It has started... SAS Dakota 1997

SASDakota · Jan 11, 2009

So I was going to wait a little longer to get pics and a thread started but I decided to just go ahead and start the thread after having gotten the rear axle cleaned up.

The mission - Solid axle front and D44 swap the rear with a unknown set ride height. TJ springs are being used with a home-brew Radius arm setup modeled after the RE TJ long arm kit.

The rig - 1997 Dakota v6 std cab. I bought this rig for 350$ from a lady whos son had put it in a ditch off woods creek rd. It started with rebuilding the front end with stock parts and a home-brew bumper with warn MX8000 up front. Now after having blown the front IFS diff to smitherines I started searching for parts and what suspension I wanted. I then settled after finding my D44s for a good price.

Sorry for the long winded intro I just figured I would get you guys caught up since im new to the site and I have heard questions about such an axle swap.

Parts list to date (10/6/10).
- Rubicon express Superflex joints and Bushings
- J10 D44 front & rear
- OX Locker front
- Full Spool Rear
- Yukon 4.88s Front & Rear
- DOM 3/8 wall lower links of radius arms
- Foothill offroad brackets (too many to list)
- TJ front coil bucket/shock mount
- Rubicon Express 5.5" coils for a TJ
- 37x13.50x15 Pitbull Rocker Tires
- Adapt-It-USA 1.3" wheel spacers in front
- Tube Fenders, rock sliders, soon to be full tube bed.

Now for what pics I have better ones will be posted later. And Ill continue to update as I go. :corn:

Rear Axle

Rear Axle again

Front Axle and Hobart plasma cutter

My Grinder Arsenal

SASDakota · Jan 12, 2009

More pics of my parts

Mockup of brackets, very rough

Gathering parts, brackets from foothill offroad

thickness of my lower links

2slow4you · Jan 12, 2009

Very cool, a SAS Dakota. :awesomework: When is the CTD swap happening? :beer:

SASDakota · Jan 12, 2009

? haha wrong rig.. who is this?

SASDakota · Jan 13, 2009

I received my upper link tubes today. just waiting on my joints to come in. I also received my wheels!

SASDakota · Jan 13, 2009

new wheels

front axle with the wheel

Higher res pic of rear axle brackets removed

fitbike33 · Jan 13, 2009

sweet, cant wait to see the buildup

64FJ40 · Jan 14, 2009

SASDakota said:
? haha wrong rig.. who is this?

I'm thinking it was just a coincidental guess.

You know, you should just cut the lip off those wheels and do some DIY beadlocks now. You're going to do it eventually...

I'll look for those spacers tonight when I start cleaning up the garage a little bit.

SASDakota · Jan 14, 2009

seems odd he asked about a CTD though haha

im going with internal beadlocks but that would be an option too hehe

SASDakota · Jan 17, 2009

I made some really good progress today and yesterday! Will have some progress pics tomorrow night!

SASDakota · Jan 19, 2009

Here is a teaser of whats to come! This was friday night.

slednecks1124 · Jan 19, 2009

:awesomework: lookin good man, keep up the progress & make sure you post pictures

SASDakota · Jan 20, 2009

Does anyone know of a good place to get drivelines worked on around here? I need to convert my stock dakota driveline to a D44 end.

dove'd85 · Jan 20, 2009

SASDakota said:
Does anyone know of a good place to get drivelines worked on around here? I need to convert my stock dakota driveline to a D44 end.

depends... where's around here?:redneck:

SASDakota · Jan 20, 2009

HAHA Washington works but preferably close to monroe, everett, bothell, arlington area.

slednecks1124 · Jan 20, 2009

Advanced Drivelines in Yelm, they did a great job on mine & are pretty inexpensive compared to other places. Thats a little ways from your area but may be worth the price.

64FJ40 · Jan 20, 2009

SASDakota said:
HAHA Washington works but preferably close to monroe, everett, bothell, arlington area.

Around here, Best Drivelines is probably the cheapest. Greg did a good job on mine and I have no complaints. Other people have had less than stellar comments about him, but it was all good for me.

Drivelines NW also did decent work on the couple I've taken in, but they were at least twice the price.

There is another place right next to I5 in everett that someone recommended - Direct Driveline, but I've never been there.

SASDakota · Jan 25, 2009

here is the rear ride height. if i finish up tomorrow ill have pics of all the brackets and of everything after paint. im really happy with the lift height and the strength of the brackets I made. Which im sure are way overkill.

SASDakota · Jan 25, 2009

Here is the next project after the rear axle is in. A friend of mine is going to help me set them up since ive never done a D44.

CHOP SHOP · Jan 25, 2009

slednecks1124 said:
Advanced Drivelines in Yelm, they did a great job on mine & are pretty inexpensive compared to other places. Thats a little ways from your area but may be worth the price.

X2 takt it to gave at advanced in yelm. Cheap and good work.:awesomework: