Okay so i dont know if this is common or not. but my rear end is garbage. totally gone( not literally)

So it needs to be replaced. my Question is , is the rear end in a 1988 V6 dakota going to have the same gear ratios , or whatever as my 1992 V8?

these numbers are on mine

285 2943-3.55
10 11 9 11

thanks alot

Chad

 

also do i have any options out of newer trucks?

mines posi or LSD or whatever. and i deff want to keep that.

 

the 88 is a five lug and yours should be a 6..... dont know about the numbers, i know you have a 3.55 gear but there is no telling what is in the 88!

 

i know about the lugs. i dont care. the axles would probably swap. i need info on the guts

 

Anything from a gen 1 dakota will be the same, as far as axle splines and such. the question is the size of your rear and the ratio as you mentioned. assuming the 88 is also a 4wd, i would probably say they are both a 8.25 rear. however, it is hard to tell if they are the same ratio. your best bet would be to get the vin numbers from both trucks and call/visit any dodge dealership. they can run the vin and find out exactly what rear you have in each truck. it is a bit of a hassle, but it is beter than "guessing" and having more problems later. also, when you get that info, if the two trucks you have dont match up, you then have all the information you need to find a rear from a truck in a junk yard somewhere. hope this helps!!

 

If the 88 is a 4x4 it will be an easy swap. If it is a 2wd you will need to do a spring over conversion. The ratios were 3.55. There was 3.9 but they are hard to find. You want to keep the 3.55 ratio to match your front. If it is a 2wd you will need a spring perch. You told me you want to put 33x10.5 tires on. If you use2in blocks for the rear, and crank up the front torsion bars, you should make it. Iput the 2in body lift when I put on my 33s.But I haveheard a few people on here thathad stock setup with 33s.You could also go with 12.5 width if you want. It will rub just 1/4in. so just back the steering wheel off 1/4 at full lock. The best place to buy stuff like blocks or spring purches is summitracing.com Good luck tell us how it comes out.

 

if i were you i wouldnt put blocks or jack up the torsion bars. Lift blocks give no more suspension travel and torsion bars make your front tires out of camber and tow in or tow out. If your going to do it, do it right by buying the suspension kit it takes to fit 33's. or if worse comes to worse get a body lift.

 

the 88 is a 2wd.

my 1992 has a spring over right now.

do you mean i will have to change it over to spring under for it to work? i dont follow that part. how would a 2wd VS a 4wd make the axle position any different?

Do you have MSN crazy?

 

Well I dont know why they set the trucks up like this but. 2wd has the axle on top of the springs. and 4wd is under the springs. The axles are exatly the same. the only diffence is the location of the perch that the spring sits on. When I did my 4wd conversion I keeped my 2wd axle. So for mine I did do a spring over axle conversion. (SEE PIC). Like I said I dont know why, but they did. And a suspension lift is better.Thatis what I have a full suspension lift, I have a rams 2500 springs.But doing blocks and cranking up the torsion bar is not bad, its still safe. expecally when the suspension liftkits are $1,500 and they still use blocks. So you can also pice things together like I did too.

[IMG]local://upfiles/70180/C8A533D15CE24285AEC275F68FBF3562.jpg[/IMG]