You can buy a Dana 44 front case for 4.10 and up gears and you can swap the internals from yours into it. Probably cost $100. Or thick gears work fine. I had a set on my 12 bolt for years on the original 3.08 case.
If you are wanting some sort of traction device on the front, a TruTrac is ideal and can be had for $350 if you shop around. Also, a TrakLok will only set you back $200 and for the front is a pretty good option as well.
If it was me, I would buy the $100 pinion depth checker that ProForm makes (you may be able to get a knockoff on eBay even cheaper) which comes with a dial indicator. This will give you the ability to measure pinion depth as well as check backlash with the addition of a cheap magnetic indicator base.
You may be able to buddy up with someone who has a press to help you swap carrier bearings and to work with the pinion depth. Dana axles are a little more difficult to set backlash on because shims are behind side gears. To really pull it off you need a carrier bearing puller, but it is possible without.
Good resources on
www.pirate4x4.com