I'm looking for a replacement diff on my 79 and I'm just wondering if there are any options for swaps while still keeping the same housing. I don't want another weak diff that might break again and I'd really prefer to avoid getting into a situation where I just have a part that's just as old as my previous one. I've heard of certain kia diffs swapping in but I'm pretty sure they won't fit in the SAs. Hopefully I'm wrong.
So yeah basically to sum it up; I want a new diff for my SA that'll fit in the original housing/would be easy to swap in, what are my options? LSDs would be preferred.

 

for your small axle diff, you have 4 options, 3 involve keeping your housing

1) find an old school updgraded lsd in 4.88 or 5.10

2) 81/82 gsl rear gears will fit your rear and are 3.90 LSD (and early production 83)

3) just swap a whole gsl rear in it as your drive shaft will fit it and you'll get disc rear, but you need a proportional valve and the disc ebrake cables too, however the 81-83.5 gsl rears are small axle so technically you'd keep the same housing size

4) update to a gsl or gslse rear, you'd need a different driveshaft but otherwise 83.5 - 85 drum real will bolt right in

so really just 1 & 2 to keep your completely stock rear and just swap gears in

 

Cool, thanks. I'm guessing the diff housing can directly swap in too for the 81/82 LSDs, right? Like just throw in the pumpkin and go?

 

should, yes.