what Xjs had a dana 44?

[JeepinSquid]

i need some help. i know some Xjs around 87-89? had a dana 44 but i dont know which ones. i was just offered the rear out of an 87 or 88 for free to put in my yj i just need to know if its a 44 or not. all i know is its either 87 or 88, 4.0, 5 speed, 2 door. any help would be great.
josh

 

[Eagle]

IN GENERAL, 1987 4.0L with tow package.

That is not conclusive. We've had reports of 87s without the tow package that had Dana 44s, and we're had reports of some with the tow package that had Dana 35s. It seems that a high percentage of the 1987 XJ Wagoneers (wood grain side trim, different grille and headlights) came with Dana 44s.

The only way to know for certain is to look.

 

[ReBeL XJ]

well mines is a 89 4.0 auto laredo package with the D44 rear. dunno if that helps. why dont you just get a pic of it or go look at it

 

[woody]

well mines is a 89 4.0 auto laredo package with the D44 rear. dunno if that helps. why dont you just get a pic of it or go look at it

Rebel XJ, did you buy that 89 XJ new? If not...there exists a possibility that it isn't the original axle under there. OTOH it 'may' be factory...

My 89 Metric Ton XJ Pioneer came with a 44 (but not an XJ so irrelevant) and my 89 XJ Pioneer came to me with a 27 spline open 8.25 My 88 XJ Limited with Tow Package "B" -according to the window sticker- came with a Trak Lock 35, but full skid package, rear sway bar, and aux AW4 cooler...

I'd agree with Eagle to seek out XJ (4 small headlamps) Wagoneers...3 out of 4 I've peeked under (unclear on year) had 44s. The Metric Ton MJs were all LWB as far as I know.

Also I am unclear if the XJ axle spring pad width is same as a YJ...the XJ is SOA as well...the MJ OTOH is springunder....maybe worth selling the XJ 44 to one of us and asking about swapps...I have a nice 27 spline 8.25 open

 

[Eagle]

The Metric Ton MJs were all LWB as far as I know.

That's what I always thought, too. Two summers back I found a pretty nice little '87 shortbed MJ Pioneer and bought it. Drove it home one nice summer Saturday. Shortly after I got in Erich stopped by to look at the new acquisition. It had never occurred to me to check the diff because it was a shortbed.

Erich crawled underneath, and popped up a moment later with a huge sh!t-eatin' grin on his face. "Do you know what's under here?" he asked.

"Ahhh, an axle?" I said.

"yeah, a Dana 44 axle."

Sure enough, it was. With a working Trac-Lok no less. Dunno if it's technically a Metric Tonne package, but it has the axle. But again -- it is an '87. It appears that AMC wasn't convinced the Dana 35 would hold up behind the new 4.0L engine so they dropped Dana 44s into a lot of XJs and MJs seemingly at random. By 1988 it was clear that the D35 was (ahem) "adequate," so the use of D44s dropped off considerably.

 

[mark268]

Mine is an 87 wagoneer xj, wood grain of course, tow package assembled in Canada, Yup... SHe has the D44 rear !