It has started... SAS Dakota 1997

jeffs_62 · Jun 21, 2009

Looks awsome. Makes me wish I still had mine. Needed more room(seats).

SASDakota · Jul 2, 2009

Not much to update yet, been busy with the house. Here are some flexy pics when I pulled it out today.

Front shot, the hood is popped so no worries about the gap

Droop from the side, still using my stock brake lines.

rear side view

SASDakota · Jul 28, 2009

I had some time to work on the foo foo stuff...

Here are the rock lights with the headlights on.

And this is just the rock lights on.

body damge · Aug 13, 2009

hey whats up just found this thread again looks killer had the tires out yet ???????

SASDakota · Aug 14, 2009

no sir I have not. we bought a house and that has killed the last few months of my time. I ordered my 2nd to last round of parts so I hope to have my front axle setup and my bump stops in place to finish off the suspension. All that will be left is fabbing a crossmember, installing my SS front brake lines, and measuring and ordering my OX locker cable.

And sometime in the near future I need to get OBA and work on some sort of a cage...

Maverick26 · Aug 14, 2009

SASDakota said:
no sir I have not. we bought a house and that has killed the last few months of my time. I ordered my 2nd to last round of parts so I hope to have my front axle setup and my bump stops in place to finish off the suspension. All that will be left is fabbing a crossmember, installing my SS front brake lines, and measuring and ordering my OX locker cable.

And sometime in the near future I need to get OBA and work on some sort of a cage...

Dude, I know how you feel. I thought I was the only one. My closing date on the house I just bought is Sep 1st and my wedding date is Sep 5th. It has been a crazy last few months and im about 2 orders away from having all the parts for my buggy too. Hang in there dude. :booo:

SASDakota · Aug 14, 2009

Yeah. It takes up a lot of time but it's worth it. Now I have a clean dry warm place to work on our rigs.

I'm hoping to get a test run in withinthe next 2 weeks.

TOPWOP · Aug 25, 2009

ok so did are you running an auto trany or manual. and were you able to keep the stock tcase.

SASDakota · Aug 25, 2009

I have an auto running the stock Tcase.

SASDakota · Sep 9, 2009

So as im nearing completion I decided to try out a 1 tire flex. This shows that the back end is way too stiff compared to those 4.5" Rubi springs. So ill be taking the rear add-a-leaf out and probably do a ubolt flip to get them threads up top. My locker cable came in yesterday so if I have time this weekend ill be pulling the axle out from under the truck for any final welding/grinding before paint, and also setup the gears and locker.

body damge · Sep 9, 2009

loks good bro

SASDakota · Sep 9, 2009

Thanks,

Im trying to get most of the bugs that ill want to change fixed before the maiden voyage in a week. so we shall see how it does..

dirtyhall · Sep 9, 2009

Looks great man! Good job!

SASDakota · Sep 15, 2009

OK so I got my front axle painted, replaced the rubber bushing on my trac bar with a urethane one, and painted my steering and trac bar. Going to finish setting up my gears today and get my driveshaft cut down and I should be ready to go wheelin!

Im sure ill come back with things ill want to change. Pics soon

SASDakota · Sep 18, 2009

PICS!!

boardbysled · Sep 18, 2009

nice rig man! i was gonna do a similar suspension setup, but i ran out of time and decided that i didnt have enough cash flow... theres always the future though...

my question is are u planning on bracing the t-case/tranny mount crossmember? to my newbish eyes, it looks kinda weak... i personally used a piece of pipe with about a 5 inch ID and 3/8 wall and cut the mount up and welded that in, then braced it, kinda over built, but wont have to fix it later....

SASDakota · Sep 18, 2009

yeah I am, that is just a temp to hold things in place. I ran out of time on some things like I dont have my rock lights done, mud flaps, didnt shorten the bed.... but for now the rig is driveable. ill be working on the brace asap.

Damnyankee · Sep 18, 2009

Looks great man.

1 suggestion.

ditch the straps on your front drive shaft u-joints and get u-bolts.
straps bring the suck.. seen them break WAY too often.

If your running 1310 u-joints let me know.. I have a yoke you can HAVE.

SASDakota · Sep 21, 2009

Ive known about the straps being a weak link. I just happen to have these so I used them. Ill look around for a 1310 yoke.

I made it through my first maiden voyage with no breaks and not even a funny noise! I did discover that my steering needs an adjustment toe-in/toe-out and my OX cable need to be just a touch tighter. I have a few pics from the trip that ill try to get up soon.

Things I tested wheelin were lots of sidehilling/turning on sidehill, hillclimbs, and last but not least very STEEEP downhill descents on loose ground. These pitbulls and locker combo are amazing.