AWD vs RWD

Those are actually a little larger/heavier duty than the regular Dana 44. There has been some breakage issues on the trails with them from crashing the housing into rocks. I don't know how your durability will be with slicks, but the vipers used them. I don't think yours would have sure grip, but they are available aftermarket. The weakness is the aluminum housing flex letting the pinion move around under extreme loads. It starts going south pretty fast after that. I don't see a long happy life with slicks, but it's mostly uncharted territory. I recommend selling it and getting a 9-1/4 out of an earlier model. If it's an open diff and the budget allows, install a lunchbox locker. If the budget doesn't allow for it, weld the spider gears.