1500s came with Dana 44s in the front.

 

what about the rear im just not sure.

 

Corporate 9-1/4" was standard. Dana 70 was an option.

 

Thats news to me. I have never seen or heard of one in a half ton before, hell most 3/4 tons don't even have a 70. I always was under the assumption they only came with the 9.25.

 

5 bolt dana 70s....mmmmmmmmm. Let me know when ya find one.

A D-44 with 3/4 ton hubs is more likely to be found. I believe that was '94 only for light duty apps.
I have read that 3/4 ton vans have been seen with 3/4 ton hubs and a 9.25 corporate rear axles, but cannot confirm this. Any boneyard hunters wanna check that out?

 

oh yea, of course, i'd get a 95 3500 (dana 80 rear end)

the only thing that concerns me is the frame (i heard the frames on the 1/2 tons were not built as heavy as the 3/4 & 1 ton trucks

but i dunno why dodge would build 2 different frames 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks (other than different bodies and beds)


i bet that modded cummins is a ball to run

 

hey guys... had to ump in here... solve a few stumps here... i just did the dana 60 from a 99 2500 with the cummins( guy took the cummins and NV4500 out before i got there) into my 98 ram 1500... the front. everything bolts right up... including the sway bars for those of you who still hve them... and the rears are the difficult part... i know on mine this is what hd to be changed...

the spring perchs for the leaf springs are 3 inch ( sometimes 3.5) wide... and they are sitting to far in on the axle... dont know why but i i had to cut the off, went to Offroad Design and got a set of 3inch perchs,,, and had them with about an inch more material on them ( alittle lift) and did a bunch of measurements... and had them welded back on...

and the had new leaf springs made up 3inch all the way, now there is some shadetree mech stuff you have to do to get these to work the right way... the mount on the front for the leafs... bend it, dont heat it but bend it just a tad bit out and take a grinder to the bushing and sleeves on the leafs... keep some on the outter lip but you must take some off... and then wedge it up in there as best you can.. now that part take a bit of this thing call M-A-N... gotta use it,, you dont have any, you can get it on sale at target... lol, im watching talladega nights.. had to use the line... nd then for the rear mount. i did a bds shackle flip kit( you dont have to) and went back to ORD and got a set of the 2.5 to 3inch conversion shackles.. fits a 3inch leaf to a 2.5 inch shackle mount... and the rear is done... obviously new ubolts,...

one thing i did with this is a dick cepek long arm kit... takes those foot long control arms out and makes them 48" long... much better ride, and give amazing articulation... along wiht the DTPROFAB tracbar 8+ inch lift... but thats just me...


I LOVE MY TRUCK!


now those bars over my bros right shoulder... is where the long arms i was talkin about mount...

 

oh and to add about the steering setups... the one ton box is the only thing differant... the tierods and stuff, are all the same... same part numbers and all...

 

The frames on the 2500/3500 are beefier because some of the engines available on those models are way heavier than the V8s in the 1500s.

 

The dana 60 is a direct bolt in replacing the 44, When I swap the 60 in mine, I got everything from the steering box down, and it bolted in with no modifications. The track bar is the same part number between the 1500 and the 2500, so I left it on the 1500 (mainly because I did not have a puller).

The rear ends will not directly swap,
-the leaf perches on the 1500 are set out wider than the ones on the 2500 (unless the 2500 has 2 1/2 wide leaf springs), so they will need to be cut off and replaced with new perches.

As far as the frame goes, the frames were almost the same. The front cross member on the 1500 is just a single c channel where the one in the 2500 was more double channel(see the drawing). The transmission cross member was not as wide from front to back as the 2500. But the frame and the mounts are the same height, width, and thickness of material, until it gets behind the cab. Then the 2500 goes to 1/4" thick material compared to the 1500's 1/8".