00' 3/4 ton 4x4 CrewCab Twin Turbo Dakota

92dak_r6

92dak_r6

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Joined
May 15, 2010
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382
Ive decided to do a thread on this build. Feel free to comment on it if you would like and suggestions are welcome. I'm not a fabricator by trade by no means.
This will be the second conversion I've done. 1st one was 92 Dakota back halved.
This truck will be my daily driver more or less hoping for 25+mpg. Maybe everything now and again sled pull just for a little fun and drag racing

Now onto the build Originally the truck was a 2000 4.7 45rfe 4x4 IFS with approx 200k. Motor had a ticking/knocking. So I pulled it.I also added a 3" body lift.
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The motor(12v) im using is coming out of my other dakota.
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Plans for the truck is 12v 47rh 4x4 Dana 60 front ladder bar setup on coil-overs(i think) dana 70 or 80 (i have both) leaf setup with built traction bars. the 60 and 70 are in 95' roller.

performance mods. 175 pump supporting lift pump 4k's afc mods 5x.014's or 5x.016's w/lift (already have built). stock dv's he351/s476 or the setup i already have 63/68 t4 /s476. self built 47rh. im probably forgetting some stuff...

Before the body lift
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after
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engine bay
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before the lift test fitting the engine
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More to come soon..
 
Can't wait to see this one when it's finished! Subscribed
 
Well I finally got a little time off for the holidays. So what better way to spend that time off. I got the front axle pulled from the donor, it was in need of some cleaning. I think i removed 10lbs of dirt and grease off of it.
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Then it was time in this build of no return.
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Plasma cutters are so nice to have.. I did alot of damage with one, if i didnt have it i would still be cutting with a saw. And like i said before im no fabricator.
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On the frame rails im going to take some 1/8" flat metal and cover up the countersunk parts.
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The truck is actually going to be sitting ~2" higher ill have to remove the tires to get my prpoer ride height.
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The crossmember will be removed completely once i get my new one built.
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like i said it will be ~2" higher when finished
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And this is the 1st reason why im going solid axle. The cross member and torsion key couldve been about another 4-5" back and i wouldve been fine..
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Thats all for now as for pics. I decided to go with a 4-link setup similar to the original control arms. Im going to be using heim joints for now to see how they last/ noise. if need be ill be swapping to johnny joints.
From my measurements the upper control arm is ~17 1/4" and lower arm is ~18 1/2". I purchased some keyser suspension tubes for my arms. Upper arm with the joints will come out to ~19 1/2" lower ~23". Im hoping the longer arms allow for a nicer ride then the shorter original arms. As for the spring setup thats still up in the air i was planning on the stock coil but the dakota frame is wider then the 2500 frame with only about 1/4" between coil and frame. So i may be going with a coil-over setup. So many different options available for them Any suggestions??? Im not looking for a lot of travel 6-7" would be plenty i would think.
 
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looks like a nasty little swap, love to learn a little something....subscribed
 
keifferscummins said:
Think you will learn something new? lol I'm just giving you a hard time your truck and the one in the thread are awesome! I would love to have one myself keep up the good work guys.
Click to expand...

I'm always willing to learn something.

Thanks for the compliments.

Rob
 
Well once again i had a little time to work on it. Waiting on my new track to show up so i can start finishing up the front end. Still need to build my shock towers for the coilovers.
As for the coilovers im going to use some qa1's i think the model is ds902 they will have about 9" of travel. And for the springs as of now im going to go dual rate spring poundage is up in the air.
My mind is always changing as you'll see with the suspension.
My bars came in i already had the joints.
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Mounts are made 1/4" x 2" steel and the gusset is 3/8"x2.5", my welding is a little rusty.
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I would've liked to have kept it 4-linked but i was going to have to mod the cab mounts. The bars had a 2" difference from front to back. So i decided on this.
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The top bars are this short so ill still have room for up travel- 4.5" ( only need 3-3.5).

I got my old crossmember cut out and new one built also have my power steering pump 1/2 mounted still have to build my bracing for it.
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Tonight im going to try and finish up my power steering pump and get my steering stabilizer mounted and hopefully my track bar is in so i can mount it.. Then Im going to fill this hole
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with 5.9L of fun, build my mounts. then thats probably all ill get done till about 1st of March. Ill be out of town for a near of 7 weeks but that will give me time to get parts ordered..

I did get my tires ordered 33 12.50 20
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I think these wheels
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Last update for about 6 weeks.
New tires came in.
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Got my new track bar in and mounted! steering stabilizer is done too. All I have to do now is my shock towers and coil-overs and the front end is finished. Motor mounts are done, new trans crossmember is finished. I cut my lower core support to fit the new aluminum radiator and intercooler/piping ( something a little different), then we can get on to the fun stuff.
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And the 12v final resting place.
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I can help u with that if u would like. Shoot me a PM if u would like my help.

Rob
 
swap

Man that looks like a lot of work, thinking about doing the same thing though.

What made you decide to change axles and the suspension set up so much?
What trans you going with?
Great job....
 
Dakota

Btw what part of tenn you located? I would love to see it in person..

Thx.
 
dodgepimp said:
Man that looks like a lot of work, thinking about doing the same thing though.

What made you decide to change axles and the suspension set up so much?
What trans you going with?
Great job....
Click to expand...

Yea there is quite a bit of work but hopefully the out come will over weigh the headache. The transfercase was hitting the torsion bar cross member. if it set back about 6" further back i would have been fine. And then i realized ill end up breaking the IFS. and the 9.25 in the rear wouldn't like 1200-1400 ft lbs through it. Also I like having matching bolt patterns and the 6x4.5 is a pain to find a wheel that i like.

Im about 20 min east of lebanon.
 
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