My bad- I checked it again today, and it actually says "unlocked". The hazard switch on the left is a true toggle, but this functions as a radio button and the light comes on when it is clicked. When I clicked it, I thought I heard a sort of vacuum hiss from the engine compartment, but it's hard to tell over my exhaust leak :-(.

Now I'm completely lost again. This implies something is locked by default and needs to be unlocked everytime the car is started? A differential wouldn't be set up like this, would it? What else could it be for?

Thinking more about it, I'm not sure if I regained traction while cornering because of a LSD, or my instinct to ease off the gas until the wheel stopped slipping. Is there a simple way to determine the differential type without damaging the underbody?

I threw one of those beaded seatcovers on over the summer to keep from getting by back soaked in sweat and the thickness of the beads was enough to bash my skull into the roof regularly, so height is a major concern. I've got blue interior also. Does it just need to be another Mitsu/Dodge truck to match the bolt pattern? I came across a pair out of an 88 pickup for $50 each up near Superior/Duluth. I'll wait for spring to do this though, I think.

The hub cap is more of a hub ring actually. It's a plain ring that goes around the "auto free hub" and is a couple inches wide- just enough to cover the lugnuts. I didn't see anything like it on ebay.



Yep, I've heard of Northern Illinois. ;-) Would you say everything around this area is a little too 'domesticated' to do any decent off-roading?

Hey, another Milwaukeean <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

I might have one of those hubcap rings laying around here - from a GenII Montero but it might work. If I find it I'll let you know if you want to see if it fits.

Check out our post about the Pipeline run in N.WI the 28th&29th. You're welcome to come.

By the way if you're looking for a good mechanic for a good price try Arnie's Garage on Rawson Ave a mile west of 27th St. (he's in the phonebook). I've been taking my cars to him for years. And he's done me good on a engine rebuild that went bad a few months later. Only problem he rarely answers his phone - so you're going to have to go there in person. You want to talk to Dan and tell him Phil Landowski sent you.

He's usually pretty fast too but sometimes he has a backlog of cars he's gotta get to.

AFAIK, yes, but who knows if something else out there might bolt up? I measured the seats from a Dodge Monaco(about 89-ish I think) and the bases seemed like they would bolt up <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/coolg.gif" alt="" />. I never did get them though because the car is a 4dr and I need a seat that can flip forward so I can access my tools behind the seat(extended cab). If I had a regular cab I would have been all over 'em because they were leather power everything <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.


Yep, but there are some little spots here and there to stretch the suspension from time to time. You know, like snow piles in the Walmart parking lot... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Seriously though, if you want to take it out and see what it can do, read Bredwalda's post above. I even have some 235 mud tires that you could have if you wanted to pick 'em up <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.

What's your diff gearing anyways? Is it 4.22? There's a placard on the firewall that will tell you <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />.

Crawl under the rear of the truck and look at the diff. It should have one breather hose and possibly two little wires if the truck has ABS. If the truck has a locker, there should be some other air/vacuum line stickin' out of there somewhere.

Phil, I tried calling them all week with no luck and ended up stopping in this afternoon (Sat). There was a mechanic named Dave there, but he couldn't really tell me how to get a hold of Dan. It's a half hour drive for me both ways (I'm in Menomonee Falls), so I don't know if this will work. If there was a way I could talk to him for sure, the trip might be worth it...

BTW, you said the rebuild went bad? I take it the rest of his work turned out better?

There's a hose running from the left rear of the diff to the hollow tube that runs under the bed between wheel wells. I'm guessing this would be the breather? There's also a hose coming off the front, right behind the driveshaft, that runs along the frame toward the firewall. This would be for the locker?

The plate on the firewall has 422 after the engine codes- looks like the diff gearing. What different ratios are available and what are they best for?

Yep.


Hose or wire cover? I think what you are describing might be the wires for the ABS. I'm pretty sure Cragdweller said his truck had this setup before he swapped his gears. If it really is a hose, then I'd say you have a locker <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />. 4.22's are probably good for up to 31's. Over that, you may want 4.625's from a Monty so that you don't hurt your drivability <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />.

I checked again and it is a wire cover. Does this mean I have ABS, or is the wire there regardless of the option? The brakes have been a problem since I bought it, so I've been babying them.

I'll get in touch with the former owner over the next few days and see if he can fill me in on anything...