| From | Message |
phat 4x4
Unregistered
4/05/2001
20:23:26
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 Subject: solid axle swap?
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Message:
I was wondering if anyone had ever replaced the IFS of older dakotas with a straight axle. If not, is it possible? I'd appreciate any info.
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Tom Chaney
Unregistered
4/06/2001
11:30:18
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
I am Looking into it...
I will let you know if i find anything
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89hidak
Unregistered
4/09/2001
18:20:03
| RE: solid axle swap?
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Message:
ive seen it in a magazine , a guy had dana 44's with coil springs and 35's if anyone gets any info ive been lookin into swappin in a solid axle in my 89 sport.
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Bill A
GenIII
4/09/2001
22:56:58
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
It is possible to put a straight axle in your truck. From what i have heard my buddy said its actually not that hard to do. I am pondering the same dilemma if i want to do that or not on mine. What you have to do is pretty much cut the IFS out and weld in the new straight axle parts, revamp your steering rods and put in different front suspenion. Myself i want to take out the IFS put in a straight axle and put leaf springs up front. It would turn into a monster. hope this helps.
'99 Dodge Dakota ext cab sport 4x4(3.9 V6)
Mudding is awesome
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tom Chaney
Unregistered
4/10/2001
12:45:34
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
The web site Stompers4x4.com has a 89 dakota on a 16 inch lift with dana front and rear with leaf springs, 44 inch boggers, name is bob and libby lane of SIBLEY MO...
check it out
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larkinja
GenI
4/24/2001
11:22:53
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
I am thinking about doing the same thing on my 89 sport. I am researching it now, I'll let you know if I find anything. I saw an article done on one where they used full size bronco axles. Thay had custom pockets made for coil springs. Probably would have a nicer ride, but leaf springs would be easier to do. Would be nice if someone made a kit.
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larkinja
GenI
4/24/2001
15:29:38
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
I just talked to a guy at a fabrication shop here, and he is recommending dana 44's with leaf springs from a CJ Jeep. You can buy a stock CJ hanger and bushing set that will allow you to mount the axle. Let me know if you find anything else.
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walt_felix
GenI
4/25/2001
16:35:25
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
I have seen it done a few times. A Dana 44 from a 78-79 Ford Bronco will fit under there. The frame on a Gen I or II Dakota is about 2 inches wider than that of the Bronco. What they did was grind off the mount for the upper control arm, box in the frame and bolt in the upper coil spring mounts from the Bronco.
These images are linked to their pages.
And of course, My page
Walt Felix
88½ Dakota Sport 4x4
http://WWW.Walt-n-Ingrid.COM
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larkinja
GenI
4/27/2001
14:24:51
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
Walt, great link! I took measurements from a cj and it appears to be too narrow by 8 inches. After measuring a Bronco, It is just a hair wider in stance, but that is good. The axle comes from the 78-79 bronco is also found in 76-79 F-100 and F-150. Mounting the uppers coil pockets down further will easily give is a good size lift. It doesn't appear that using Bronco suspension would be a good idea if you don't plan on lifting it. At stock height the top of the coil will be to high in the funer well. But with a lift it looks perfect.
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89hidak
Unregistered
5/01/2001
20:26:52
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
ok one problem,by lifting a dakota that high wont ther be problems with the front drive shaft angle, and isnt the pumpkin on the opposite side of the axle on fords opposed to chevy's and dodge's????
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walt_felix
GenI
5/02/2001
10:07:36
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
The diff is on the left on older Fords. Click on the two links above and look at both of their trucks. The first link still works, the guy just moved his image to a different location and I can't edit the old post. The second image is blocked by Anglefire but still works.
Walt Felix
88½ Dakota Sport 4x4
http://WWW.Walt-n-Ingrid.COM
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walt_felix
GenI
5/02/2001
10:08:29
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
The diff is on the left on older Fords. Click on the two links above and look at both of their trucks. The first link still works, the guy just moved his image to a different location and I can't edit the old post. The second image is blocked by Anglefire but still works.
