Well it seems like yesterday that I added an E-body 8 3/4 axle to the line up
of components on my Dakota. Well in the past few months I have racked up
12,000 miles on the combination and I'm happy to say I haven't had to mess
with anything. I am running a used 3.55 gear set that I pulled from a 1974
Power Wagon full size truck that I had with an 8 3/4 that had unknown mileage
(somewhere around 100,000+ I'd guess) I only used this because at the time of
the swap I was too broke to buy new gears and the 3rd member I needed
happened to have the 3.55 ratio I also needed, but 12,000 miles later it has
been completely trouble and noise free and I plan to continue using it.
Those 3.55 gears started out spinning a factory sure grip diff when I first
did the swap and about the first 4500 miles were logged that way, at which
time I removed the Sure Grip and added a Genuine Detroit Locker which has
been in ever since, I like it a LOT better than the 3/4 worn out limited slip
I was using. The Detroit locker spins a pair of Moser Engineering 6 lug
Dakota pattern axles with 10" E-body brake drums drilled to the 6x4.5 Dakota
pattern, Rear brake hardware is all new including drums, shoes (Wagner
Re-man shoes) and hardware, wheel cylinders are 13/16" Wagner. I decided NOT
to use the "Green" Non Adjustable wheel bearings because of their poor
lifespan in daily driven applications, mainly in applications which see heavy
cornering loads, the stock set up is MUCH stronger and durable all around,
and I have only re adjusted them once (when I installed the Locker and had to
remove the shafts) I would reccoment that anyone who does this swap DOES use
the factort wheel bearing, and I can help you to adjust it if you need help.
Other than that I have had very good luck with it, I love the swap, it rund
good drives great, and the best part is I did it all my self, I pressed all
the bearings (pinion, axle, all the carrier bearings and 3rd member races)
set up the ring and pinion, assembeled it all, and welded the spring perches
all my self, so it's very rewarding, a very worth while swap. I'd do it all
again if I had the chance, the only thing I'd do different is run the Locker
from Day one. Peace all, and Mopar to ya!
Luke
1996 Black 4x4 Dakota, SLT, CC SB, 318, 3" 2 Chamber Flowmaster cat back
exhaust, 14" Open element air filter, 52mm Ported TB, A-518, 3.55 Geared
E-Body 8 3/4" with 10" Brakes Detroit Locker and Moser Engineering Custom
Alloy Axles, 31x10.50 BFG Radial Mud Terrains, Alpine CD player, Infinity
Kappa Speakers.
Coming next: 408 Stroker, Ross custom made Forged 9.0:1 pistons, Ported 2.02"
1.625" Valve Magnum heads, Eagle 6.123" H Beam rods, Mopar Performance 4.00"
Crank, Hughes 1.6 Roller Rockers, Hughes 1828AL Hydraulic Roller Cam .544
Intake .544 Exhaust 218/228 @ 0.050 Lift, Mopar MPI 2bbl Intake, Mopar
Performance Computer, 24 Lb/Hr injectors, Jet Hot coated Mopar Performance
headers. Plus either Twin Garret T-3 Turbo's or a 7-10 PSI Supercharger.
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