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thomas2379 · 01-02-2010, 06:10 PM

I have what I hope to be a quick question. I've got a 98 cherokee, which is my first jeep. My usual preference was GM stuff, but now I seem to be taking a walk on the wild side, or something like that. I have access to a GM 14 bolt rear full floater axle from a '87 Suburban (SRW) and I have an GM NP-205 lurking in the garage (passenger side drop). I'm contemplating finding a GM Dana 44 and putting those in this XJ. I want to keep the stock 4.0L engine, and if possible the stock transmission. I do have a fresh and rather beefy TH-400 in the parts pile, but it is a 2WD tranny. I'm thinking of going with the doubled np203/205 transfer case, since I've already got the 205 part of it. Now here is my dilema. Will the GM 14 bolt/D44 be two wide for the xj, and is there enough room in there for a TH-400 with a doubled 203/205? I'd rather not go through the stuff involved with a divorced t-case, but convert the 2wd tranny into a 4wd. (fairly easy) The tires will be arout 35"-37" with an 8" lift, (iron rock) and bushwacker flares. I'm not sure about gears yet but am thinking in the neighborhood if 4:88-5:13 ish. Of course there will be lockers involved. I would just like to see any input on this set up, and if anyone knows if the axle width would look retarded.

RamSport59 · 01-02-2010, 06:20 PM

[Image: l_286f42c550d943b5861a8f521e490eb2.jpg]

I know its a Grand Cherokee but you get the idea. Dana 44 HP in the front and Dana 60 in the rear. 5.13 gears with 36's with 4.5" backspace on the rims. They will stick out, but not bad at all. And I'd stick with the jeep AW4 and do a Dana 300 or something of that nature.

Rick

thomas2379 · 01-02-2010, 07:16 PM

Ahhhh... interesting contraption ya have there. Dosen't look too bad(width). Can I assume the 14 bolt would be about the same width, give or take an inch? By the way, forgive me, but since I'm a jeep newbie, what is the AW4? Transmission? And what would I score the Dana 300 from? I'm guessing that its beefy enough for hard trail and some rock?

RamSport59 · 01-02-2010, 07:23 PM

AW4 is the transmission cherokees have and the dana 300 is a transfer case. You will have to search on what years you need to fit your transmission

Rick

thomas2379 · 01-02-2010, 07:31 PM

ok, gotcha. I'm guessing th AW4 is a pretty stout deal? Mine had about 139k on the clock so far. Anything I should be aware of on it?

mopar · 01-02-2010, 07:41 PM

yeah the stock autos in the jeeps are actually fairly stout if you put the right gears in the axle the trans will last quite a long time, i have seen stock xj's with 400,000 on stock engine and trans

the 14 bolt is gonna actually be just a bit narrower then the 60 rick has got in his grand

thomas2379 · (This post was last modified: 01-02-2010 07:53 PM by thomas2379.)

Nice... I like beefy stuff. I think I'll like the 4.0L engine. Fuel injection is always a plus on anything when you're used to carbs stalling for fuel on steep hills, and I har the 6 cyl has more torque than a V-8, though I could be wrong. Seems pretty torquey in stock form though. Anyone know the stock hp/torque of a 4.0 (non-HO)?

oops, I meant "hear" in there.

mopar · (This post was last modified: 01-02-2010 08:21 PM by mopar.)

its not that they make more torque its that they have a very flat torque curve ... i have no idea what the numbers are, i did not buy my jeep to go fast ... its a brick on wheels, get above about 65 and its scary

thomas2379 · 01-02-2010, 08:32 PM

when you have a brick that gets scary at 65, that could mean one of two things to me. You have something really cool, or you have a flaming POS. I'm gonna give the benefit of the doubt and say you have something pretty cool. At any rate, I can live with a little wider axel than most. I would like to hear some input on the double 203/205 though. I know its heavy as hell, kinda bulky etc., but it gives you a wicked crawl speed. How well does it stuff in there on an XJ, and I'm liking the double or triple control sticks you can do, even though I have no idea how to mount them in the cab area. Gives you a great ammount of control over your rigs. Also, will it mount to the AW4 with relative ease?

mopar · 01-02-2010, 09:16 PM

i think your going to get into a bunch of custom stuff trying to do a doubler

its hard going from being a full size guy to a jeep guy .... been there done that ..... jeeps dont have to be built of solid beef and cast iron .... aluminum is your friend at times lol

i dont think i have even seen a jeep xj with a doubler by the time you build that doubler your rear drive shaft is going to be like 8 inchs long

my jeep has horrible horrible tires on it and it is under geared at about 70 -75 i am out of umph .... and the tires start shaking at about 55 ..... its really not that cool lol