Walt Felix
88½ Dakota Sport 4x4
http://WWW.Walt-n-Ingrid.COM
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Tanner Sammons
Unregistered
5/02/2001
13:21:06
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
Check out this link!! It is a '99 CC Dak w/ Ford axles. Pretty sweet, definitely a consideration when warranty runs out.
Tanner
'00 QC 4x4 4.7 Auto SLT+
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Tanner Sammons
Unregistered
5/02/2001
13:28:19
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
Oops, forgot the link!!
Here it is: http://www.outdoorwire.com/4x4/feature/99dakota/solidaxleswap/
Tanner
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greg
Dodge Dakota
6/05/2001
15:32:24
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
how bout an email address for the guy with the 89??? o and i got a donor ford F150 for 170$$$
now the work and frustrations start. savin for 38/16/15 swampers and 410 gear swap. hope the stock 3.9 will be able to turn em then, thatnks for the insperation everyone.
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greg
Dodge Dakota
6/05/2001
15:34:16
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
how bout an email address for the guy with the 89??? o and i got a donor ford F150 for 170$$$
now the work and frustrations start. savin for 38/16/15 swampers and 410 gear swap. hope the stock 3.9 will be able to turn em then, thatnks for the insperation everyone.
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Ryan Kane
Dodge Dakota
6/05/2001
17:17:49
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
Why do you want to swap out your IFS for a straight axle? What advantages do you expect to gain from this? What type of offroading do you plan on doing?
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greg howl
Dodge Dakota
6/05/2001
18:21:48
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
ryan, the ifs setup on dakotas is alot weaker then a solid axle. plus ther would be no way i could fit 38's with IFS, I here 35's rub with a 4in suspension and 3 in body. plus i could convert to a solid axle for about the same price if not cheaper then if i wher to buy the 4in. IFS lift. also gears and a locker will be cheaper and easier to find. as for the offroading i do with my truck, occasionally i go mudding i like to compete at local mud bogg competitions. the big chevy's and ford's would s@!t ther pants if the lil dodge with stock driveline and 33's that ther used to blowing the doors off of, pulled up to the pit with a solid axle coil springs and 38's and blew ther doors off them for a change. dont get me wrong i can keep up with the stock fullsize trucks with 32's or 33's and stock motors but thats still putting me in about 2nd or 3rd to last place about every time. with this upgrade( the ford axles, 4:10 gears,a locker and 38 swampers,) ill be able to eat thru the goo 100% better. other then the mud bogg's everyother weekend, i use my truck for show. by the way i have a black 89 dakota sport 4x4 with cranked torsion bars, 3in body lift and 33/12.50/15 wild country radial rvt's, new paint and a rebuilt a-500 auto tranny. new new carpet new roll pan, blackouts,and tint and a lund moon visor. neways the solid axle swap may also help me get some trophies at car shows which i have never entered one but im sure once the swap is done it will look good enough to be enetered.
how bout the guy with the 89's email addy????
any?? or comments pimpnh2000@yahoo.com
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Ryan Kane
Dodge Dakota
6/06/2001
11:57:12
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
OK, that helps me. I guess if you're planning on running huge 38's or larger tires, you obviously need a little more muscle, and that would definitely come via straight axle. Also, since you are muddin' you probably do not need IFS, and I'm sure the straight axle will work much better in that type of offroading.
I'll agree that the stock IFS systems that Detroit is installing is usually pretty weak and not real impressive. But, I have seen IFS systems on Baja trucks get them 30-36" of suspension travel. Straight axles that attempt to run these races either dont finish the race or they come in dead last. So, that is why I wanted to ask you what type of offroading you planned on doing...
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greg
Dodge Dakota
6/06/2001
17:31:25
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
yeah we dont have many desrts around here. mostly just mud and show around here.
