So what's the consensus here. I just shelled my second d70, and was thinking about putting a locker in it. After reading this thread I'm thinking a boneyard d80 makes a lot more sense. I'm tired of blowing up rears..
If I go d80, what year, model, etc would have the highest spline count?

 

Pretty sure all the Dodge's came with 35 spline shafts. The Ford F-Superduty's came with 37 spline shafts, but those were dually rear ends that were a 10 lug pattern. Not sure if you could just swap hubs on it to get the normal 8.

 

I just bought a d80 for $1250, it is from a 02 with disc brakes, should have it by end of week. Not quite sure what it will take to make it work. Drive shaft i think will need to be about 2 inches shorter,(have a thread in 2nd gen drivetrain asking about this), not sure how brake lines & e brake will play out. Go to car-parts.com & do a search for what you are looking for. I priced putting a LSD in my D70 with new r&p bearings & so on & it was $855, & that does not include the new lsd that I allready have. When I get it done I will do a write up on it. If anyone has any insight on this project please chime in. Thanks

 

1250..That's not too bad at considering you get disk brakes and 35 spline axles.

isbsinkinson, Our trucks are some what similar.

 

well I new a guy that broke the crud out of his D70 in his 1st gen. So he put a full floater corp.14 out of a chev. I know there a tough unit. I had one in an 87 chev with a 600 hp 454 and running 42's and that 14 bolt never had an problem, plus there cheaper to fix. Now com. to a D80, I am not sure how they compare to one another. just know that guy got his for $200 out of a junk yard when that D70 broke on him.

Bob

 

D70 and the 14 bold would be comparable. Same size shafts (different spline count though), same size ring gear, both full float. 14 bolts are a lot easier to setup, almost as nice as a Ford 9".

 

I used to have a peterson's 4wheel magazine that had all the pros and cons and specs. of all the popular axles out there, but I can't remember where it's at. It was some good reading.

 

I found two teeth chipped on my D70 Ring Gear and there were gouges in the inside of the cover as well as a large amount of shavings in the oil and on the magnet. The chips are probably 1/4-1/3 of two teeth and have one good tooth in between them. Any immediate concerns or should it be ok for a while?