8 1/4 sure grip... what year Dakotas?

'96 will still have the 8-1/4. The spline count changed in 97. They should be 27 spline until 96 then 29 spline in 97 and newer. I think they still used the 8-1/4 in Dakota's past 97 also tho.

yupp, I had an '01 dakota with an 8 1/4 3:55 gears. only thing you have to worry about is dakota's from 1991+ are 6 bolt hole wheels