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Project cheap tow rig, 94 cummins...

Yes, that is the eventual goal :haha:

I looked into trying to use the stock 2wd buckets, wouldn't work. The 4wd dodge coils are almost 7" OD. I'm just going to make some out of box steel. It will probably end up being about the same as a stock 4wd bucket with a leveling kit.

I would get the bushings from diy4x but the problem is I'm using the stock 4wd dodge axle and the widths are different

I think I'm just going to go to the parts place and pick up some stock rubber bushings. They have held up in peoples trucks for 200k miles fine. I haven't been impressed with the durability of poly bushings.

I'm also going to just use a stock control arm bushing on the frame side pivot point also, then start saving for something beefy, like a frankenheim or something :pimp:. They should hold up fine for the time being though.

100_0586.jpg
 
I don't know if it would be any help, but we have a 96 3500 dodge dually 4x4 in the scrap pile. I can cut anything you need off the frame. Hell I can even cut the frame in half and all you would need to do is stitch what you need on to your truck. If your are thinking auto, I belive I have the auto and T case from this truck still.

Where bouts in FL are you, We make regular trips to the Ft walton bch area to see my grandparents, I could even load up and bring it with me.
 
Hmmm, I'd like to take you up the offer to cut the coil buckets off the frame, but I think by the time you ship them I'd be better off making them myself.

The buckets look hard to cut off.

I could use the coil springs, I want to eventually get the fancy progressive rate coils but can't really swing $350 for coils right now. I'm going to see if my buddy has his stock coils first though.

Maybe those and the sway bar, I haven't seen any 4wd trucks at our local junk yard

Thanks :thumb:

Ft walton beach is about 6 hours from where I am, can't get much further away lol. So shipping it would be a must.
 
howdiy said:
Hmmm, I'd like to take you up the offer to cut the coil buckets off the frame, but I think by the time you ship them I'd be better off making them myself.

The buckets look hard to cut off.

I could use the coil springs, I want to eventually get the fancy progressive rate coils but can't really swing $350 for coils right now. I'm going to see if my buddy has his stock coils first though.

Maybe those and the sway bar, I haven't seen any 4wd trucks at our local junk yard

Thanks :thumb:

Ft walton beach is about 6 hours from where I am, can't get much further away lol. So shipping it would be a must.
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I'll cut that sucker up this weekend when I go to the barn. The coils and sway bar are already off the truck. I can probably toss everything on a palet and ship it frieght for about 100 bucks. I'll get the buckets off and get a total weight and check a few shipping options. If you need anything let me know, It's slated for scrap yard soon.

If you need it, I have a good 47RE and 241HD from the same truck with 50k on it. Make you a smoking deal to keep from tripping over it.
 
Took some pictures of the truck and trailer with a camera other than my cell phone

P1000081.jpg


P1000080.jpg
 
howdiy said:
Going to do this for steering

IMG_5298.jpg
Click to expand...

I changed the steering on my 97 4x4 dodge to this style and it really tightened it up. I reamed out the knuckle arms, pitman arm, and the holes in that one tierod end to the 1-ton chevy sized taper.
 
hmm, didn't factor the reamer into the budget, I've got the stock steering to run for a little, but it seems pretty scary.
 
I'll probably just end up splitting it with my brother now, he's going to pick up a cummins soon, so that will be nice

I'll probably build a set of radius arms for his also. Hes got a bit more of a budget than me

Thanks for the offer!

I think it's gonna be on of those tools that is painful initially but worth it when you need

On my suburban I went to a race car shop and had them ream it, I don't even know if they are around anymore
 
Adding up some costs

Poly bushings -$80
Heims if I do these -$120
Springs -$100
Bilstein shocks - 60$

So probably 400ish after random crap to get it moving under its own power

The springs will be 3rd gen hemi lift coils.

I'm just going to get a stock 4wd pitman arm and run stock steering for the time being.

Cut the tie rod end off the panhard and weld a bushing on

It's not gonna have a transfer case for a while most likely

I think it will be pretty straight forward, hopefully
 
Bought a tool box for $150

It's a weathergaurd, around $800 new, seems pretty nice

It's huge! It should look better after I lift my truck though. I don't know if I'll use it all the time anyways though

P1000184.jpg
 
Oh you'll use it, it'll be full of 300lbs worth of stuff you just can't live without before ya' know it. :)
 
Yeah theres about 200 pounds worth of stuff in there already :haha:




I've got coils and bushing on their way

I'm going to try and tig weld everything on the radius arms
 
6" superlift 3rd gen Hemi coils

3rd gen cummins are supposed to be a lot heavier than 2nd gen cummins but the hemis are pretty close to the same

Well see, I'm sure the lift spring is going to be stiffer than the stock hemi coil so I think it will be fine.

I'm going to have to cut a lot of the spring off most likely though, got these for $100 shipped
 
I assume the coils are same size 2nd vs 3rd gen trucks? I wanna shorten my new truck down a little. Was looking at some progressive 2.5" or 3.5" lift coils.
 
Yeah, supposedly the Carli 3rd gen hemi coils work good in 2nd gens

I just got the springs today, they seem really tall. I'll probably have to cut a coil or two

Edit: 24.5" free length
 
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Been getting rain the past few days so I started on some pieces

This is the inside piece but I clamped it up there for an idea of how it will look, not too crazy about the look but It will be better with a link coming out of it

Fine thread 3/4" bolts for caster adjustment, Ended ordering the wrong tube adapters so I think I'll run heims on the side away from the axle. I'll see how it will work out when I take a look at the axle.

Going to make everything bolt on. I'm also thinking about 1.25" heims at the frame end

I'm gonna try to get coil buckets off a stock 4wd, but I may have to make them

Arms are looking like they will be about 52" eye to eye, which is where the bracket is at. Of course the parking brake bracket happens to be right here

P1000219.jpg


P1000218.jpg


edit: this seems like a sufficient way to mount them
0912or_12+ford_bronco+drill_holes.jpg
 
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