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John Evert
Dodge Dakota
6/06/2001
17:38:11
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
Personally, my dakota has performed very well considering the massive overhangs and low ground clearance. On the little trails around my home in Central Washington, I've managed to keep myself out of the rough stuff and still have a good time. But the time has come to try something a little more challenging. So I've been in contact with Jay McMullan and he's described in great detail as to the extent of his modifications. And come next week when I return from a long school year, I will take on the immenxe project. If anyone wants pictures, please let me know.
p.s. if you want to see a huge dakota. jsut click here.
http://www.angelfire.com/in/draglines/index1.html
p.p.s don't try getting hold of this guy. I've tried on numerous occasions and he's never responded.
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grag
Dodge Dakota
6/07/2001
01:48:11
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
sweet sweet!!! a lil to rich for my blood though 44's r to much
John do u know nething about this truck like how big r the coil springs, lift wise.???
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John Evert
Dodge Dakota
6/07/2001
17:14:47
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
from what i can tell and by my conversations with Jay McMullan (www.utahwest.com) about his dakota, possibly around 12 inch lift or so. given the fact that there are only two companies that produce their items in a red powdercoat finish, rancho and skyjacker. i'd suspect contacting skyjacker about the tallest ford coil springs that they have. if anyone has checked out Jay's site, you'd see that he used 6" 78-79 ford bronco superlift springs to acheive about a foot of lift over a stock dakota. personally, we don't have that much flat land where i'm from so i'm going to stay with the 6"ers and 33's. besides, trail running is more of my thing rather than mud bogging.
john
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John Evert
Dodge Dakota
6/07/2001
22:05:27
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
Well, I picked up my reverse rotation dana 44 off of a '71 F100 with all the peices that I need. The tie rod
Panhard rod
Steering knuckles
Radius arms
Coil mounts
Radius arm mounts
and the complete axle for $320.
That's a hell of a deal considering that out here in California the axle would alone go for $650! Along with that I picked up:
Ford 9" rear end
4" blocks
a complete set of polyurethane bushings
Chevy front rotors
Chevy calipers
Chevy Spindles
Chevy Outer Hubs
Dick Cepek Locking hubs
15x10 steel directional chromies
33/12.50/15 mud terrain somthings
All for the low low low price of $375. That's a hell of a deal considering that you could probably put this together from anywhere between $1000 to $4000 depending on what you feel like spending. Truly if you're like me and like hunting through the junk yards then you could do it like this. But as for the fact, yes it does cost less then the 4" IFS lift. And at this point all I have to buy is Coil springs and Shocks all around. So in total this swap probable will end costing less the a $1000. And of course no tire rub.
If anyone has questions, do hesitate to ask me.
John
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greg
Dodge Dakota
6/08/2001
16:04:45
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
damn!!! if word gets out about how cheap this conversion can be, trailmaster would stop making lift kits for dakota's.
"just takin a computer break from working on my dakota"
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John Evert
Dodge Dakota
6/08/2001
16:14:29
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
I figure that with what I have in my posession, plus about another $250 for the coils and all around shocks that the job is just about complete. All that would be left would be brake lines, adapted u-joints, e-brake cables, etc... Yeha that would be pretty funny if Trail(disaster) just quit fabricating these lifts and just sent out a whole complete package of ford axles and such. Hell! They'd make a killing in the process. So you think that 4" coils in the front should do it? I can get some but I think I have my heart set on a set of 6"ers.
john
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ggreg
Dodge Dakota
6/10/2001
21:29:35
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
i was looking at my dakota today and, i was wondering if i could move the spring holders down so the spring would be located in about the middle of the frame. and if i used stock spring ( for now , what can i say im poor) what size tires might i be able to fit and how much lift would this provide?? any info would be very appreciated.
pimpnh2000@yahoo.com
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ggreg
Dodge Dakota
6/10/2001
21:32:58
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
i was looking at my dakota today and, i was wondering if i could move the spring holders down so the spring would be located in about the middle of the frame. and if i used stock spring ( for now , what can i say im poor) what size tires might i be able to fit and how much lift would this provide?? any info would be very appreciated.
pimpnh2000@yahoo.com
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John Evert
Dodge Dakota
6/14/2001
16:22:43
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
Well, considering I'm going to use 6" springs and I'm betting on about a foot of lift over a stock Dakota then there's no reason why the stock springs wouldn't give you about 6" of lift. You could try using different perches but that would throw everything off and I'm not about to start messign with somthing I have no clue of.
