Thanks, Austin, some great info here. Love to see pics of your truck if you
have any up...
we were also looking at cutting out the inner fenders up front but as a last
resort...I'll see how the fender trimming goes and if I get the articulation
clearance I need.
Dude, if you do that solid-axle conversion, kick ass!! You HAVE TO post every
detail of how you do it and take tons o' pictures!!
If you're in Raleigh anytime, look me up, w'ell do some wheeling!
____________________
Dave Kilian -- Clayton, NC
'96 Dakota CC Sport 4x4 3.9L 5-spd
4" TM susp. lift, 2" Body lift, 33" BFG MT's, Brush guard w/ Hellas, Tow
hooks, Tool Box, Sunroof, Cobra 18 CB, 4' Firestik II, Alpine 6-disc CD
Changer/Head Unit/amp, JBL speakers, Rhode Gear bike mount, Saris roof rack,
custom-welded rock rails, and a white dog named Jake in the passenger seat.
84,000+ miles.
http://csclub0.cs.fredonia.edu/WWWProfile/dakota/XzDn9Nl7vFo8M/
In a message dated 11/30/99 8:45:56 PM, austintee@hotmail.com writes:
<< HEY IT'S ME AGAIN FROM THE DML. JUST SAW YOUR PICS. TRUCK LOOKS GOOD.
MAYBE SOMEDAY I'LL COME VISIT MY SISTER IN RALEIGH AND WE CAN LINK UP TO DO
SOME WHEELING. MIGHT ACTUALLY GET MY BROTHER IN LAW TO GET HIS RANGE ROVER
DIRTY, TOO.
ANY HOW, I PUT A 2IN BODY LIFT ON MINE AND ENGINEERED SOME LIFT OUT OF THE
SUSPENSION THIS SUMMER. HELPS TO HAVE A GENIOUS FABRICATOR FOR A FRIEND.
BUT I WANTED TO PUT 32IN SWAMPERS ON MINE. SO WE CUT THE FENDERS UP FRONT.
GOT THE TIRES ON AND DECIDED I NEEDED STILL MORE ROOM. TOOK OUT THE INNER
FENDERS, FAB'ED SOME SPLASH PLATES FOR THE ENGINE AND CUT THE FENDERS BACK
TO THE BODY MOUNTS. IT ALL ENDED UP REALLY CLEAN. BUT THE THING IS THE
FENDER NOW RESEMBLES THE LINES OF A LATE 60'S FORD BRONCO. SO THAT'S
PROBABLY WHERE I'M GETTING MY FLARES FROM. JUST A SUGGESTION. IT ALL
DEPENDS ON HOW EXTREME YOU WANT TO GO. I AM AN EXTREMIST.
STRAIGHT AXLE CONVERSION? THERE IS AN EASY WAY, SHOULD SAY INEXSPENSIVE.
THE TRUCK YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR IS A BLOWN UP LATE 70'S FORD F150 (IF YOU WANT
COILS UP FRONT) OR F250. THE DANA 44 FRONT AXLE IS WAY STONGER THAN
ANYTHING DODGE HAS PUT ON A DAKOTA AND THE NINE INCH REAR IS ALSO STRONGER.
BONUS IS THAT PARTS FOR THESE TWO AXLES ARE MUCH CHEAPER. I.E. GEARS AND
LOCKERS. BASICLLY THIS WILL REQUIRE REMOVING JUST ABOUT EVERY BIT OF THE
DODGE SUSPENSION FROM STEERING ON DOWN AND REPLACING IT WITH THE FORD STUFF.
AFTER ALL FORD STANDS FOR F'D OVER REBUILT DODGE. THIS IS WHAT'S IN THE
WORKS FOR MINE. THIS SUMMER OR SO. BONUS IS YOU CAN BUILD IT TO WHATEVER
HEIGHT YOU JUST ABOUT WANT. I'M SHOOTING FOR THE 36-38IN SWAMPER RANGE.
THERE'S SOME TRICKS WE'LL PLAY THAT WILL MAKE IT A FLEX BEAST, TOO.
JUST SOME THOUGHTS FOR YA. IT'S NICE TO SEE OTHER DAKOTAS OUT WHEELING.
AUSTIN T.
COLORADO WHEELING ROCKS
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