91 2wd MJ - D35 to 8.25 swap Qs

[Misfit_MJ]

My  8.25 with 4.10s and spartan locker is almost ready for the swap. Need to figure out drive shaft, u bolt plates and u bolts. Jeep has about 2 1/2 inches of lift(coil lift front and add a leaf in rear). I'm planning on using new hardware for an XJ. I'm worried about the center pin being a different size.. also the pinion on the 8.25 sticks out more than on the D35. I'm a little worried the drive shaft will need to be cut down a few inches. 

[Pete M]

if I remember right, the snout is about 1" longer than the 35

[ghetdjc320]

The 8.25 pinion is also offset iirc to the passenger side

[JYau]

I'm currently prepping for the same exact swap. Since the spring perches have to be changed I bought a kit from RuffStuff, and I found another thread on the CC forums highlighting that these perches come with 3 centering pin locations 1" apart. I'm going to use the 1" offset on the perch to compensate for the extra inch of length on the C8.25 so I don't have to cut my driveshaft down. 

 

Here is the thread I'm referring to:

 

 

[DesertRat1991]

On 7/19/2023 at 11:03 AM, Misfit_MJ said:

My  8.25 with 4.10s and spartan locker is almost ready for the swap. Need to figure out drive shaft, u bolt plates and u bolts. Jeep has about 2 1/2 inches of lift(coil lift front and add a leaf in rear). I'm planning on using new hardware for an XJ. I'm worried about the center pin being a different size.. also the pinion on the 8.25 sticks out more than on the D35. I'm a little worried the drive shaft will need to be cut down a few inches. 

 

FYI, your stock U-bolt plates are 91-92 specific.  They should be a one piece design, as opposed to the two piece design found on earlier MJ models. These parts very prone to rust due to their location on the vehicle and there are no aftermarket reproductions available. 

 

If yours are in decent shape, put them on ebay. Someone will buy them.