High pinion Dana 30 swap into a WJ?
 

Has anybody here tried swapping a high pinion Dana 30 from a Xj into a WJ? From what I have read, the high pinion is about 30% stronger than the D30 low pinion in the WJ and it would give a better front driveline angle with a lift. My plan is to run 35s with a 5-6" lift and I think a high pinion D30 would do me fine, as my off-roading habits are pretty mild, compared to some. I'm seeing the HP D30 coming up regularly for pretty cheap and if the swap isn't too difficult, I think that's the direction I'll go. I haven't seen anything on the Internet or YouTube about this swap, so I was hoping somebody here has some info/experience with it.

My current rig is a 2004 WJ Limited, 4.7L, RFE545, NP247, Quadratrac, D-30 front, D44A rear. I have a NP242J and shifter on hand to swap in if I make the axle swap and will put a locker in the front.

The XJ axle housing is something like ~4" narrower than the WJ version IIRC.

Unknown if the relocated front prop shaft will interfere with the exhaust or other things at full jounce. It does on XJs with dual exhaust manifold cats (2000+2001).

Hmmm. thanks for that info.

Yeah, it's mildly annoying.

I think that Jeep may have gone with a modern wheel offset for the WJ to reduce the scrub radius and improve handling. IIRC XJs have an offset around +25mm while WJs are ~ +65mm

That plus the vehicle is wider.

It's Jeep after all. If they could get away without designing a new housing they would have done it.