new guy with a question, ford 8.8 or 9000lb winch in a yj?

[sctur601]

Hi all,new guy here from Apache Junction. Anyways, I have a 1990 yj 4 cyl:o 5spdwith 33s:(. I am tying to decide what I should do next, it looks like I have about $700 to put into ether a 8.8 or a winch. The jeep has the stock 35 with an easy locker (waitng for the snap) and the front has an easy locker also. The jeep has a 4" super lift(thinking about going stock spring and SOA) and a 3" body lift (yuck) thats coming off as soon as I get a 1" kit. We are planning a trip to Moab sometime fairly soon and want to do the best bang for the buck. I am leaning towards the winch since when I do the 8.8 I would like to swap the dana 30 gears from 4.10s to 4.88s and the same with the 8.8. I do carry extra 35 axle shafts and C clips, But it would be nice not to worry about the rear axle. Anyways thanks for your replies in advance
Shawn.

[mingoglia]

I would most certainly do the 8.8 first. Honestly, on the vast majority of trails that most of us run you really don't need a winch. A simple tug usually does it. It's on the big waterfalls that you really need it. You can run Elvis, Predator, the terminators, JD, all of them without thinking twice about not having a winch. In contrast, you can lose the d35 going to the grocery store. I would highly recommend the 8.8, and just bring a strap and highlift.

Mike

[lancetkenyon]

A Ford 8.8 is probably gonna cost you more than $800 to get all set up and installed. And like you said, you will want to do the gears, and don't want to do it twice. Doing the D30 and the 8.8 will be way over your current budget. And you might as well do lockers at the same time, so you don't have to crack it all open again. I would do the winch. But you will need to get a bumper or a winch plate, which will run another $150+ to your cost. If you do get a winch, make sure you get a good one. You get what you pay for. My preference is Warn, but there are other decent brands out there. Superwinch, Mile Marker, and T-maxx are decent. Also, you will want to get at least an 8K pound winch. Good luck with your decision.

[sctur601]

Cool! thanks for the reply! Maybe I will just save a little longer and go ahead and do the 8.8 with 4.88 gears front and rear. And I allready have the straps and a highift. Do you see any problems using a lockright in the 8.8 31 spl?
Thanks

[lancetkenyon]

Cool! thanks for the reply! Maybe I will just save a little longer and go ahead and do the 8.8 with 4.88 gears front and rear. And I allready have the straps and a highift. Do you see any problems using a lockright in the 8.8 31 spl?
Thanks

Lock-rites are a great little unit. Nothing wrong with them, if you stay in the 35" tire range. The only drawback is it uses a stock carrier, which is not the strongest. But the price sure is right.

[sctur601]

A Ford 8.8 is probably gonna cost you more than $800 to get all set up and installed. And like you said, you will want to do the gears, and don't want to do it twice. Doing the D30 and the 8.8 will be way over your current budget. And you might as well do lockers at the same time, so you don't have to crack it all open again. I would do the winch. But you will need to get a bumper or a winch plate, which will run another $150+ to your cost. If you do get a winch, make sure you get a good one. You get what you pay for. My preference is Warn, but there are other decent brands out there. Superwinch, Mile Marker, and T-maxx are decent. Also, you will want to get at least an 8K pound winch. Good luck with your decision.

Thanks, Fabrications not a problem, Thats what I do for a living, build bajas and sandrails and other things. I guess I should have mentioned I allready have the 8.8. picked it up for $75 disc brakes and everything. But 2 sets of gears, bearing sets, and a new locker would probably bust my budget :(

[ROCRWLR]

put the 8.8 in . I installed mine this morning. I was going to go with 4.88 but I found a front d/30 and rear 8.8 setup for SOA with crossover stering and trac lock with 4.56 gears. after cage bumpers and crusher corners I may order new springs from alcan depending on how the waggys hold up.

[Wayco]

Put the 8.8 in, there are lots of winches in Moab. Some of the stuff you will find up there will really put a D-35 in a major hurt.
I don't really have a "budget" for my Jeep, but the best thing I did was 4:88 gears.

[Oc1paddler]

Do the 8.8 and the front gears. You might be able to sell your 35 and spare shafts for enough to pay for the front gears. Probably not a locker but you would still be better off. You can always self rescue with a high lift or a come along and a lot of cable and paitence.

[AZXJ]

Since your in AJ swing on by and see us.. we are off Huston and Pinal dr just sout of Baseline off Ironwood..

Dave

[GLEN REAMS]

A Ford 8.8 is probably gonna cost you more than $800 to get all set up and installed. And like you said, you will want to do the gears, and don't want to do it twice. Doing the D30 and the 8.8 will be way over your current budget. And you might as well do lockers at the same time, so you don't have to crack it all open again. I would do the winch. But you will need to get a bumper or a winch plate, which will run another $150+ to your cost. If you do get a winch, make sure you get a good one. You get what you pay for. My preference is Warn, but there are other decent brands out there. Superwinch, Mile Marker, and T-maxx are decent. Also, you will want to get at least an 8K pound winch. Good luck with your decision.
Lance since he has a YJ a 8.8 would be a direct bolt in wouldnt it be? so that means he would only need to get a 8.8 outta an explorer (leaf spring rear) and doesnt need to spend the 300$ extra to get a bracket kit and then even more to get it put on. And 8.8's usually run around 400$ NOT trying to shut you down buddy but just trying not too scare the guy too much since he is a newb.
-Glen

[Wayco]

Glen, he already has the 8.8, and fab skills. The money he needs to spend is on gears. I like the idea of selling the old diff., but doubt he will get enough out of it to upgrade the gears in his front diff. Most people on this forum give away D-35's....

[sctur601]

Thanks guys for the replies! you al have been helpfull in making the choice of what I am going to do. I have actually been considering leaving the 4.10 in the front and 8.8, and going with a 4.0 kit a little later down the road maybe when it get the engine swap . Its getting a TBI 350 sometime in november so hopefully the 350 will be able to pull 35s" with 4.10s?
Thanks again
Shawn