> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net
> [mailto:owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net]On Behalf Of Matt
>
> Hi I am building a 451 Big block gen 1 Dakota and have been thinking about
> having the frame completly boxed in and was wondering if it would be worth
> the effort?? Also has anyone use Caltracs or Slide a links?? If
> so are they
> any good?? I am looking to get this truck into the mid to low 12's
How you go about this depends in large part whether it will be street driven
as well as raced or just a race truck. A good friend and competitor of mine
has a 440 in a Gen I Dak and runs 11.20's at 118 mph. It is race only but
was done on the cheap with junkyard parts. (he owns a junkyard :-)) Nothing
special was done to the frame or suspension. He uses a 727 torqueflite, an
8 3/4 rear end and slicks. The rear springs are stock with one extra leaf
and spring clamps. He fabricated his own solid motor mounts. I've found on
mine that polyurethane cab bushing stiffened the chassis quite a bit.
Schumacher Creative Services http://www.engine-swaps.com/ has a complete kit
to install a big block. The Caltracs work very well according to their web
site and folks on the Dakota R/T forum
http://forums.delphiforums.com/dakotart As I pointed out, none of this is
absolutely necessary if you are only going to race. The stock parts work
exceptionally well if you know what you're doing.
RayB
http://www.dragtruk.com/ENTRIES/20KM1FD2KWBP.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Feb 06 2004 - 11:46:03 EST