[NotQuiteSane]

I'm serious. anyone here tried it? specifically for a Dana 44 or 60? I'm aware of the ones Welderboy makes, but I don't have a spare $1500 laying around, plus i'm having trouble finding a sub $500 front 60 locally.

I figure it can't be any harder than any other custom part on a truck, and considerably cheaper than sourcing flat tops and buying arms for them.

measure with micrometer, mark with chalk, cut with ax, right?

NQS

 

[NotQuiteSane]

After doing some searching, what I'm thinking is starting with an appropriate sized chunck of DOM tubing. i need to go measure my knuckle, but i can get up to 12" with 1/2" walls. should be stout enough.

then use box tubing to fab the tops and bottoms. if I design the arms so there is no bend in them, they will be nothing more than cut & drill.

weld a flange onto the tubing for the hub to mount to. some cutting of the tubing, bracing of the top/bottom....

seems thats about it?

What i need to do is look at how my brakes are set up, as on the first set, I intend for Clyde, and since he is my DD, I want to keep the 15" rims

on the 800, since i want to goto 17" rims, i'll have a bit more room to work with

NQS

 

[bchesley]

Try rockequipment.com I recall seeing there D44 super knuckle or something like that for a fair price.

 

[Rockabilly]

this should be interesting, post lots of pics.

 

[RustoleumWhite]

Joe, why are you even contemplating this??



as a side, spare time project, go for it, could be fun. As a substitute for a set of flat-tops.... ummm, they aren't THAT hard to find. Heck you could have a set shipped to your door for less than $100, they are all over.

If your competing with a D44, and are shearing knuckles, then I'd look at fabing them, or if you just have way too much money burning a hole in your pocket (that said, I wouldn't mind a set )



You description of how you want to make them makes little to no sense to me. Welderboys are heavy plate, 3/8", 1/2" and 3/4", fixture welded then machined for the ball joints. Unless you have a hook up, the machining alone will cost you more than a set for "stock" flat-tops, milled and drilled.

As a pet project, if you have the time, $$ and resources, If not.... not sure if its worth it.

Oh, and fab's knuckles are only $169 each... not $1500 for the pair http://www.sn-fab.com/retail.html#steering



My $.02.... don't you have to come and pick up that 800 before you can build it

and when you find the $500 D60 front, get me one too... I'd like (2), one late, Ball Joint HP Ford unit, and one early, Dodge, King Pin unit... (or GM)

 

[Binder]

Oh, and S&N-fab's knuckles are only $169 each... not $1500 for the pair http://www.sn-fab.com/retail.html#steering

The other day when I was there Snortclown showed me the D 60 counterpart of this one. Very beefy unit. I don't know how much their going for or if they even plan on re selling them to the public but if your on the market you should ask S&N about them.

 

[harkinoff]

NotQuiteSane if you still come through Salt Lake, my buddy has an older chevy 1/2 ton dana 44, drum brakes, with both flat top knuckles.. Axle is complete for a 100 bucks, you could easily put disc brakes on this axle, hubs out..

 

[troutbum]

WB knuckles are now 850, IIRC, a pair, I think that includes the bearing and the hiteer arms. Thats for a d60..so I imagine the d44s are cheaper too

 

[NotQuiteSane]

Joe, why are you even contemplating this??

I'm insane? :flipoff2:

as a side, spare time project, go for it, could be fun. As a substitute for a set of flat-tops.... ummm, they aren't THAT hard to find. Heck you could have a set shipped to your door for less than $100, they are all over.

Where? i've looked for over a year for cheap flat tops in both 44 & 60, bust so far i've seen is what you posted below. and thats still around $400 shipped to me

You description of how you want to make them makes little to no sense to me. Welderboys are heavy plate, 3/8", 1/2" and 3/4", fixture welded then machined for the ball joints. Unless you have a hook up, the machining alone will cost you more than a set for "stock" flat-tops, milled and drilled.

got access to a mill and a "mini mill/lathe press" combo

Oh, and fab's knuckles are only $169 each... not $1500 for the pair http://www.sn-fab.com/retail.html#steering

ok, i missed those. much better, but i still think i can build my own for half of that

My $.02.... don't you have to come and pick up that 800 before you can build it

Yes. been trying to find someone from the area hgeaded south with an empty trailer. I do have a f100 & a single axle trailer lined up I can use, but even with the decreased weight of the drivetrainless 800, i'm loath the use it (it has pulled an astro 50 miles from bend)

and when you find the $500 D60 front, get me one too... I'd like (2), one late, Ball Joint HP Ford unit, and one early, Dodge, King Pin unit... (or GM) [/B]

just went and checked. can get one at the local yard for $1100

NQS

 

[Ben W]

What are you looking for exactly? D44 flat tops or D60 knuckles? If you need D44 flat tops I can get you some for $150 for the pair milled and drilled and shipped.

 

[RustoleumWhite]

What are you looking for exactly? D44 flat tops or D60 knuckles? If you need D44 flat tops I can get you some for $150 for the pair milled and drilled and shipped.

Damn good deal, Ben milled my knuckles, good work.

He made my arms too... but not sure if he's still doing that.


I've seen flat-tops go for around $50 on e-bay... there seemed to be a flood of them lately, so the price dropped even more. Localy (SNORT clasifides, here) I've seen them quite a bit too... some very reasonable.

S-N stuff can be had for no shipping too.... they are "local" for me and it can be aranged for you to pick them up when you get your 800.


What is the rating on the single axle trailer?? I would suspect that 800 only weight around 3- 3.5K... or even less.... It could be towed by a decent single axle... or you could just rent a U-haul/Ryder one way (or local for two days... they don't need to know were you go). Heck, you could rent one of the big bx trucks and put the damn thing inside....

 

[NotQuiteSane]

What are you looking for exactly? D44 flat tops or D60 knuckles? If you need D44 flat tops I can get you some for $150 for the pair milled and drilled and shipped.

That's the problem, I don't know yet. I want to stick a 60 under the 800, but so far i can't find one within budget. I want to try to keep the net cost close to $1000 (factoring in selling some parts, doing most of the work myself...), and a 60 for the going cost plus rebuild would blow that idea away. so I'm likely gonna stick a 44 under his front. besides which, i needs lots of practice wheeling, and by the time i think i'll be ready to start competing, i should have a 60 under there

on Clyde, I want to do a SOA, and crossover steering would be nice, but for my daily driver, I'm still not convinced it's a must have. especially since i don't plan to take him on worse than "3" rated trials, nor go over 33's with him

NQS

 

[troutbum]

I got my D60 for $100. It did not have a carrier or shafts.

Even with that kind of deal...I am still into it more than a grand...sheesh prolly closer to twice that.

 

[NotQuiteSane]

S-N stuff can be had for no shipping too.... they are "local" for me and it can be aranged for you to pick them up when you get your 800.

well, except, i don't expect to be able to afford them then, but...

we'll see

What is the rating on the single axle trailer?? I would suspect that 800 only weight around 3- 3.5K... or even less.... It could be towed by a decent single axle... or you could just rent a U-haul/Ryder one way (or local for two days... they don't need to know were you go). Heck, you could rent one of the big bx trucks and put the damn thing inside.... [/B]

I'm not sure, but it's my boss's setup, and he has an appliance repair business. we've hauled probably close to 2or 2 and a half K on it, and like I said, it pulled an dead astro about 50 miles (and i think the astro outweighs the 800)

last I checked (but that was when i moved here) you couln't rent just the car trailer from them. and my boss is trying to get a 20-24' box truck, that if he does, i'll use it.

mostly i'm wanting to avoid snow, as the trailer is brakeless

NQS