John
p.s fucking factory u-joints on this 30 year-old axle exploded when trying to take them out with a 12 ton press.
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John Evert
Dodge Dakota
6/18/2001
03:57:14
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
Well, today I traded the Ford 9" axle for a Dana 44 out of a '74 Jeep J-10 with a 3.54 gear ratio and six lugs just like the Chevy braking setup that I will have in the front. All in all, I feel that having the same axles both front and rear will keep me out of less danger come a catastrophic failure of some sort. I should have the truck back together before Independence day.
John
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greg
Dodge Dakota
6/18/2001
14:55:23
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
lucky you john, after taking apart my overdrive unit the other day i discovered the planetery gear is bad in it , which is a hard to find and very expensive part(400$$) so it will be probly another month before i will be able to start on my project . newayz hope urs is goin good send me some pics some time.
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John Evert
Dodge Dakota
6/19/2001
02:52:19
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
You know greg? I wish I knew how to take apart my overdrive. My transmission will not go into overdrive, period. It's a 92 LE with 152,537 miles on the clock. Perfect time to take apart the truck but the transmission is the one component that scares me more than electrical. So here's how is works. Can I run to a junk yard and jack one off of a current body style Dakota? Will it matter if it's 4,6,or 8 cylinders?
As for the conversion, I'm just getting things test fitted and re-fitted to make sure things go smoothly. I think that it'll be easier to cut the ends off of the drivelines from the donor vehicles and weld them to the stock driveshafts than to try and get adapter u-joints from Neapco or some other company that deals with that sort of thing. I figure it'll be just plain easier also when I blow one and have to go to NAPA. Get my drift?
Also, I picked up a 2"x9"x3/4" piece of D2 steel to make the cross over steering arm. From what my machinist friend tells me, it's just as strong as a peice that would be 1 1/2" thick! So as soon as I get the holes drilled in it and test fit it, he's going to take it back to work to have it heat treated. I guess that'll make it another 40% stronger. See why I was so hard up to get my hands on something like this?
So after I get back from this wedding back down in California, I will take the truck to my friend's shop and start in on the headache portion of this project. He and I guestimate on about a weekend on get everything in place. After all, once you have to coil mounts and radius arm mounts welded, bolted, whatever the rest is just plain and simple bolt on procedure.
I'll be sure to get pictures off to whoever wants to take a look.
John
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greg
Dodge Dakota
6/19/2001
16:07:45
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
well on ur tranny if everything else is working right and ther is no slipage in the tranny, it is most likely that u have a bad solenoid i have this same problem in my 88 2wd ( which is for sale if neone is interested) i woulod not attemp to touch my tranny either i leave that up to my father who has been a chrysler technician/ service manager for about 20 years. and u probably better get a tranny that is behind the same motor as u have i think the tranny in the 4bangers might be weaker then in the 3.9 and 5.2, but u dont need a new tranny urs is fine u either have a cut or loose wire or a burnt up solenoid which can be fixed for fairly cheep. U make me so anxious to start on mine!!!
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John Evert
Dodge Dakota
6/29/2001
12:47:31
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
God I hope that it's not an overdrive unit that's burnt up. Have you seen the prices on those little bastards?!? I'll get under there alter and check everything out. I took it out fourwheeling the other night and let me tell you, that IFS DOES get the job done no matter what some would say. But on my way home I tried something a little bit more difficult and buried the front end all the way to the top of the bumper. I would say frame but really isn't any ground clearance in the front of these things. Needless to say the open differentials all around didn't help one bit. I spent the next 30 minutes diggin it out with a come-along, high lift and a strap. It just really makes me mad that Dodge didn't build a more robust truck from the factory.
