prius eater dakota on tons

[dieseldoc]

So its time to start my new project.
the TJ is about payed off and I dont want something that every one else has so I am building a different purpose built truck.

Spec:
99-00 dakota space cab
V8 w/ auto trans
Wheel base in the 108-114 range will be choppin 15plus inches out of the factory wheel base
With 37' maxxis creppy crawls on bead locks
Axles:
99 dodge 3500 donor

Front dana 60 CAD eliminated (freeby from work)
5.13 gears
locker- undecided on the type of selectable that will be use
Trussed for 4 link

Rear dana 80 ( freeby from work)
5.13 gears
detroit locker
disc converted w/ cadilac calipers to keep parking brakes
trussed for 4 link

Suspention:
4- 14" ORI struts this will help keep things simple and clean no need for sway bars, bump stops or limit straps. yet these things can hadle the stress of off road abuse and road time as well.
4 link front and rear not sure yet if dual triangulation will fit well that will be seen as I figure out space.
Ruff stuff is where the link parts will come from very nice kits they have!
links will be 2" DOM with 1.25 joints longish links to keep things under control.

Transfer case:
Dana300 W/ northwest fab black box-I triple stick
gears:
dana300 4:1
black box 2.72
total low range 10.88
over all crawl is 1st gear 2.45 black box 2.72 d300 4.0 ax;es 5.13 total=136.74 not the 200 hundred plus I have seen but still dam low!

Steering:
Have a 1 ton box.
Will send out to west Texas off road for rebuild and hydro set up.

this will get tube work lots of it. lots of 1.5x.120 wall HREW still strong but less cost than DOM
fabricated bed as the wheel base will be much shorter.
fuel cell as the factory tank is going to be in the way.
hyrdo assisted for them technical spots.
A/C converted to on board air.
Flat belly as I want to keep it low center of gravity. Belly pan built from 3/16th AR450 (free stuff from work)

I am already collecting parts
my free stuff:
Axles- thanks Dan for rear ending someone and trashing a frame
AR450- thanks steve for grabbing from an old business next door-18 years ago!


the attached pic is one in utah I like the wheel base the bedless blues one!

[EKXJ87]

Sounds like a cool build ! I see you mentioned "street" so plans are you keeping it street legal/trail rig and getting rid of the TJ?

[dieseldoc]

keeping the TJ.
Want to be able to drive this to trails and between trails.
Utah is tough on the legal stuff.....outside of Moab any how.
And we don't have a tow rig an trailer yet!

[newracer]

I like the plan.

Just FYI you only have to meet the requirements for street registration where it is registered.

[dieseldoc]

The DOT can stop you anytime. State patrol can stop you anytime.
If they deem it unsafe it's locked down.
I get it most the time for passenger vehicle it won't be an issue.
But as we are getting more and more off road enthusist traffic in Colorado the State patrol is starting to watch them.

The registration time won't be an issue.
Nore will the yearly.
Its the fact that right now We are apparent dwellers!
So I have to keep it so it looks like it moves often and registered.

Once we have space, tow rig and trailer who cares.
He'll at that point we will be hauling 2 rigs to the trails.

She is hocked now! Made her 2nd trip this weekend and she drove a good portion of the day.
Thus why I am keeping the TJ.


About 6 months tell is a fab fest!
I will be doing axle work and such be for hand but the strip and fab will like December.

Thanks guys for the input.

Hope you all will enjoy to watch this thing take shape!

Watch out Prius owners, them things are speed bumps with the set up this will have.

I plan to get it out to hammers some time with my friends who run KOH

[dieseldoc]

So I have a slight change in my plan.
After a ton of messurments and research the rear axel is changing.
The Dana 80 I have is from a chassis can and is to narrow.
On top on the fact is is missing hubs, and shafts.
For the cost of hubs( and finding SRW 3500 hubs is rare) and shafts, I can get a complete Dana 70 or 60.
These are easier to find disk conversion kits for as well.
And not as huge a pumkin hanging out.

The wheels I was trying to score got traded for a compound turbo set up!
So wheels are going to be expencive!
Have been talking to OMF racing about a set of beadlock wheels.
As I am running the max is tires these beadlocks will be built slightly different than most.
The maxxis tires have very thick cord packs so the heads are thicker than most tires.
So wheels will be a little bit of a wait as they will be near $400 each.

[dieseldoc]

wheels!
I am leaning toward the black wheels, as polished aluminum in Colorado is extra work with magclo on the roads.

my ring color will be picked once we get the truck in Aug.

the rings will be flush mounts with recessed bolts so no need for the protection stuff that is become popular additions now days.

linky thingy:

omfperformance.com/beadlocked_wheels.php

[newracer]

What not a 14 bolt rear axle?

[dieseldoc]

the 14bolt is limited to gears and has that huge pumpkin hanging out.
granted I have the right stuff to cut and weld the thing but a DANA 70 is a better unit 1.5 inch shafts in it and heavier wall thickness in the tubes.
don't get me wrong the 14 bolt has a mess of great things for the ring and pinion but its on the huge side like the Dana 80 but bigger.
If i go t to 40' tires the 14 bolt will have the same ground clearance as a Dana 70 on 37" tires.
the cast center of a 14 bolt is 146#'s by its self no tubes! ouch
I know the Dana 70 is not much lighter but 50#'s is 50#'s.