I'm going to bite the bullet and build a new chassis and drop my body on it so I can continue to drive mine, my 88 body would deff fit on a 95/96 frame with no problem right same exactly body mounts etc? This way I can also get setup with the LSD axle I want, NV3500 and the 5.9L Magnum...I can Por15 everything this way too.

Something I would really like to do if I am going to do this though is convert to 4x4 but did they even make a reg cab 4x4 with a short bed? Even if they did it sounds extremely hard to locate a frame for...I think I would be better off making a RWD frame 4x4 or shortening a 4x4 frame (probably shortening since the front suspension would already be setup?)

 

Sounds like a good plan.
For a 4wd swap check my 4wd in my sig.

I would assume they did make single cab/short bed 4wd Dakotas. Anyone have one that wants to post up?

 

On another forum I heard they do exist, and even in a 5-speed 318 config. They said it would be easier to convert a RWD frame to 4x4 than to shorten one.

 

I've got a standard cab, short bed 4wd. Yes, they do exist, and dont seem any harder to find than any other 1st gen dakota in my area.

 

in my area they are scarce. i know of one guy remotley close to me who has a buch of sc/sb 4x4 frames and he was an arm and a leg and maybe even a first born for them.

 

Screw it I will convert a frame over to 4x4 then, but if I get a 9.25 / 3.9:1 rear axle does the front have to be 3.9:1 ??

 

Yes correct, both have to match.

 

So in that sense...when I look for my axle find a 4x4 because the front will already be the same from the factory as the rear? Gotcha