$500 sounds like a awesome deal on a Rodeo 44 with 4.10 gears and disc brakes ready to bolt in. Maybe a little bit much at $180 to weld on the perches, but $500 isn't bad at all. You will love the gearing. I want to meet you, but ended up moving back to Illinois and now am getting Rubi axles for my 98' 2 dr daily driver with 33's and 3-5" lift. Like you I don't like the 3.07 gearing, way to high of a gear for anything even with stock donut tires I'd rather have at least 4.10s. You got a great deal on that axle especially being in Cali!!! :cheers:
Does it have 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern? You can just get a 2.5L 5 speed TJ dana 30, but that is not going to be HP for a cheap 4.10 gear match in the front, then just get a 5 on 4.5 to 5 on 5.5 adapter to match the rear bolt pattern, a pair will run about $60-70...also you can run your stock wheels or ones without a lot of offset and hopefully not rub the tires on your LCAs.
You could also just see what someone would charge to put in 4.10 gears. There are a # of
people who could set up gears and lockers for you. If you do bring the axles, remember it's cheaper to bring the axles seperate from the vehicle so keep that in mind too.
I'd get the TJ axle, then you have spare stuff like nice Spicer 297/760 non disco shafts, extra disc brakes, etc. The HP isn't that big of a deal if you don't lift your XJ much. I'm trying to keep my dd low and will sacrifice cutting the fenders a lot and running TJ or Bushwacker flares which I have lines on already. Good luck bro!
Troy