Stupid 35

Sorry I haven't been on the trails in a while. My jeep has been in the state of constant break down, and I have been slowly rebuilding and improving for months now.

I am currently working on the rear end for the second time this year, and it has got me thinking about swapping it with something I do not have to babysit or worry about.... (at least as much).
My lift required new arm & shock mounts so even a TJ D44 will not bolt right up any more, so if I am going to replace the axle I might as well make it worth my time.

I am hoping to find something that fits the following:
1) Near stock width. However, I am willing to go up to 65". I plan on upgrading the front to (most likely) a 44.
2) Lots of aftermarket options easy to find parts.
3) Room to grow. Meaning I don't want to have to swap everything out again when I get larger tires. (37's)

Right now I am leaning towards the 8.8

I know many of you have been down this road before, and was wondering your thoughts now that you have that 20/20 vision.

You need to decide if you plan on keeping it street legal or not. if the width allows the tire to stick out past the flares then you will get a ticket for it in maryland and in PA. I've seen a lot of people do an 8.8 swap, quick, easy and strong. And most important a little narrower than stock allowing it to sty legal.

Good point. I do want to stay street legal, my 35 are already sticking out past my 7" flares.
I figure if something like a 9" that is available in 65" width is the best option I would get wheels with different backspacing to compensate. In this case I would have to get new wheels anyway because of the different bolt pattern.

http://www.rc4x4.org/rcforum/index.php/topic,3162.0.html

Nice!
I will give him a call.

Thanks!

I have an 8.8 with 3.73 gears for sale.

md4wheelin wrote:

I have an 8.8 with 3.73 gears for sale.

How much?

I also have a buddy at scrap yard looking into things.

I am running 4.56 gears and a locker. Keeping the axle cheap would be nice because I am going to have to replace the guts anyway.

Right now I have $400 tied up in it with being set up for a 4 link suspension.

Went to the junk yard today to what they have. I ran across a late 70's F150 with hp D44 front and 9" rear. It will be about as wide as I want to go, but I like the idea of not having to chop. I will try to tame the width a bit with more back spacing.

They have 8.8's galore. and many 9". Not too much on the D44 fronts though. I did run across a 9" that had some sort of spring mechanism in the diff. My guess is a limited slip of some sort? There wasn't much left of the truck to tell what it was though.

They also had 1 early Bronco, and a CJ.

I need to go back there, so if anyone is looking for something, let me know I can see if they have it.

which junkyard is it?

It's a small one near East Freedom, PA. (Not sure of the name of hand)
A coworker works there part time and is good friends with the owner. They have helped me out with parts before. Good people.