does anyone know of a locking diff for the 8.25 ifs frt i know eaton makes a locker for the 9.25 ifs but havent seen anything on the other  

Does not exist that I know of. Besides a locker in a front axle can really suck about some things anyway, you are better off with a LSD up there. Also since the GM IFS never really completely disengaged the front axle, it make installing a locker much more difficult.  

the way i took it the eaton elocker completey disengages when you have it turned off and operates just like an open diff. what LSD choices are there for this frt. havent seen any of those either  

You are correct on the eaton electrolock but it is not made for that axle. I cannot find any device for that 8.25" IFS front axle. I can for the 9.25" IFS diff but that diff will not bolt into your truck at all and is very different from the 8.25 unit overall. You are kinda between a rock and a hard place.  

i have heard about reliability issues with the chevy 1/2 ton frt and rear axles but have had no personal problems and dont really understand with the number of trucks like these out why there are no upgrades for this diff i am planning on setting the truck up on 37s but i dont wheel it extremely hard.  when i do go out i like to know that the truck is at least capable of holding its own in the mud. there really is no place to even go rock climbing or bajaing where i live and with all the trucks ive ever owned the mud hasnt seemed to be prone to just demolishing parts

Blame it on GM because the style of disconnect if the front axle in the IFS truck and the inherent weakness of the 8.25 unit design used in that truck severly limits what can be done with it. I like and own GM trucks but if I was seriuos about mud and offroading I would convert it to a solid front axle or get a 1/2 Dodge.  

i guess i will be stuck with a three wheel drive vehicle because i have a strong dislike for the dodges soley because of what i have seen with their transmissions.  i mean no disrespect to the dodge guys and if i knew how to improve the dodge trannys like i do the chevys i would have no problem owning one.  I work at a gm dealership doing a lot of drivetrain work and have leaned what breaks and what parts it takes to fix them. I guess ill just have to keep my fingers crossed and hope some company will find a way to increase my traction capabilities with at least a limited slip diff for my little ifs frt  

Just remember that you really do have 4 wheel drive and a open diff will send equal torque to each wheel as it has to by design (if one wheel is spining and the other is not they are still reciieving the same amout of axle shaft torque) The one thing that Dodge still has going for it is that the still use a solid axle in a 1/2 ton truck but Ford has the best deal in the heavier trucks (above 1/2 tons) as they have solid axles and lockout hubs which mean they still have a lot of locker/LSD options for them.  

I know of the automatic tranny problems in dodges. Do they have alot of problems with thier standard one?  Most folks I know want autos for some reason over the standard so i don't know anyone that had a 5 speed in a dodge.

I have heard no complaints to speak off about Dodge manual trannies in trucks  

the early dodge standards coupled with the cumins had problems.the quatrag trannys if you do not catch the bearings and sicronizers in time you have a pile of junk.the nv4500 and 727 torque flight auto. are good trannys.

Without doubt proper maintainance would play a factor here too as most people do not change manual gear box oil even once which can lead to early tranny failure. If syncros, generally made of brass, wear out it will have no effect on tranny life otherwise unless you start jamming and chipping gear teeth.  

partly but is also thet the trany is to light for the amount of torque that the engine puts out  

I would say if engine is stock and tranny properly service, you will have no problems here.  

i should have mentioned that the manual that i was refering to is coupled to a cumings. in my job i've hadto rebuild quit a few of them