I won't be going the hemi route. Those are just too expensive.

 

Random Question Tuesday!!!! Anyone on here ever do a 4 link rear suspension on a 1st gen Dakota - USING THE STOCK FUEL TANK IN THE STOCK LOCATION? I was really hoping to pull this off, but after removing the bed and looking at the size of the stock tank it looks difficult to find decent mounting points and clear the tank at the same time. I was hoping to avoid the expense of a fuel cell mounted in a new location.

 

Us a three link instead. Mount the lower links from axle, up to frame, beside the gas tank. No issues with clearance on the other side. Do whatever you have to for the third. (and a track bar wouldn't be a bad plan either.

 

Any tricks or advise on how to disconnect the steering column? The pin doesn't seem to want to budge. I am half tempted to get out my cut off wheel and just cut it off as high as possible. I will not be using the stock steering column.

 

I usually just use a punch about the right size, turn the wheels to where I can get a straight shot at it, and drive the little sucker out. Chemicals don't hurt either, as they do tend to corrode and 'become one' with the column.

 

Well, the pin almost won. After boogering up the hollow end and flaring it, I wasn't making much progress except for wearing me out. I finally got smart and drilled out the end enough to take away my erroneous flare on the end. Another half hour of beating on it and the sucker finally fell out. I came really close to giving up and using my cut off wheel.

 

Gotta love roll pins.

 

Do you have the 22 gal tank? Dakota also used a 15 gal. not sure of the physical size...... it may help. Also, no experience with it, but I have heard that a mustang tank fits well behind the axle between the frame rails.

Reading back through your post, wanted to suggest a ford explorer 8.8 rear end. I put one in mine, They are about 2in. more narrow, but most have a limited slip, they are mostly 3.73 gears , with 3.54 and 4.10 available, they are common with disc brakes, have 31 spline axles, a 5 bolt 4.5 pattern. Same as the 87-90 dakotas. And they are plentiful and cheap, both to buy and replacement parts.

Now, this I may be wrong about, but I think, you can swap rotors with the 87-90 for the 91-96. Then you would have the 5 bolt 4.5 dia all the way around.

 

I am already planning on switching to 5 x 4.5 lug pattern. That Explorer 8.8 rear end sound promising. Thanks for the tip! I was hoping to use the stock tank I have, but have no idea what kind of shape it is on the inside, or what capacity it is. Probably the 15 gal version. This truck sat for ten years. Whatever it had in it is going to be ugly, for sure. My Studebaker truck body has had the fuel filler hole moved on it, and it coincides with the stock tank location really well. I don't know. Moving it to the back would solve all the issues with a four link set up, but add the cost of another tank. If I replace the fuel tank, a brand new one will be going in no matter what it was intended for. I am a fan of Fuel Safe products (I have a 22 gal cell from them in my baja bug), but those are not cheap by any means. Any idea which Mustang tank you heard fits well? There have been quite a few Mustangs over the years.

 

This appears to be the 15 gal tank, but not 100% sure.