I recently had my LSD go out and I swapped an open rear end into it for now. My question is, are the internals of the open diff able to swap into a LSD housing? Both are 85's. I want to keep the rear discs but if I cant swap the internals then i'll have to live with it.

 

I have seen a drum brake rear with LSD, maybe you can Vice versa? As long as you keep it in the same axle size.

 

i was reading somewhere that the axles from 79-83 were small axles and then 84-85 they went to bigger ones, but i didn't see anywhere that the internals were any different

 

79-82 is small axles, small flange driveshaft.
83 is small axles, large flange driveshaft.
84-85 is large axles, large flange driveshaft.

 

BTW, not really sure what you could swap over, but I would guess nothing. They are two totally different animals and I would be very surprised if they share any large components.

 

you should be able to just swap out the 3rd member since they are both the same axle size...

 

you sould be able to swap over to the open dif. no problem.