So I have a 96 right now that I got with no motor. The nv4500 I put in came out of an 02'. The 3 main issues I have is that the 4wd is blown , I want hate my vac boost, and I have no place to plug in my speed sensor. I have access to a 98' dually and was wondering about compatibility of the axles and brake booster system. I know the dually axles are wider, but does any one know how much? I'm running some narrower 33's that don't stick out past my body and was wondering if getting some fender flares would make up for the width. I know they started going over to more metric stuff in 98' and was basically wondering if I could bolt the brakes, front, and rear end on to my truck without too much trouble.

as well on a side note, I know the fuel gauges never work, but I ended up with a fuel sending unit thing out of a 95' and it seems to have a different plug. Is the one out of the 98' going to be the same as the 96'? I wouldn't mind getting the rebuild kit and having my fuel gauge work.

Edit, I know the dually axles are kind of dumb, but the parts are free and if it's not to terrible to drive around with I think I can deal,

 

The DRW axle is about 2.5" wider overall, so with skinny tires on stock rims, it will be pretty much even with the fender lip. I ran my truck like that for the last 6 months or so. Other than having a lot of brake drum visible from behind and the longer hubs, you won't really notice the difference.

Speedo on the 97 and older trucks is from the tranny(2wd)/t-case(4wd). So you need to get an older t-case that works for your speedo. 98+ gets it from the rear ABS sensor in the diff.

You should be able to bolt the hydro boost brakes in (if thats what you're asking about the vac boost?). Firewalls will accept it no problem. Just make sure you get all the hoses from the pump to the hydro boost to the steering box.

 

Cool, thanks for the info.

Yeah, but the 98 rear end should have the sensor can't
I just use that?

Yeah, I want to ditch the vac boost

Is the front end the same size too? The guy i got the truck from said there was a "kit" to have full time. It was just blown up and the vac lines were clipped comming off the front end. So i just want to replace the whole front end

 

The 96 rear end has the same sensor, but the PCM doesn't use it to pick up the speed signal. Its a truck thing, not a rear end thing.

 

Well that's a bummer for me cause i had a reputable local shop put a new one in when old cragslist special blew. Would have been nice if they had hooked that up

 

Any way i can pull the stuff off the 98 to make the old truck read it? A new tcase is a bit pricey

 

Of course you can...you may have to alter the signal from the rear axle sensor to make the PCM recognize it. Speedometer signal interface is what you'd need.

I wish I knew exactly what is required for a simple install, but I don't. With some research you should be able get the speedo working if you are any good with electrical. Would be cheaper then swapping out the t-case or output housing/shaft.

Also I do think there is 2 types of sensors, I remember seeing on quad4x4 there is a cutoff (97?) for the old rear axle sensor. May just be a different connector, but something to consider. The tone ring that sends a speed signal (on differential) should be the same, again looking through the parts on quad4x4.

Bottom line is what Tate said though, 2 different signals (maybe 3) are used in 2nd gen trucks. Can't mix and match as far as I know. So you have to adapt the signal you will be able to use so that the computer recognizes it, that little box I linked to above is the easy way to do that. Can't mix computers from the 2 trucks, unfortunately.

Good luck!

 

So does the rear end i have now have a sensor that can be split into and converted somehow? I can do simple elecrical like that, thanks for the tip on that one