Help with Dana 44

[jmfelty]

Hey folks,

I must have just missed you guys out near Box Canyon last Saturday. I went with another group up to Martienez Cabin starting on US 60. I saw the Libby with the XJ front end among an assortment of Libbys that scraped their way up there.

Here is are my questions. I just found a Cherokee Dana 44 that I would like to swap under my 98. Before I swap it I would like to have it gone through and the gears changed to 4:10's. In addition, I would like to add an ARB or an Auburn Electric.

My questions are: Any recommendations for a shop to do the work and a guess on cost? I will also need to have the front gears swapped to 4:10s as well. (Currently they are 3:55)

I am having the thing shipped from out of state. The guy said it is cheaper to ship to a business address and I was wondering if anybody had suggestions about the shipping.

Thanks,

John

[1toughxj]

I would suggest the ARB or Oxlocker if you prefer selectable lockers. I have heard bad things about the Auburn Ected unit. I run a Detroit in the back of my XJ and I love it. It's very stout and reliable, no worry's of airlines, compressors, etc... I run an Oxlocker up front and have been very happy with it as well. You're gonna have roughly $1200 in parts in back between an ARB, compressor, ring & pinion, and a master install kit. Probably another $400 or so in labor for the rear. To regear the front, your probably gonna need a carrier for the 4.10's plus the ring & pinion and an install kit. Thats another $400 in parts and maybe $300 for the labor. You might check with 4 Wheelers on Washington, or Desertfab in Apache Junction.

[Snarky]

Humm, you are trying to do the same thing i am currently doing, and you live in tempe also.
I would recommend talking to one of our own, azxj. He gave me a great quote.

http://desertfab.com/
480-288-4213
Dave@desertfab.com
pm AZXJ for a quote on any parts or services...

[bigazxj]

id pm azxj and let him give you a quote hes a super nice guy hes been involved with xjs since the beginning

lots of floks here have had dave do work for them,and i buy most all my stuff from him(i do all my own work from oil changes to building diffs)
or just give dave a call at his shop http://www.desertfab.com
480-288-4213.

justin
we were typing at the same time and snarky must type faster than me.

[Snarky]

Well 1toughxj beat both of us. :D

Azxj is sure getting good recognition around here:thumbup:

[jmfelty]

Thanks for the input. I will definitely give Desert Fab a call.

I don't know what to think about the the Auburn ECTED. I have read really good reports and really bad ones as well. It seems like they have fixed some of the early complaints. I like the idea of the electric because it would clean and simple. It seems like the ARB would also be okay and probably stronger, but I have seen the air lines mess up out on the trail as well.

[bigazxj]

the biggest problem with an air locker is the air line but they have that new stainless braided line aviable and that seems like its lots more reliable than the blue line.
justin

[TUFFXJ]

Depending on your budget picking up a front out of a 4 banger (About 250 without shafts 350 with full axle) would net you 4.10's and the swap is easy takes about 3 hours with a beverage here and there.

Just a thought

Matt

personally if I was spending the money to regear front and rear I would concider 4.56 and just skip 4.10, depending on the size of tires you think you will be at. 33's and 4.56 gears with an Auto is a great combo

[aszaunmi]

I run 4.56 with 33s and and auto and like the combo. I am changing out my lift and putting 35's on it right now. I should know how things go with 35's and 4.56 next week once my coils arrive.

I also have a carrier (4.56) that came out of my XJ's HPD30 that has very low miles on it (about 2500). It was pulled so my ARB could be installed up front. Looks like a new carrier cost about 50 bones. I will sell it for 25 if you want to save a little cash.

As far as the stainless lines on the ARB. I prefer to stay with the blue lines. If you break one its a quick and easy trail fix. If you break a stainless one it will be a little more involved, not hard but more costly. The blue line is cheap to carry for spare and then you have spare plastic lines for you and most others that run ARBs too.

I would suggest 4.56, ARB, Standard blue lines.. Have a good one, Z

[jmfelty]

Thanks for the advise. I sent a note to Dave at Desert Fab, and I think he is going to set me up.

I am trying to keep a good balance between trail-worthy machine and daily driver. I waited to see the 07 Wrangler Unlimited up close and after that I realized that the Cherokee is still a better balance of a machine for what I am looking for. There is still good support and a good level of after market upgrades, and it is a very nice balance of size and function.

I am pretty sure that I am never going over 32 inch tires and have been looking at 265/75/16 BFG KO's I was told thes would get 31.6" x 10.4 on a 8" Rubicon Rim. So 31 to 32 Inch tires and 4:10 gears returns close to stock drive line gearing without giving up freeway speeds. I think it dictates about a 3 inch lift without changing LCR's or killing the ride.

Any other suggestions?

[Gasman]

As others have mentioned, I would strongly consider going to 4:56. I ran 4:56 and 32's for years and it was a great balance. Also consider the added weight of the larger tires and other stuff that gets added to the Jeep and the 4:56's compensate for that. Plus, after a few years you might get the bug to go bigger. I know quite a few people that did 4:10's then wished they went deeper.

And I second DesertFab.

[aszaunmi]

Not that you would want to go real fast in your cherokee. But I just finished a 1300 mile drive on 33's with 4.56 and an auto. I hit 85 fairly easily so your not realling giving up freeway speeds. Oh, and the 85 was from my GPS not the speedo, its a little off. Go with 4.56 you wont be sorry....

Andrew