Dana 44 replacement

[Krisman]

Hi, I was wondering if I could pick your brains.  I just bought a grand cherokee with a v8 with the tow package and a 44 rear to replace my rolled tj for the time being.  I bought it from my shop, and my boss wanted the 44 rear to replace with the 35 from his 94 grand cherokee.  I don't want to remove the 44, so I need to find one for him.  He wants to avoid cutting/welding perches and mounts.  Do you know what years are interchangeable?
Thankyou

[JackstandJohnny]

96-98 V8 grand cherokee.

this isn't a great axle though; its a D44a with an aluminum housing.  has no aftermarket support and has a tendency to eat carrier bearings.

if its a stock 4L he's swapping it into, i dont' see how this is a major improvement.

[Krisman]

Well, I am trying to talk him out of robbing my rear diff.  is there anything though that would bold up to his 4l gc?

[JackstandJohnny]

tell him for reliability the 35 is better

[Krisman]

he wont take no for an answer and he wont sign the jeep over until I get him a bolt-up 44.  im driving a freakin chevy right now! im gonna hit the wreckers this weekend to try and find the same type  of cherokee and if it doesnt bolt up then its not my problem i guess.  i do want to make it easier for him though.  any thoughts?

[WhiteOut]

How does he plan on solving the gearing issues? The 4.0L will be 3.55 and the D44a will be 3.73

[Krisman]

he already has 3.73 ratio.  (thats what he told me anyway).  my tj has 3.55's.  even if he's wrong i have connections to cheap gearsets, i just dont want to spend a lot of money and i dont want spend my weekend converting a 44 to fit in his jeep.  just want an easy swap, bolt-up.  does that exist? he claims the one out of the v8 bolts right up

[WhiteOut]

One out of a V8 1996-1998 will bolt in. Just give him a 35 and say its a 44a, you can even have the diff tags off mine to put on the 35

[CatSplat]

D44a will bolt up, but the carrier snout is longer than the D35 and thus it may require his driveshaft to be shortened.

[Krisman]

hahaha as funny of an idea as that is i couldnt do that to him.  i guess ill just have to find a dana 44a, if thats what he wants thats what i gotta get.  if you know where i can find one lemme know otherwise ill be going to the wreckers until i have one.  dying here without a jeep.