8.25 w/ 2/45:1 Woes and Confusion

If the ring and pinion and the sure grip came out of the same vehicle/truck/car your good to go, simple swap. On a few I have done the ring gear bolts hit the inside of the housing/cap area. A little grinding and your ready to go. You have to make sure the axle spline count is the same on the new sure grip, must be pre 1997. I would go pre 1996 to be sure. Even the pinion depth shim is easy, for example if the old gears are marked (white or yellow paint) -1xx and the new gears are marked +1xx then you just need a shim that is .002" thinner. For example old shim is .031" then the shim needed is .029". You will need a new crush sleeve. I do remember having a problem with the side carrier bearings, the newer ones don't fit the old housing, you will have to install the older sized ones. If you need pinion bearings, let me know, I will donate a set to you, keeping things on the cheap.