Looking for a front axle to make my truck 4x4

[86ComancheXNate]

Right now I have a completely stock truck. 86 Comanche X, 2.8L V6, auto trans, 2wd, AMC 20 rear with 4.10 gearing.

 

I wanna make my truck 4wd but I'm unsure about what axle I should get to go with the AMC 20 rear.

[mnkyboy]

Any mj/xj dana 30 will work,your problem is gonna be gears. 4.10s came in some 2.8L trucks like yours and in 2.5l 5spd trucks.

 

Most of the axles you will find will be from 4.0l trucks and will be 3.55 or 3.07

[jpnjim]

Ignoring the 84,85 & 86's,

 

most 87+ 4cyl XJs got 4.10's:

 

4cyl 4spd SB MJ's, and cheepo stripper 4cyl 2wd 97+ XJ's got 3.55's

(you probably won't run into many of those),

 

the rest either got 4.10's, or the super rare 4cyl/4spd auto (AW4) 4.56's.

 

If you find the 4.10's, great.

If you find the 4.56's, grab that axle too, and make someone else here really happy.

[86ComancheXNate]

I've been thinking about keeping the amc 20 in the rear. Is that a good idea?

 

and does it matter what I get to go up front?

[mnkyboy]

The 20 is about the strongest oem axle you can get, so I would keep it.

[Pete M]

the only axle that will bolt in to the front is a Dana 30. be it from an XJ MJ or whatever. everything else is custom and expensive. :thumbsup: gearing is the most important ingredient. after that, completeness. your 2wd brakes will not work on a 4wd axle, so you'll need all those parts.