Yes it is if you just cut it off without a replacement. I already have a replacement bolted up. But I want it fully welded before I cut the old one off. So I will have a replacement crossmemeber and will be stronger than stock. Also I added in a partial crossmember in the original ones place.

 

are you goin 1/8 inch like the frame or maybe a bit thicker...1/4?

 

All of my brackets and gussets are 1/4in. The hitch is at least 1/4in square tube, its in-closed so I can't tell exactly. But it is very heavy/thick.

The welder is coming in the morning to fully weld it up. So I will have tons of new pics for tomorrow, in the evening if I run out of time before work.

 

I got busy and didn't update till now. So all the previous posts in the build thread with the old/inadequate design has be replaced with the new one. So review all the old posts and not just the new ones. Here is the build link https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...ld-thread.html

I think it all came out great!

Teaser pic! Tomorrow I will post up all the final painted pictures in good sunlight. The ones I took at tonight didn't come out good, the flash got the painted surfaces to bright.

 

Lol, I didn't even try to drill my pitman arm. I took it right to a machine shop and let them do it. It was cheaper to have them drill it than a drill bit and cutting oil would have cost and I probably would have worn out the bit!

I still need to take the pictures of my steering setup and post the write up about it. Are you going to use high steer arms or the factory knuckles?

Also, do you have a price out for all the steering parts you bought? I just went ahead and got the 7/8's heim joint steering kit from ballistic fabrication while it was on sale. IIRC, it was just under $300 shipped.

 

I was hoping to go exactly where the stock drag link went to the tie rod bar, since stock has the tie rods on the top of the knuckle vs lower on most. That is what the misalignment spacers are for. I haven't done any measurements to see if that will work. If not then just order some more joints and place the drag link on top of the tie rod end at the knuckle. See the picture just above of the linkage.

I only got 2 joints and the accessories for them. $50 or so for all, so far that is. How many did you buy?

How long did you think it would take you? How long has it been?

LOL! Man this swap is dragging on. Seems like it will never end, and the parts needed will never end. I figured a month to 2 tops. Now 1.5 months in. Looks like 2 more months since I'm getting sick of working on it all the time.

 

I finished up the Rear axle so I was able to install it and take some measurements of the forward shift of the axle. For the rear shackle flip go
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...with-pics.html

Here or to the build thread HERE. https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...ld-thread.html

Here is the truck with the lift shackles installed. Almost full lift.

 

(speechless)(puddle of drool at my feet)...lol if you don't mind me asking, whats that other antenna sticking out of the fender?

 

Thanks! Believe it or not I have the same reaction. Then I think of what is left to do and I look away and don't want to think about it.

It is a CB radio. When I first got the truck only the ball was there, antenna missing. I recently installed a CB radio and used the ball mount.

 

its always the little stuff right...lol i like that a lot...when i get my next dakota it'll be straigh to the sas for me... how much did the entire project roughly cost?