Did Durango's have an option for Posi-traction? I know mine doesn't have it and I need it in rainy Washington state here... Any way I can tell at a junk yard if I wanted to rip one out? What vehicles are interchangeable? Dakota? Ram? Would I need the whole rear end or just the diff? I cannot remember the size, but I have the bigger rear end that came on the 1999 Durango... But no posi...

Also, my Durango feels like it lacks low end power... Feels like it has a turbo in it... It is gutless until 3500 rpm and just takes off... Anyone have a dyno of a 5.2L Durango? I can't break the tires loose even on gravel! >

 

the posi option was available on the 1st gen durangos/2nd gen daks, your rear is the 9.25 corporate rear axle whic is the better one to have, and you would need to check the glove box of each vehicle to make sure that it had the limited slip in the rear,

and while you are there make sure that you get one from the same size axle as is on your truck or else it wont fit.

and the "lack of power" might be any number of things, lets start out with what gear ratio you have in the truck? that might be it if you have the 3.55s in it i know mine takes off after a certain point, (i think its just under 2500 tho for me )


and just FYI the factory LSDs are not the greatest, you would benefit from spending the money to buy an aftermarket one as they are often more durable and can be replaced/repaired more easily.

 

With the Corporate (AAM) 9.25" rear end, you have the same rear axle as 1/2 ton Dodge trucks, giving you a plethora of options. I'd say throw you an Auburn Gear LSD in there and your traction & "lock up" problems will be a thing of the past...

As far as your lack of low end power goes, you'd prolly have to re-gear to something in the area of 4.10 ring & pinions...

 

While 5.2's are not torque monsters i understand what your saying with the turbo lag. Although it wont be a peppy sob its always good to have a decent set of plugs/wires/cap/ and rotor. Normal lag most derive from the tps sensor which if you search amongst the forum you'll find that you can adjust it to gain a little better umph to your low end. if your not into gearing i'd say intake exhaust maybe to free up some of the low rpm bog, higher end option is a M1 intake and maybe even a superchips.
If you could do something for me take a look under your hood on your radiator support and tell me if there is a sticker on there mentioning an *update*

 

Yeah, it has 3,000 mile old plugs/cap/rotor/wires all Mopar...

It has a new TPS but I haven't indexed it yet...

It does have an update, last in 2003...

Once I get a job, I will be doing a full exhaust, maybe headers and a filter on the TB... I know the filter on top probably isn't best but it'll work for me...

 

I forgot to mention, I am not too worried about the power thing... Reason? When this motor goes, I am going to do a Hemi swap! Been done? I know it is going to take a bit of work, but I think I'll have one of the faster 1st Gen Durango's in the end... This is going to be interesting! Not only a ton more power, but better mileage! At least if I can get everything to work correctly... I don't know what all gets tied in to the PCM on the Hemi's to start the MDS... I know it is a calculation of oil temp, pressure, throttle position, engine load, etc...

 

I think what Duranged was getting at was that the "update" is what we not so lovingly refer to as the "death flash". There were enough people having pinging issues that the dealers began detuning the engines which made them total garbage. It cut a lot of power out of the engine and I believe that the only thing that can be done is to replace the pcm. Maybe B&G flash can fix this though.

 

Can you still tow with a Mopar Performance PCM? I want to still be able to tow but figure if I get a new PCM it might as well be MP...

 

I couldn't see why towing would be affected in any way.

 

A lot of the time, aftermarket performance PCMs will say not to tow due to the timing advance.