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mondtster
Dodge Dakota
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12/11/2003
20:19:57
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 Subject: straight axle dakota... again
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I know this has been brought up over and over again, but I have searched this site and I still am not really satisfied with the answers I have seen.
I am in the preliminary stages of planning my swap which will be executed next spring. I have bought a donor '78 F150 for the axles, etc so I have most of the stuff already to do it and the axles will be gone through this winter.
My main question is if anyone on this board who has done it or had it done to their truck would be kind enough to email me some close up pics of their setup so I could get some other people's ideas in my head as well as my own ideas so I can hopefully build a better engineered suspension.
So, anyone got some good pics or comments?! I'm interested in seeing and hearing anything and everything about the conversion.
BTW, for my background, I am a mechanical engineering student right now and I have done lots of home projects similar to this with suspesnion but not an actual IFS to straight axle swap. I have most of the stuff worked out in my head, but I would like to see some pics of other's trucks who have it done.
Thanks in advance!
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tj
Dodge Dakota
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12/12/2003
10:59:22
|  RE: straight axle dakota... again
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what year is your truck. i finished doing my 92. let me know if this will help
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99Dak5.2L4x4
Dodge Dakota
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12/12/2003
16:32:54
| RE: straight axle dakota... again
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Here are some links to dakotas with straigh axels.. some usuful.. some just pictures.. you'll need a fast internet connection... lots of pictures...cut and paste links into your browser
http://www.4x4wire.com/feature/99dakota/solidaxleswap/
http://www.4wheelair.com/tombuban/tombuban.htm
http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/travisfinlayson/lst?&.dir=/My+Photos&.src=ph&.begin=9999&.view=t&.order=&.done=http%3a//f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/travisfinlayson/lst%3f%26.dir=/My%2bPhotos%26.src=ph%26.view=t
http://dtw.truckmoxie.com/mygallery.asp?id=3804
http://www.sounddomain.com/member_pages/view_page.pl?page_id=351346&make_type_query=make%3DDodge&model_brand_query=model%3DDakota&tree=Dodge%20Dakota
http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/248304/4
http://www.xxxtraction.com/dodge.htm
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sand man
Dodge Dakota
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12/12/2003
20:17:14
| RE: straight axle dakota... again
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I have a 98 ext cab dakota with 79 f150 axles four three rate king coilovers. If you need info e-mail me at jrhynalds@aol.com
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mondtster
Dodge Dakota
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12/13/2003
09:08:37
| RE: straight axle dakota... again
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My truck is a '93, so TJ if you could get some pics for me it would be very helpful.
I am going to have a look at those links later today. I just stopped in for a second before I head to work.
Thanks for the replies guys!
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mondtster
Dodge Dakota
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12/17/2003
00:02:23
| RE: straight axle dakota... again
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I looked at the links, and of course, most of them are just basic pics which I have seen before. But there were a few I hadn't seen before. Anyone got any more pics or is this just about it?
TJ, you got some pics or info? I'm sure '92 to '93 would be almost identical in not completely identical. Any and all help is greatly appreciated!
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mondtster
Dodge Dakota
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12/17/2003
12:38:30
| RE: straight axle dakota... again
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Well, I just got done doing a quick measurement of the Ford and the Dak. I didn't take real precise measurements because there was snow on the ground and I didn't want to lay in it to get the measurements right now. I have to go to work in a little while so I want to stay clean. :)
Anyway, this swap looks like it will be easier than I expected. Frame measurements seem to be within an inch between the Ford and the dodge, and the leaf springs in the back even appear to be the same length.
Anyone else who has done this using the Ford radius arm setup and Ford leaf springs in the back out here? Can you confirm these measurements for me?
Like I said before, I just took quick measurements so I could be off on the measurements too. I just can't seem to find any info on measurements anywhere on the internet. So, any help would be appreciated!
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tj
Dodge Dakota
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12/17/2003
15:39:33
| RE: straight axle dakota... again
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so man i've been away.
ok yes it's easy. the brackets will fit right on the fram all i had to do was shime them out to make sure they were straight. the dak fram is on a curve. i used stock radial arms from the ford, the dak fram has a larger off set that the ford so the radial arm brakets weld up nicely.
the rear is different. the fram is wider on the ford there so you need to weld different pearches on the new axle so the they line up on the dak fram . what do you want pics of. let em know
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tj
Dodge Dakota
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12/17/2003
15:41:58
| RE: straight axle dakota... again
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hey mondtster, you should get off this weak a$$ site and come on over to www.dakotausa.com much better site
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mondtster
Dodge Dakota
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12/17/2003
15:46:22
| RE: straight axle dakota... again
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Hey TJ, thanks for the reply. I am heading over to the other website after I get done writing this to check it out.
Thanks for your help with telling me what you experienced when you did your conversion. I'd like any and all pics you may have of your conversion if possible. Do you have a website with them on it or do you need to just email them to me? If you prefer email, my address is emondt01@msn.com.
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tj
Dodge Dakota
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12/17/2003
17:28:25
| RE: straight axle dakota... again
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here some pics of the truck done i will send some you the swap later
http://dtw.truckmoxie.com/mygallery.ten?id=4864
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mondtster
Dodge Dakota
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12/17/2003
23:09:03
| RE: straight axle dakota... again
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I really appreciate the help TJ. Your truck looks great! What did you use for springs? I'm sure you didn't use the stock ford ones to do it...
thanks again!
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