Hey Guys,

I am ordering a locker for my 89 Dodge D350 2wd Duallie Reg Cab and I am not sure which diff it has. I was told it could be a D70 or A D80 but I also read that dodge used slightly modified Dana axels. I don't want any miss ordered parts so if anyone knows which it should be please let me know. Thanx.

 

Either a Dana 71 if you have an auto or a Dana 70 if you have a 5 speed.

 

I hope that you are getting a selectable locker, or a limited slip
If you go with a detroit you wont be happy!
Peter.

 

Why? Because they are so hard on parts? If I wouldn't have listened to people about the 'problems' with Detroit Lockers I would have been happier. Nothing wrong with them if you know how to drive with them.

 

are there any other possible options, like the D80?

I needed to change a rear axle seal, and the "parts computer" gave two options for an '89 D350...a D60 and a D70...so I bought two of each, and when I got the busted one out, it was bigger than both of the ones I bought at the store...

the computer never asked for SRW or DRW...would that make a difference?

Thanks.
Greg

 

I will not be using a selectable locker. I love going sideways! It is was of the funest things you can do in a vehical. However I will be towing in snow and possibly mountain areas so that will get a little hairy. I currently own a old dodge gasser with a loc rite in the rear and it has been rock solid through many burn outs,its ratcheting is not very loud and it works well. I also use one in the front of my 79 bronco 4wd and although I have broke A LOT of front end parts my loc rite has never let me down. so I will be installing one in the rear of my duallie.

 

If auto, I don't think a locker is available for for the D71.

 

If you have an auto, whatever you chose is gonna require machineing. The only other option is to get a used one out of a like truck or find one in a dealer wherehouse somewhere for that year auto, diesel. I don't know if they actually offered them in the auto though. If you HAVE to have a locker, it'll be easier just to swap an axle since it is only 2WD. You could probabl recoup some of the cost eventually, to someone with a 4x4 that could use a rear end. If you haven't guessed yet, 89-91 auto's came with a 3:07 gear. Nothing for it is available anymore and parts are not interchangeable with the other gears.

 

Please dont get me wrong, I love the detroit, I have one in my discovery, It is great,,, I have some expirence with a locker in a rear wheel drive truck,,, besides the noise, and the chirping of the tires, I am looking at it from a traction point of view,,,, with a limited slip, or better yet, a selectable locker you have a choise of going sideways or not, I have been on some scetchy mt roads in the snow with the detroit and a selectable, and for my tastes, i'de rather spin one wheel and stay straight, than to spin two and slip torward a 200' fall,,, no guard rail,, Then i needed to pull out the winch,,, The only way i could get up the hill was to run the rear tires at 8 lb,,, I would like to see the new detroit cable locker,,,
Just my opinion
Peter.

 

Pred,

Good point. Kinda throws things into perspective with the whole 200' drop mountain road thing. Thanks for everyones opinions.

My truck is a stick shift so that should save some headache.

An 89 w/ stick in a duallie should be a Dana 70?

 

Don't tell me that... You mean that I can't get a locker of any kind for my truck? Darnnit! Wouldn't be so bad if anything else was this heavy of an axle and this short of gears...

 

Maybe a lock right! thay just req removing the spider gears on a open diff and puting the lock right in it's place!

not as strong as a detroit locker but, it would stlll work!

 

Yes, it is a Dana 70.