Diversified Creations has the same kit installed on Verno's Blazer using a late model D44 out of a Rubicon. By far the most popular axle, though getting much harder to find, to use on a swap for a ZR2 is a D44 out of a '79 F250. Width is perfect and you keep your 12 bolt in the rear.

Check out a certain ZR2 website, the SFA section specifically.

 

just did a 96 like my 95 .. dana 30 from a cherokee without a disconect and a ford 8.8 from a 96-01 explorer ( you get disc brakes and a trac-lock with that rear ) .. everything is 5on5.5 bolt pattern so no issues with rotating tires ...
when you use this setup , a good amount of cherokees and explorers came with 3.55 gears from the factory so it's a bonus
that dana 30 front axle will be fine unless you're crawling the thing .. for a dd and occasional weekender with up to 35's they hold up fine ...
i don't see the reason to spend the extra money on a 44 fr , my jeep tj rubicon has 44's fr & rr and i will snap a fr axle with little to no effort ( i'm only running 35's on it ) .... it's all in how you drive the thing or how much liquid courage you've got in you in the woods
hope this helps at least a little