Some good info when choosing a Ford D44 axle...
http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/Dana44.htm
If you can weld or have a friend that can weld then this could lower the money you spend on labor. You can get the RE front axle bracket kit OR if you don't want to drop $250 for the RE kit and have a plasma cutter or a steady hand with a grinder just remove the existing brackets from your D30 and welding them to the D44. Just remember that some Ford D44's that have the radius arm set up have the mounts for the arms cast on the axle so they WILL be a pain to remove if they are in the way of mounting the new brackets for the coil buckets or control arms. This is NOT a cheap or simple project, remember that you will also have to re-gear the front, set up custom steering, brakes, get new wheels, get a matching full width rear axle (can usually be found on the donor vehicle of the front axle, will more than likely be a 9" on these early era fords) , regear the rear axle, and all the other small things that I forgot to mention on a project of this size...

Fred R.

i have a friend who really needs to seek help, he built an 88 xj that hell wouldnt have. he put in a 4.7 stroker & went out of control on the tranny & put a set of dana 60 axles front & rear. it took him around $2000 per axle ( he did the work & welding himself). but it looks great. i guess it all comes down to cash in hand like jim said. & you got me thinking so i looked around here ( we have 30 junkyards within a 48 mile radius here). i found 3 sets of those rubicon axles, the cheapest set was $1800 without the air lines & steering. just fruit for thought.

when my friend put his in he cut the axle housing down and got smaller axle shafts to fit so he didnt have to get a full width rear. and yeah, he got a set of those RE brackets to mount on it. I cant remember what he did about the raduis arms, ill have to ask him.