This should probably be in Noob tech, but I don't think anyone non-Dodge would have a clue, so I decided to stick it in here. This way you can flame me for being a tard, too :flipoff2:

Anyway, I've got an '84 RamCharger, with two open diffs and way too short gears (3.23s). On the street, I haven't noticed much difference between the 35s I just put on and the stock 235/75-15s I replaced (strikes me as odd that the difference doesn't seem HUGE) so I'm going to keep putting off regearing for a bit, so I can afford better axles to wrap better gears in sometime later.

I'm definitely just going to weld up the rearend. I think I've gotten enough of a clue about that from the lots of posts turned up in searching to not be too much of a danger to my junk or myself :D

I also have been considering what to do to the front, and I figured out exactly what I was going to do - a near-perfect solution for a welded frontend!
get a Posi-Lok (http://www.4x4posi-lok.com/dodge_page.html) for the CAD so there is internal control over one drive tire being engaged: it would be like being able to unlock the left hub when I needed to turn well - from inside. Then I could upgrade to real locking hubs at some point later to keep the frontend from spinning when I wasn't offroad (no trailer or tow rig yet, so this rig has to get itself to the trails).

Then I realized when looking at the Posi-Lok stuff that the CAD axles started in '85. I have an '84 :emb2:

So much for that idea. I still think it's a great solution, though - beats the hell out of jumping in and out of the truck to be able to turn versus go when the front is welded. Maybe I should look for an '85+ D44 with crossover hysteer and locked 4.10s.... Anyway, so the point of this rambling bit of background (yes, I have a point) is a simple question:

If I don't have CAD, what in fawk's name do I have? Auto-locking hubs? Full time hubs? Voodoo magic axle? All I ever read about as far as Dodge front axles go is CAD this and CAD that, and what to do when CAD goes :nuke:.

I still wanna weld it up - I'd rather spend $$ on hubs than $$$$ for a locker for an axle I'm probably not keeping forever. Does Warn or MileMarker or whomever else make reasonably priced hubs to replace whatever it is that I have? Do any of you have a well-geared CAD D44 that you want to get rid of?

What's your quick & relatively cheap fix for my open frontend?

Voodoo magic axle?

That's got my vote :laughing: :laughing:

Seriously though.... you probably have the autolocking hubs as this '83 does:
http://www.off-road.com/dodge/ramcharger/tech_tips/Front_Rebuild_Article.htm

Should be able to replace with standard locking hubs very easily.

well I ordered up some Warn Premiums that are supposed to be good for my application. Only a C note locally, so that beats a locker by a bit :flipoff2::D They're probably in right now, but last night my Dak decided to :nuke: again, so I'm stuck outta town taking care of a fawking IFS wheel bearing. Unitized of course, so it was $160.... plus the shit it broke on it's way out.

:flipoff: Dakota, why couldn't you have done this around home, so I coulda started on a SAS instead of eating any money I started saving for one!