I am looking to get rid of the stock Dana 44 front axle with the sliding locking collar and two piece passenger axleshaft in my 98 Ram 1500. I am wondering about how much modifying is required to install a Dana 44 front axle from a mid-80's Dodge half-ton. Also wondering if the track width is the same.  

If your Ram1500 has ccoil springs swapping in an early model 44 will be labor intensive because you need to install the cpring cups and the controll arm brackets in the right places. Why not look to the aftermarket for an axel that is full length for that side and put it in. I know that they do this with Jeep's. If you want lockout hubs you can get the outer C's, hubs and all of the break parts off of a Chev, Ford or Dodge.   

thanks for the info. i'll look for that. i don't know what the engineers were thinking when they made that sliding collar setup. I bet it was on a friday and they all wanted to go home. I had to replace it 3 years ago, it cost me 1200 dollars at the dodge dealership. they were the only ones that would replace it. thats canadian money. it would be 900 bucks US. but i know its starting to go again. it is sticking when i take the truck out of 4 by. the collar has had a lot of torque put thru it. i have 12 inches of lift and 44's on it. i would like to switch it to manual hubs and a detroit locker or no hubs and an arb. i think the arb way would be strongest.