Why dont you just order a ford 9" dana 60 hybrid. Spend a little now,
but it will last with almost any size tires.
Just my .02
tom
Terrible Tom wrote:
>
> Here's whats on my mind... I've recently come to the conclusion that
> until I fix Christine's more serious issues, I'm wasting time.
>
> I have replaced all the ball joints, all the tierods, the idler arm,
> the pitman arm and the steering box. The truck still klunks from the
> front end. As best as I can tell, the klunking is because of seriously
> deteriorted control arm bushings.
>
> Some of the brackets and framework on the front end is rotted out (the
> bump stop mounts primarily). I can only find replacement busings for
> the upper control arms. Replacement control arms, if you can find
> them, sell for a few hundrid bucks each (times 4 = $$$$). And... I
> still have a stripped out caliper mounting hole in the passenger side
> steering knuckle.
>
> All of this makes me wanna go Maskalans on the front suspension.
>
> Here's the problem. I don't know what to put under the truck whel I
> torch the old stuff off. From the very start, when I first bought
> Christine... I always wanted to turn the truck into a heady duty
> Dakota. I don't want to turn it into a sky high offroad truck. I want
> to be able to put my snow plow back on and drive the thing every day
> and tow and haul and go offroad once in a while to get her muddy. I
> dont want to crawl up cliffs and I don't need huge flex in the
> suspension. I also don't want the tires to stick out way past the
> fenders (like they do right now) The max size tire I would run would
> be 33 or 35.
>
> Mike would tell me "nothing less than a dana 44" - in fact I think he
> has at one point. The problem with that is that most 44s out there
> are full sie truck width axles.
>
> A few ideas I had, go like this...
>
> A DANA 30 front axle from a Wrangler or Cherokee. Its about the same
> size as the stock Dak IFS unit. Stock is a 7.25 corperate center
> section. I think the DANA 30 ring gear is 7.2? I've seen many
> Wranglers and Cherokees with plows and no one I know with one has
> blown up an axle yet.
>
> Pros, good width axle, might be easiest to make fit, light axle, good
> aftermarket support - can be built up somewhat.
>
> Cons, its still a DANA 30...
>
> If I could find an afforable Rubicon front axle... that would be ideal
> width and strength. Problem is they are hard to find in junk yards
> and NOT CHEAP for the ones I did locate.
>
>
> Ford Twin Tandem Beam axle set up from a Ranger/Explorer set up.
>
> Pros, Might be easy to adapt to a formerly IFS frame set up... good
> aftermarket support for parts
>
> Cons, I just don't like a suspension that flexes like that. I think
> it would give me a headache to try and keep the tire wear normal.
>
>
> Or... I also thought... drop Christine's body... on another chassis.
> Perhaps a modified Ramcharger frame, or (gasp) a ford or chevy chassis.
>
> Pros: instant solid axle swap, depending on what chassis I could
> use... it would also solve the frame rot issue, by allowing me to pick
> up a solid chassis.
>
> Cons: heavy fab work, cab mounts, bed mounts, engine/transmission
> mounts (no way would I run Ford/GM powertrain!!!)
>
>
> My vote is to go with a Wrangler coil spring DANA 30...
>
>
> I would really appreciate feedback from folks on this... This truck
> has been a struggle for six and a half years... damn has it been that
> long? And I feel even farther away than ever, from reaching my goals
>
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