dana44's in my area, only the wj and zj.

well you'd have to regear no matter what unless you found already built axles. i'd search for a 29 spline 8.25 or an explore 8.8. those are tried and true swaps with plenty of info out on the web.

What years for the explorer? Well be taking another trip to the jy this weekend, both for the 8.25 and 8.8

so I did the research, according to the interwebs I'm looking for a 1995-2001. According to the website for the local JY, they have one, I just need to go there to get a quote and make sure that what they have listed is the right one

If it is those years, then it is right. I have a 98 sitting under the wife's Explorer, but she won't let me have it LOL

check the driver door by the door latch for axle code, this is the key to what those axle codes mean:

Hey that's great! Thanks for that info! So if I plan on locking it, would it be better to have open or limited slip?

If you want a lunchbox locker then it has to be an open diff, if you are doing a full carrier locker then it doesn't matter.

yeah I plan on going full carrier, so whatever I can get from the JY today will be good. wish me luck, and thanks for that placard info! will be taking that with me to the yard as well!

alright, found on, but couldn't pick it up today because their network was down and I didn't have cash. so tuesday! It's an 8.8, disks, and 4.10 gears. tag says it's locked, but I didn't pull the diff to check that part out, maybe it's refering to the limited slip?

I suppose it doesn't really matter right at this moment, so I'm going to shift the question. I'm working on getting the shopping list for the modifications to the D30 front to match the 8.8. Just need some help choosing things. I'm doing constant research at this point, even my 4y.o. is sighing at me and complaining that "dad is looking at jeep stuff again!". So please can someone take a look at a few links? I've picked these up based on reading here, the NAXJA forums, and youtube (bleeping jeep and dirt life are a couple of my favorites).
Master Rebuild Kit
Ring and Pinion
so I know I need to regear, but there's talk about the spline count, everyone recommending that I upgrade. question is, is that on the axle shafts? I've seen some talk about the pinion shaft splines too, inner and outer axle shaft spline counts, etc. If I am going to be in there and regearing, I want that portion of the job to be a one and done, so I'm also looking at lockers for the front. I have the vacuum disco front end, I will be getting new axle shafts, but those might wait because I'd really like to get RCV shafts, but they are... well out of my budget at the moment. dirt life has a really good video on building up a dana 30, and I'd like to mirror at least some of what he does in there, for reference.

can someone let me know if those two (rebuild and ring and pinion) are what I need for the dana 30? do I need more? with that 8.8, outside of the mounting kits, is there anything else I should worry about for it? as always, thanks everyone for all the advice!

Good find

what are the current gears in your 30? if they are 3.55 and numerically lower you will need a new carrier to go to 4.11 gears.

i dont see the need to upgrade the splines on a 30. just get some 27 spline chromo shafts and call it a day. i ran that for quite a while and besides breaking ujoints it wasnt really an issue.

Keep the 27 spline shafts in the Dana 30 and 31 spline shafts in the 8.8.

Ok so no worries on those, just the regear kit and the adapter kits. Only things left for me to get are springs and shocks then, and probably a good idea for new brake lines too. Project is running close to budget, so locker will probably wait a bit

so today I got my 8.8. It is a limited slip, 4.11 gears. disk brakes. verified via the tag, double-checked. the following is the build list for the conversion. Please provide feedback, let me know if I've done my research well enough! thanks!
U-Joint Kit
Nitro crush sleeve master install kit
Ring and Pinion (for regear)
Iron Rock XJ 8.8 kit w/ truss
Rear Shocks mine were shot before
leaf springs
bushing kit
I have a person to help me with the welding, I'm not lifting it yet, that will be coming. I haven't yet sourced the adapter for the flange pinion (just remembered that)