^ If fords and everything about them are junk why are so many people using them?? And FYI that last sentence made no sense :-/

 

If they're junk, then why are so many of my TJ brethren running the 8.8s and the 9 inchers under their trail rigs?

 

wow thats some crazy driving, I'll make sure and avoid you if I see you on the road

and the ford 8.8s are tough, tougher than a dana 44 and close to a 60, they have some of the same strength parts as a 60. I also know a guy with a Tj with an 8.8, 37" tires and a locker and he hammers on it no problem

 

Careful, Trebor, you're going to **** off the diehard D44 fans by saying a Ford 8.8 is tougher than a D44, even though you and I both know it's true.

 

ya but its so much unnecessary work

 

There's a good bit of work involved in installing an 8.8 under a TJ with the coil spring suspension, but not much work involved in installing one underneath an XJ. Just moving the spring perches. The wheel bolt pattern is even the same. Plus, you get disc brakes. And you don't have to go through the hassle of SEARCHING EVERYWHERE for a D44. I looked everywhere for a D44 in Kansas/Nebraska/Oklahoma for my TJ (bolt in) and came up with either nothing, or I found someone who thought their D44 was made of gold and wanted gold prices for it. I only paid $250 for a locked, low mileage, disc braked 8.8 that even in its stock form will allow me to run 37 inch tires on my TJ. (Except for the gearing, that would need to be changed from the 3.73 gears to 5.13)

Yes, I would have liked to have installed a bolt-in D44 and forgot about it. However, it would cost at least twice as much (or more) to beef up as it costs to beef up an 8.8, and I still would have a weaker rearend. Rear D44s aren't generally recommended for running 37 inch tires, even if they've been upgraded. Eventually, they're going to break, and it won't be on the way to the store, it'll be on a trail where recovery is a pain in the a$$.....

-EDIT- However, if the ultimate goal is tire sizes less than 37", a D44 is perfectly fine IF you can find one. I don't have an XJ (yet), but I know you guys have less room for tires as we TJ guys do, so all my preaching about 37"+ tires may be moot.

 

useitorlooseit, i know of a d44 under a comanche close by you. it's at a wrecker, so not sure of the price.
only thing is, it's spring under, so you'd have to weld on some perches ontop of the axle, but cheap and very easy.
but, it's a 2wd and will likely be the wrong gears for ya. so you might have to regear it.

head out to cambridge auto wreckers and head to the far back corner. there was only 2 mj's there, so just look under the rear of them to find it. i believe it was a black or maybe blue one. with a cap i think.

and if it's not there, there are plenty of 8.8's, they're under nearly every ford there.

 

Ive only seen Dana 44z under 87 year XJz and 87 Wagoneer Limited models also. Yes, go to your local pull@save wrecking yard and look for 1987 year XJz and Wagoneers. And mid to late 70s Ford F100 and F150 half tons for a Ford 9 and those Explorers talked about earlier for their 8.8s

 

i was pritty sure the 8.8 has a different bolt pattern then the xj?
this is a head ache

 

No it's exactly the same.. Trust me i've got one..

 

Same bolt pattern. 5x4.5

 

i just found a wagoneer limited down by my broads house its got a d44 in the rear but the shackle mounts are 44" my xj is 98 and its 43" and a bit so i will just cut and re weld whats the front ??? looks like a d30 its a 87 the dealer said 3.42's for gears or somthin i havent checked yet

 

Where you at???

 

Where you at??