Well all of to components are together. I had to buy new 6" superlift springs and rancho shocks for the grand sum of $369. It cost me more for the springs/shocks than it did for a stinking axle! Sooner or later I'll get up the nerve to wash the mud off the truck and start tearing it apart. It should be something.
John
P.S Greg, give me a call later so maybe you can help me diagnose what in the hell is wrong with this transmission.
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greg
Dodge Dakota
7/02/2001
17:38:40
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
as long as ur tranny is not makeing a squeeling noise such as a froze bearing i dought ur OD unit is bad. in my 89 the guy drove it for many miles with a bad bearing which seized up and tore up my Od planetery gear which is a 400$$ part, hopefully i can find a junk tranny with a good one so i dont have to pay so much, newayz if ur not having ne noise, no slipping or jerking im guessing its ur OD solenoid.
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John Evert
Dodge Dakota
7/05/2001
16:23:12
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
How much does one of those things cost? After all, most of my project money has gone into getting this beast together. I still haven't moved ahead other then full prepping and assembling the front axle/suspension and the rear axle as well. I was trying to have the entire project doen by the 4th of July but you know how those things go, right? Besides, the drag racing bug caught me again, I took my 1990 Eagle Talon to the track last Friday night and blew away all the import competition and some of the V-8's as well. The moral of the story is... One project has placed another equally as important project on hiatus. But as soon as the car is capable of running mid-11 second timeslips then the truck will be ready to rock and roll.
John
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John Evert
Dodge Dakota
7/05/2001
16:37:09
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
How much does one of those things cost? After all, most of my project money has gone into getting this beast together. I still haven't moved ahead other then full prepping and assembling the front axle/suspension and the rear axle as well. I was trying to have the entire project doen by the 4th of July but you know how those things go, right? Besides, the drag racing bug caught me again, I took my 1990 Eagle Talon to the track last Friday night and blew away all the import competition and some of the V-8's as well. The moral of the story is... One project has placed another equally as important project on hiatus. But as soon as the car is capable of running mid-11 second timeslips then the truck will be ready to rock and roll.
John
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larkinja
Dodge Dakota
7/06/2001
10:09:23
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
Does anyone know if axles from a Ram Charger would would under the Gen1 Dakota. I have a lead on a cheap part Ram Charger.
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greg
Dodge Dakota
7/06/2001
15:43:07
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
the solenoid shouldnt be to much.
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John Evert
Dodge Dakota
7/09/2001
02:05:40
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
Lark, they shou;d be able to swap in, just remember that the differential housing has to be on the driver side in order to get it right. Scroll up a little bit farther and check out what this guy did about transforming his dakota into a leaf sprung solid axle beast. The only other suggestion I can think of is that you could change out your transfer case to say, an NP205 but then you would shoot yourslef in the foot when it came time to throw the truck in low range. The "205" only has a 1.96:1 low ratio. The transfer case you and I have is the NP231 which, and correct me if I'm wrong, a 2.69"1 low ratio. So you see that's what makes this project such a wild goose chase. As soon as you have all of your parts together, then it just all falls together.
John
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larkinja
Dodge Dakota
7/10/2001
08:13:17
| RE: solid axle swap?
IP: Logged
Message:
Thanks john for that info. Here is another idea I am pondering, tell me what you think. I have decided that I think ramcharger axles would be to wide, but I just came accross a 1970 Jeep Wagoneer. The axles on it are ALMOST perfect. They are about 2 inches wider, which would be good for doing a lift. The ALMOST part is that the diff is on the pass side. I intend on putting a V8 in it anyway and will probably have to swap out the tranny and transfer case, because the stock ones won't hold up real well. Does anyone know what tranny/transfer case comes in those. It originally had a 350 in it, but someone swapped in a buick motor(unknown). Any suggestions. Anyone know what motors will bolt to the tranny. It is a 3 speed auto, but that is as much as I know about it. I can pick it up for free, so you can understand my tempation to try and make it work. Any help would be appreciated.
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