I can now haha:


I never knew those were on the hood tag, and the transmission is on there as well! Mine got painted over.

 

Ok , i have been reading this thread and i havent seen anyone say anything about taking the 8.25 out of a Cherokee , Installing an LSD out of the 97-03 Dakota and using the 97+ cherokee 29 spline axle shafts ... This will give you the narrow axle you need , the bigger shafts and the LSD . I have a 99 dakota 5.2 4x4 with the Factory LSD . I love it . I use my truck for towing , rock crawling and mudding , this is by far the best axle i have had from the factory .. I am in the process of taking a 94 cherokee axle and installing the LSD from a dakota with the 97+ 29 spline shafts to beef it up . From what i can tell (based on a few builds ) is the first gen dakota has a narrow rear axle .. If you want to keep the 5 lug but want the LSD , see if the WMS to WMS measurement from a cherokee is close to your truck . If so then pull the Cherokee 8.25 (any of them) install an LSD from a dakota (97-03) and use cherokee shafts (97+) ...... ( if by chance you find an early LSD 27 spline then use pre 97 cherokee shafts) ......

 

Interesting, I will have to measure my axle and then measure some Cherokees because I deff wanted to keep the 5-lug.