Lol....Like thats an actual comparison. Just for giggles Ill get you guys a picture of them sitting next to each other tomorrow.

I was looking at buying a dana 60, the guy wanted 225 for a ford or 250 for a posi dodge. I found the 70 for 200 bucks, with only 70,000 miles on it. All I can say is if I break this thing Im doing something VERY stupid. Its HUGE.

On a side note, I dont plan on running stock leaf springs, but I dont want 1 ton springs either. Anyone have any ideas on what type of springs I should run that will give decent flex, enough strength to tow a decently heavy trailer, and not kill my kidneys on the road?

I know its asking alot. Lol.

 

That'll be fun. I'm curious though, what are you going to do for wheels. There is no 6x4.5 lug axle for the dana 70, but thats what you'll still have in the front.

If it were me, I'd look for some ram 1500 or 2500 springs for it. Just make sure you have all the extra unsprung weight under control. My truck with the bigger tires and heavier 9.25" rear axle has unbelievable wheel hop when I'm all the way on the gas on a rough road. I really need to do something to get mine under control... just food for thought.

 

See thats why I was contemplating the springs so much. If I can find something that sits at 65% or so spring rate while idle Id have plenty of Flex and the ability to tow but wouldnt lose handling. The search begins.

Lol....and my front axle is currently snapped in half in two places. I was curious what a tortion bar would do to it. Lets just say its better if you dont find out if you want to keep it. No one except dodge rules wanted parts from it, so I didnt care if it broke before I threw it all away.

Im either going to run a dana 60 or dana 44 HD HP up front. Either would be 8 lug. I can find 44's cheap, but now that I have a rediculously strong rear I may try to find a 60 as cheap as possible.

Speaking of which Ive got a set of calipers and rotors that are basically new if anyone wants them. Just kinda rusting away laying it my yard(for three days now lol).

 

All the front stuff goes in the trash can tomorrow evening, so speak up if you want something.

So how cool is this. A dana 70 from a 93 dodge cummins is a bolt on accessory for a dakota. Thats right, pop the ubolts switch axles, and away you go. pictures tomorrow.

 

Ok so Im slow on the pics. here ya go. The only thing you need to change is the shock mounts.

If anyone is interested in this swap let me know. It really doesnt add much width to the axle, and it is an incredibly durable axle. You do have to switch to 8 bolt rims though. That actually allows me access to a huge amount of rim selection in the midwest. Lots of farm trucks are 8 bolt, so I can buy them cheap. I also have all the parts lined up for a disk swap for less than 300 total.

 

Wow, that thing belongs on the back of a go cart :P JK Skyshark! Thats sweet! A lot beefier looking than the 9.25" too!

Be sure to take lots of pictures of it on the truck!!!

 

Lol. Im sure its not as weak as it looks sitting next to that. I looked up converting the 8.25 to disk, and it wasnt pretty. Either too much fab, or too much price.

Honestly I may have never broken the 8.25. But thats not really the issue. When I pull up to something nasty, its reasuring to not have to think "I wonder if my _______ can handle that". And thats basically what Im trying to achieve.

You will always break something somewhere. Im not saying my truck wont. Im just making it the least likely to happen as possible within reason and budget.

I got bored this evening. Heres my running total for the truck.

200 for the truck
165 for a radiator
50 for a water pump
30 for camo material(interior)
200 for dana 70 rear
50 for spark plug cables and plugs
40 for electric fan
23 for u bolt kit(mine were REALLY rusted)
20 for cd player
5 for 10" sony xplode at a garage sale
50 for planet audio amp

so far im around 850 out and I sold my auto for 425, so really around 425 into it.

 

Wow! Things must be a whole lot cheaper where you are than my area! I don't even want to say how much I have in my truck... besides, I stopped counting a while ago. But I probably have more money in my paint job than your whole truck! I wish I could find parts for the deals your getting. The only 2 things I got a seemingly good deal on where the gen 2 wheels for $125 and the manual transmission, t case and pedals for $450.

 

Ya that axle is sick. Defiantly post up tons of pics. How much does that weigh compared to the stock one?

 

I wouldnt worry about it 318. Your truck is bad ***. As long as your happy with the finished product I wouldnt worry too much about cost. Im just seeing how inexpensive I can get away with it. I have a good amount of contacts around here.

Well.....I picked up the 8.25 and set it on my trailer by myself. Granted I wasnt just tossing it around or anything, but it took me and another good sized guy to grunt the 70 up there. I would say the stock axle is around 150 pounds. The 70 is probably pushing 250-280. The wall thickness in the tubes and the HUGE pumpkin probably make most of that. The axle shafts themselves are over 1.64"

Ill get a bunch of pics going. I mocked it up and it works well, but I need new ubolts(getting today) and I have to rob the spring plates off my 2wd.

Get this. U bolts are 13 bucks a piece at advance for square ones. I can buy 4 round ones AND 2 blocks for 22 bucks. Sigh.....