Hey Everyone,
So I've been itching to start a build on my truck for years now. Being a younger guy I don't have a lot of money to throw around so I am trying to start a budget to begin saving in a more serious manner. Hopefully I can get some help from the good folks on the best Dodge forum around

My Rig
1999 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie
4WD
5.9L V8
Rancho RS5000 shocks, Rear Add a Leaf, 2.5" Rough Country leveling kit
Ranch Hand Front Bumper with Badlands Winch
AEM Intake

What I Want to Do
Swap Dana 44 for a Dana 60
Swap Chrysler 9.25 for GM 14 Bolt or Dana 80
Get a BDS suspension 5" Long Arm Kit
Steel 16x5 Rims
37" Humvee Tires

Basically I'm looking for some input on how this setup looks, things to note/avoid, etc. I am prepared to trim my fenders with the 5" lift. I'd like to use the 14 bolt over the Dana 80 but perhaps this is the wrong inclination. I'm sure there is a build thread for a dana 60 front swap, maybe someone has a link?

Thanks a lot for any and all help!

 

For the rear axle I would definety go Dana. And a Dana 60.

If you plan on actually doing any wheeling a Dana 80 is way overkill. The thing is huge and you will lose ground clearance.

A 60 is plenty enough axle for off roading and hauling. If you need more then you will need to build a dedicated work truck.

If youre going for maximum towing and hauling then 80 is the way to go.

You have a 98 so your speed sensor is in the rear axle. So that pretty much throws the gm 14 bolt out. Besides who liked Chevy stuff anyway. we're mopar guys here

 

Haha thanks Ham Bone. So you are saying try to swap two dana 60s? I definitely plan to do wheeling in my area of Montana, no mall crawling here I think I can get a front 60 off of a 2nd gen 2500, but what about a rear 60?

 

Same deall. Best bet is too get a parts truck. Just need a later model that has the speed sensor in the rear. And not the t case like the earlier models. So 97ish and up.

I got a 02 2500 and have rear disc brakes . I would defiently try to find a late model that has the dual piston front calipers. I think the earlier models had the single piston? Idk

I just did this swap and made a thread on it.


If you have fab skills you can pretty much do whatever you want.

WN is going with a Ford high pinion 60. The holy grail. But requires a bunch of fabricating.

 

Oh that's awesome! Could you link me the thread you made? I have some modest fab skills but nothing too major since I don't actually own the welder I have used. But I have a buddy who is excellent at all kinds of fabrication from welding to blacksmithing etc. as he is a Farrier by trade. The Dana 60s are practically bolt on though right? At least the front?

 

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...a-60-swap.html

long and off topic at times but tons of good stuff in there.

Yes a front dodge 60 literally bolts right in. You could even keep all of your 1500 suspension and steering.

 

Thanks a lot man, I really appreciate it. Is there anything else in the build that looks like it may pose a problem? I'm a little worried about the tires and backspacing since I don't know a lot about it. Do you know what kind of rims I should be looking for in terms of bolt pattern? The Humvee tires are 37x12.5x16.5s

 

I would skip the Hummer tires unless you're going to run the Hummer beadlocks also. 16.5 rims have poor beads on them and you'll be popping beads with those tires if you air down at all. Better to use 17" or 16" rims and tires. I'm running 16.5 rims but I am also running dual beadlock rims.

Swap out your Rancho 5000 for RS9000 if you can if not then get Bilstein shocks with the BDS lift.

 

I concur with Wildman's suggestions.

A 14 bolt axle is considered the strongest factory rear axle out there plus they are plentiful and cheap. If you are going full retard, then that is an axle to give serious consideration.

Pros:
cheap!!
35 spline large diameter axle shafts
Strong as a rhino
tons of aftermarket support
cheap!!
Gear setup is a breeze

Cons:
No tone ring if you care about ABS and speedo, but can be addressed with a Dakota Digital. Friend of mine did it for his Dakota.
Heavy as heck
Low ground clearance, however, you can shave yourself or get a kit (Pro)

You don't need to trim anything if you go with the BDS 5" lift to run 37s.


Nothing wrong at all for a D80 either, just get one from a manual 2500/3500 or manual v10.

Consider the above with what kind of abuse you will be throwing at it. If it's just the mall, then don't do a darn thing.


Get a Dodge Dana 60 of your similar year. You can more economically add manual locking hubs. Search for it on Google. The axle can handle a good amount of abuse and is bolt in. The CAD is the weak point, but can be deleted.

Make sure your plenum gasket is fine though.