Answers: Planned on mods to finish up the Tonka...lol

I plan on adding a Rock Ram front bumper, Tubular Stainless (double tube) rear bumper, Stroke the motor to a 390 (actually got some specs from Paul Schroyer automotive today (awesome guy), Stainless body stripe on bottom approximately 8 inches wide going along the bottom of the body panels....Name tags in front and rear wheel wells, Detroit locker in front (already in rear) and of course finish the interior----sound system and box was mocked up last week (2 down firing tens and 3 downfiring eights in the same box behind the seat, alpine amp, and alpine highs, with alpine head unit)

Answer 2: I live in Blisffield Michigan, about 15 to 20 mins from Toledo, I should be at the Vin Devers Dodge days car show in about a week or two...look me up hicktown or contact me and we can meet up....

Answer three: Thanks for the props BadStratSRT...I wish I would have hung around the truck at that time, I would have like to meet you!!!!!

Answer four: I did have Boggers on the truck, they looked good, but couldn't find them in 20's and their road habits suck to say the least-- I decided on the TOYOs and the 20 inch mbmotoring wheels because I think the combo drives great and looks good--don't forget, those are 40's on there, they just look a wee bit small because of the lift------If I do anything else (which I may) I might go for the semi truck conversion with 4 forty six inch super single semi tires, but that will run another 4500 and I don't know that it would be worth the look---would drive great though and that combo comes with 22.5 rims....lol

Your black rims look great, but when photoshopping that exact rim onto my truck, it seemed like it was missing something....I looked at least 2 months at rims and tires before purchasing, but alot of the black rims were not complimentary for the truck, so I went with what I had---those black rims you have are the only style I really considered nice looking--- good choice!!!!!

The Norwalk show and races were sweet, next year maybe I'll run the truck for the fun of it and see what time it will run...LOL

 

Ah that's right, that's why you went with the Toyo's. Nice tires though, I actually think I'm gonna try them next, 35's instead of 40's though. Anyway, personal perference is the only thing that the black rims have to do with...I was just messin with ya. Did you ever decide what you were gonna do about that transfer case- 231HD or cough it up for a twin-stick Atlas II conversion?

By the way, you've handled all the criticism you've gotten very well IMO. Anytime you do some custom stuff, someone's gonna critique it cause everyone wouldn't have done it that way. As long as you're happy with it, that's all that matters. And from what you've said, it really sounds like you've done your homework with this project. Good work all around and keep all the updates with Red Tonka comin.

 

Yeah I feel like I studied more for this project than I did in my senior year of college (ten years ago ouch). Who'd of ever thought geometry would come in handy-- I am going with a built 231HD....found one already done in flint michigan for 500.00 with about 12000 miles on it (great deal)....Hopefully it will work well...I feel like that atlas would not work for me as it would rob wheel speed in the sand and such---not practical for my application, but the 231HD should be perfect......I am opening up the motor on halloween weekend and will have 400 horses plus supercharger back in by thanksgiving (I didn't plan on this, but I cant resist)

Yeah to eack his own on here---I just don't like the slams on the actual work....the work on this is very good and detailed and when you take pride in that, sometimes it sucks when guys spout off without being able to see the truck and how good (at least I feel) we welded measured and dialed in everything!

Looks wise-- its all in what you like---I do like those rims alot though, they just didn't look right on my truck (they look sweet on my suburbaban though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

 

hey tonka.. this may have been asked before or you may have listed it.. but how is your steering setup? do you have a xover system? just wondering what kinda of TRE's or hiems you used..

also what kind of box your running

 

My steering is set up as follows.......I used a superduty power steering box, using the stock pump for now as long as cooling remains good....I have a six inch dro pitman arm, and the drag legnth is the stock ford (that comes on the 3500 axle) and the center length is also stock ford 350.....If you have ever looked at the steering of a f350 it is similar to crossover, the drag connects right next to the passenger side spindle (knuckle) as opposed to the weak dodge steering connecting at about a 12 inch spot from the knuckle....By using the ford, there is significant stiffness as opposed to the "play" of the dodge. It is much easier on the steering....and the centerlength is alsmost perfectly straight....It bends on both sides up right at the knuckles before slipping throught the tapered hole.....The tie rods of the F350 are significantly stronger and larger as well as all the tubing that makes up the steering...

Funnny thing is, I took the stock settings from a ford and used them as my guidelines and had to only align my steering wheel two full turns of adjustment...WOW-- I thought it would be way off to a stock truck, but because of the F350 set up (on their actual truck) it converted to the dodge with ease...

The track bar was a different story....we fabbed a 2 by 4 by 1/4 inch steel crossmember directly under both motor mounts for strength (obviously more twisting going on this high) and welded to both the frame and the mounts...then I took the track bar mounting (now nearly 6 1/1 inches lower than stock) and welded it to the outside of the 2 by 4 crossmember....the angles worked out identical for the drag length and trac bar (they must be almost perfect to avoid bump steer).....and the mount should never break considering how it was fabbed up.....I've got pictures for you, but its on my wifes new digital camera and we are in the process of trying to download that software to get those pics on this site.......

Shot---could you call me sometime about your fan set up---I want to got that route, almost identical to you, so that my motor can rev quicker (let the supercharger wind up faster) and free up some ponies---I like the idea of having a in cab switch and a thermostat switch (thats the way the newer late model Frieghtliner big rigs are set up too) AND I AM ALL FOR THE OVERKILL, but I want to be sure of what you did and not go doing more trial and error unless necessary ( I am all trial and errored out after three years of working on the truck >>>>LOL)

419 466 8625

 

I do realize that the crossover systems have drilled out knuckles and heims and the drag is fastened top to bottom with the center length on top as well, I firmly believe the F350 steering system could be swapped to a dodge with lots less effort and as good if not better results!!!!!

 

My trac bar is from FULL THROTTLE and the heims are from them as well, I'll call and get the manufacturer of the heims and see what I can find----I did have the track bar shortened one inch when doing this set up because of where it fastens to the new dana 50 (60) which is significantly different than the dodge 35....

 

DUDE YOUR TRUCK ROCKS AND LOOKS GOOD, BUT IN THE OLDER PICS , I LIKED THEM ALOT BETTER , JUST PREFERENCE, THATS MY KIND OF TRUCK BEFORE THE MAJOR MODS , BUT ANYWAYS GOOD JOB AND LET ME BORROW SOME OF THAT BANK ROLL , LIKE EVERYONE ELSE THAT IS JEALOUS ON HERE WANTS TOO, LATER JOHNNY

 

Don't get me wrong, I like the aggressive look of the boggers, but 40's on 16 inch wheels---TOO MUCH SIDEWALL and NOT ABLE TO BALANCE equals one dimensional tire---therefor that led me to the toyos and 20's good road habits and more aggresive than the good year mtr with much nicer sidewalls---AND STILL A RADIAL

 

Yeah, I know I am bringing this thread back from the dead, but how can I get some pics of this Red Tonka?