Also, I'm wondering if putting two 31" tires on my rear with the 3.08 ratio could have caused the problem?

C'mon guys, wake up. Get the coffee brewing, I need help

 

Yes, the primary issue with the different gears would be the speedometer.
3.08 gears with 31" tires could have been a part of what caused your problem, the 3.42 gears would work better for you and give you more low end power.

 

Ok, thanks.

 

Here's my 'new' 3.42 axle from a '95 1500 series, to be installed Monday morning. Thanks for the help guys.

(I finally found a use for my Toyota)

 

Good luck, I think the shop you found is giving you an excellent price for the work.

 

Thanks. One guy at the shop said "$200", another at the shop said "about $300". But this was before they received my truck and neither knew I had spoken to the other. They're 2.5 hours away from me and I don't know they're reputation. The rear end went out while I was in the woods at the deer camp.

How do those prices sound to you?

The friend who sold me the rear end is local and said he would do it for $100, of course that's after it would cost me another $200-$300 to get it towed to his shop... I wonder if he would still do it that cheap if I suddenly showed up at his place with the truck, I bet he would change his mind.

 

If your friend does this on the side $100. would not surprise me, however I think it would be about a 4 hour job so a shop couldn't do it that cheap.

 

My truck is ready, gonna collect it in the morning. They want $366.01, how does that sound to you guys?

 

thats not to bad of a price for a rear install....would of been a great learning experience doing it yourself!

 

ha! not happenin, lol. The wife would find me dead with an axle laying across my neck, with my 3 walmart tools scattered everywhere.