Ok, so Im going to pick up my new axles tomorrow. Im stoked, the last big things I need to start my build. Just playing things out in my mind, thought some of you might like throwing .02 in the hat.

First, unfortunately my current budget doesnt allow me to build my front the way I want. Ill be using stock parts, mostly, but it will still be a 4 link. Getting it in right now is more important than having 10" of flex, for rocks Ill most likely VERY rarely see anyway. Ill be inspecting my new gear carefuly before installation, so ensure seals/oil/brakes are good to go.

Next, and this is a big one. My last major purchase before this thing hits the road is tires. By my calculations after my cancer removal project I should have PLENTY of room for 37"s. Thats kinda my "ideal" tire size. What I havent decided on is what kinda rubber. Its a toss up for me. I still fully intend to drive this thing on the hiway. My hunting property is a 1 hour 65 mph drive away. Honestly I dont mind the humm of SSR's, and I liked the set I ran on my FJ40 alot. You cant beat swampers for traction in EVERYTHING. I also thought about running military tread. Hummer tires. They are a little smaller, most are 36's. They are also hard as a frozen rock. Thats the big downside. But they are cheap. I do a lot of mud and cliff climbing/navigating. Lots of sidehills and sandy slopes. Side tread is a must. Any input will be great.

Then its on to gears. My nv4500 has a 6.3 low, so its a decently low first. Again, the hiway factors in here. I cant overgear so much my top end is 50 mph. But I dont want the 37s bogging my gear down to the point I cant free mud from my tires. I was thinking 4.56 or 4.88. Most likely a detroit rear and undecided up front.

Im happy with the power the 5.2 puts out, but it will be getting upgrades as well. My snorkel/cai is planned and ready. Summit headers will be put on when I do my dual exhaust. Id like to do roller rockers and mopar valve covers, but I guess Im kinda debating a 5.9 swap. The wife wants to put a 318 mag in her scout, so I could probably pull off a "Ill buy the 5.9 and you can have my 5.2". Part of me doesnt think the motor swap is necessary.

Found out today that the input shafts for the NV4500 on the chevy and dodge are the same diameter, so my pilot bearing bushing issue shouldnt be an issue after all. Well.....not the dodge HD, but the other two are. The NV is all painted and waiting for a flywheel and bellhousing.

So...who wants to see a fully bedlined, camo interiored, 1 ton gear running dakota on 37's?

Ohh...and just for fun heres a list of random so far.

Stuff I bought

Radiator 160
water pump 30
camo fabric 50
2" body lift 75
Sub and amp 50
axles 600
rims 50
Nv4500/NP241 500
parts truck 200
Total 1717

Stuff I sold

46rh 425
NP31 250
318 400
46rh(2wd) 200
Bfg a/ts 100
Total 1525

Total project cost to date 192 dollars give or take for random forgotten costs/sales.

 

My 0.02 is if you go with 37s, use 4.88s, if you go with 36s, use 4.56s. That will give you approximately the same gearing for those two set ups.

Lol, of course it's not necessary, but since when is necessary a deciding factor!?! :P

 

Lol. Yea it is kinda wussy. Ill run the 1 ton for a few months then switch to rockwells. I hate rockwells. Bleh.

 

Cool! nice plan!

 

Sigh. Well Im home. No wierd stuff like the last road trip. Just a long day.

That dana 80 is HEAVY, and the 60 aint much lighter. I thought the 70 was heavy. Yikes.

The total tally for the day was 700 bucks. I got a dana 80 rear, dana 60 front with the links still attached, the radius arm(upgraded aftermarket), front coils(and misc related parts), steering arms, rear driveshaft, black aftermarket rims with hankook mud radials, and some other small misc. The dana 80 has royal purple fluid and was just rebuilt. I think I did pretty good.

Things I need to deal with. The 60 has a CAD, that Ill have to figure out how to rig up. I need to buy upper spring buckets, and a couple weld on tabs for the radius arm. Paint the axles before install?????

The width is the same as the dana 70. The 80 has a wider spring perch though. It uses 3" wide leaves. Shouldnt make any difference.

The front of the rams frame looks almost identical to a dakotas. I thought it was wierd.

Pictures tomorrow. Im gonna try to mount up the rear asap so I can get the front off the ground. I cant jack it up with it on jack stands all around, and I cant cut off the front axle with it at the height its at.

Overall Im happy with the axles. Ill need to regear them, but for now its good. The rear has the heavier of the two LSD options. Lets just say its not easy at all to make it slip, and thats just pushing it by hand. With the rims I have the tires should stick 3-4 inches or so out each side. Maybe less. Ill deal with that later. I like the wide stance.

 

Ok.....sorta odd news. Was looking around and the 4.88 gear set for the dana 80 is twice the price of all the other sets. I can get either 4.56 gears, or 5.13 gears for a good price.

I think Ive decided on 37's for sure, and finding a tire that measures a TRUE 37". Any thoughts? Im leaning towards the 5.13. Id rather have a little extra power offroad and have to slow down a little on road, than be gutless offroad and cruise better. Hmm....spose that sorta answers that. Anyone else?

ETA

the gearing calculators with my chosen stuff puts the motor at right around 2800 rpms at 75 with 5.13's. I know thats just a guide, but thats acceptable to me. 4.56 gears put it at 2400.

 

If it were me, I'd go with 456s and the 2400 rpm 75 mph, but I drive my truck at 75-80 on a daily basis, so I wouldn't want the extra wear on the engine. I guess it depends on what kind of driving you do. Do you spend a lot of time on the interstates going those speeds?

FWIW, my truck doesn't cross 2k until 75 mph :P

 

Lol. With the current gears I doubt my engine would get to 2000 at 75. Im also not sure it would ever make it there. Lol.

Ok. So to you guys with some engineering background. The only upper coil bucket mounts I can find are made for use with a 5.5 inch spring. My springs are 6.5". Would it be easy enough for a machine shop to replicate something like the link below, and inch wider for my springs?

http://www.ballisticfabrication.com/...ts_p_1183.html

Other ideas? Im all ears.

Also. recommendations on ring and pinion manufaturers. I dont want it to sound like a tank driving down the road, but Im not gonna toss 1000 into gears either. Gears and lockers....now thats acceptable.

 

Hmmmmmmmmm. A machine shop might be able to make something like that, but first, you should look into the cost of getting coils to match those buckets and see if its cheaper.

Richmond gear.

 

If I dont use the dodge spring I have to redo the axle bucket, the links, the shock mounts, basically start from scratch. Trust me. Its cheaper if I can find a way to mount the spring I have. I can make a bucket if I have to. I just think one like that would be nicer.

Richmond huh. Ill look into it.

THE REAR AXLE IS MOUNTED. WOOOOT. Gives it a SWEET stance. Pinion angle is good. I like it. That thing is a PITA to move. Stupid lockers. Great when the truck is pushing itself, not so good when Im trying to move it.