Has anyone else seen this guy on the board??
I saw him post once or twice, and forgot his name to bug him to post in this forum. I know there's a decent amount of interest in doing the SFA conversion with Dakotas/Durangos since they are essentially built with all the same running gear...

Check this thread. http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=79114

I'm here... ask away.... What'dya wanna know? I've done it all.. Done the IFS lift kit. Got pissed and ripped it off.. Now running SFA.

I'm one of two Durango's like this.. There's a guy in Phoenix with leaves up front and I'm running coils.

There are 1 or 2 Dakotas as well.. But have only really chatted with a guy with a 2nd gen (? - <97?? Not up on the gen stuff) - and his name escapes me...

Here's a link my my crappy web site.. But there are some detailed pics of my suspension:

http://www.solidaxle.net

Hey,

I've got a 2000 Dakota (soon hoping to get either a SA Ram, or newer Dak) and i belong to a mailing list called the Dakota Mailing List (DML).
Now, after sifting through all the guys wanting to insert different speakers wherever, there are a few of on the list that are really interested in 'wheeling, and would be very interested on a write-up detailing your SAS that you've done on the Durango.
I looked around your site a little, and noticed you put a D60 in the rear... Did your Durango not come with the 9.25?
I would have figured if it did, you would just kept that under there...

I'll be back with more questions. :D

Originally posted by The Adam Blaster
Hey,

I've got a 2000 Dakota (soon hoping to get either a SA Ram, or newer Dak) and i belong to a mailing list called the Dakota Mailing List (DML).
Now, after sifting through all the guys wanting to insert different speakers wherever, there are a few of on the list that are really interested in 'wheeling, and would be very interested on a write-up detailing your SAS that you've done on the Durango.
I looked around your site a little, and noticed you put a D60 in the rear... Did your Durango not come with the 9.25?
I would have figured if it did, you would just kept that under there...

I'll be back with more questions. :D

I've never done a full write-up on the swap... But could probably piece one together from several emails answering questions..

Yeah. My D came with the 9.25. But there would have been a cost in converting it to 5 on 5.5. I didn't want to invest $$ into this axle - not that there's anything wrong with it.. It's a fairly stout axle.

But I wanted a full floater and discs as well. By the time I would have done the bolt circle, brakes, re-geared it match front, figured out something to make it FF, locked it (which btw.. the FF may have jacked up my chances of running a Detroit in it due to the fact that the C-Locker is the only one they make for it..) - I would have a decent chunk of change invested into it. Maybe even up to 1/2 of what I paid for the 60.

I was fortunate enough to have a bit of dough to play with at the time and it just ended up being easier to start with something fresh.

Cool, and thanks, i'll make sure to remember that.
Oh, i'll start a new thread on what i was gonna say about my Dak...

solidaxledurango, aren't durango 9.25 rears 6 lug? didnt you use a 44 in the front? why didnt you use GM outers on your 44? their 6 lug. :flipoff2:

Originally posted by FULLSIZE
solidaxledurango, aren't durango 9.25 rears 6 lug? didnt you use a 44 in the front? why didnt you use GM outers on your 44? their 6 lug. :flipoff2:

Yeah.. it was a 6 lug... But a 6 on 4.5" bolt pattern.. :flipoff2: Chevy / Toyota is 6 on 5.5"...

No other vehicle on this planet.. (that I know of) other than the Dakota / Durango uses the stupid pattern :mad:

of course its a different pattern. its dodge................;) good to here about people building up the new stuff.:D

Originally posted by SolidAxleDurango


Yeah.. it was a 6 lug... But a 6 on 4.5" bolt pattern.. :flipoff2: Chevy / Toyota is 6 on 5.5"...

No other vehicle on this planet.. (that I know of) other than the Dakota / Durango uses the stupid pattern :mad:

The Viper. Still no help with our applications though...

Originally posted by SolidAxleDurango
I'm here... ask away.... What'dya wanna know? I've done it all.. Done the IFS lift kit. Got pissed and ripped it off.. Now running SFA.

I'm one of two Durango's like this.. There's a guy in Phoenix with leaves up front and I'm running coils.

There are 1 or 2 Dakotas as well.. But have only really chatted with a guy with a 2nd gen (? - <97?? Not up on the gen stuff) - and his name escapes me...

Here's a link my my crappy web site.. But there are some detailed pics of my suspension:

http://www.solidaxle.net


Hey, I checked out your site and noticed you're running a Draw-Tite front receiver. I was looking into setting up my rig with something like that, but I wasn't sure what kinda clearance i'd have under the front airdam. Does it clear the factory license plate bracket? Thanks

Originally posted by intense4x4



Hey, I checked out your site and noticed you're running a Draw-Tite front receiver. I was looking into setting up my rig with something like that, but I wasn't sure what kinda clearance i'd have under the front airdam. Does it clear the factory license plate bracket? Thanks

I realized I never had a decent, close up pic of the receiver that would show clearance with my factory bumper and valance. I dug up one from someone elses site.

Basically, the 2" box will come out directly below the valance and stick out somewhat. If your vehicle (Dakota / Durango???) isn't lifted in any way, it sits low enough and reduces your approach enough, to make it a great accessory for taking "core samples".

You can see the receiver fits right behind (barely) the factory license plate holder.... Which makes it useless when you want to actually use the thing.... I removed my license plate all together - you may want to relocate yours. (I'm lucky, state of OK does not have them)

Although the "core sample" problem is not really an issue for me.. My approach is 39 degrees. I still have occasion to appreciate this..... It's Draw-tite part number 6771. A skid plate for your front receiver. If you bump it, you'll slide up and over rather than shovel mud. I think it was like $25 at a local hitch shop.

Here's a profile pic of my custom bumper, the hitch and the skidplate.

Originally posted by SolidAxleDurango


I realized I never had a decent, close up pic of the receiver that would show clearance with my factory bumper and valance. I dug up one from someone elses site.

Basically, the 2" box will come out directly below the valance and stick out somewhat. If your vehicle (Dakota / Durango???) isn't lifted in any way, it sits low enough and reduces your approach enough, to make it a great accessory for taking "core samples".

You can see the receiver fits right behind (barely) the factory license plate holder.... Which makes it useless when you want to actually use the thing.... I removed my license plate all together - you may want to relocate yours. (I'm lucky, state of OK does not have them)


A picture like that is exactly what I was looking for. I kinda suspected that it ran into the back of the license plate. Unfortunately, in the state of ND (where i'm at)..we are required to run a front plate. I guess I could either relocate my factory bracket, or fab up a receiver piece with a license bracket on it.

I'm not too worried about approach angle in this rig, that's what the Bronco is for ;) I'm still running stock suspension, so the only thing i gotta worry about is plowing snow with it.

Thanks for the pic!

that Hanson bumper kicks ass btw!

Speaking of your bumper, where did you get it? how much? and would you like to donate it to the Adam Blaster relief fund? :D

Bumper is Hanson Enterprises (http://www.hansonenterprise.com/) ...

His stuff ~ain't~ cheap by any stretch of the imagination. I'm pretty sure anyone who has seen his stuff will tell you it's nearly a work of art. Cut and welded beautifully.

Base is like $700. I added the fog light provisions and the winch provision. With tax I paid around $1150-ish?? And that didn't include the PIAA lights. I bought them seperate.

All of his stuff comes bare metal as well. I was responsible for painting. I just rattle-canned it black.

Here's a better pic of the bumper. It's a snow shot.. Kinda lights it better since it's all black.