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"The Dodge"- 4WD/SRW Conversion

stumpjump

1/2 ton status
 Premium
Joined
Jul 11, 2010
Posts
400
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6
Location
Glen Burnie, MD
Back Story:

In February of this last year I bought a bone stock 93 D350 dually with 225K miles and a 1 month old transmission. The trucks interior was in pretty good condition, the exterior was a little rough but not bad. The truck was 100% bone stock, it even had the original window sticker in the glove box along with maintenance records. I paid $2300 and drove it 2 hours home at 60 with no issues.

I have been driving the truck everyday for the last 7 or so months pulling my tool trailer or dump trailer and it has preformed pretty well, I added a Denny T fuel pin and a few pump tweaks, but other then that she has remained stock and dead reliable.

About two weeks ago I banked her into a curb and then a ditch in the rain and bent the lower control arm on the drivers side pretty badly and bent the strut as well. Rather than dump money into the 2wd parts I began picking up what I would need to convert the truck to a 4wd SRW.


4WD Conversion:

I'm going for stock suspension plus a zero rate on 35's with 4.10 gears

Component wise I have:

Axles:
Dodge Dana 60/ Dana 70 combo with 4.10s I had the axles sand blasted and have added springless crossover arm and springless cap and I have solid diff covers for both the front and the rear.

Suspension:
Stock dodge front springs with a zero rate from DIY4x and new bushings and FUSH from a guy on Ramcharger central who builds dodge stuff like Kert builds chevy stuff. The upgrade kit has a larger frame bushing and all greaseable 5/8ths bolts. i'm using factory front spring hangers installed with new grade 8 bolts.

Tires:
I found a set of 315/70r17 Kuhmo Road venture ATs with less than 5K miles on them on H2 17" aluminum rims for $400 bucks so that's what the truck will run for now.

Body:
I'm currently looking for a srw service body but I have a SRW parts truck with a good bed if I decide to keep a normal truck box and the ladder rack.

Anyway enough rambling, here's some pics of the truck:

3n23k83m45Z05T15P0b3f0f84fa77dacb1b27.jpg


-2.jpg


-4.jpg
 
Nice. What all did you do for pump mods? I'm getting ready to turn mine up with a Denny T Stg II, 3200 spring, and going to bump the timing 1/8-3/16". I might do the fuel screw too if I can get to it to pull the collar.
 
Thanks for the responses guys, i'm looking forward to it.

For pump mods I just did a Denny T Stage 2 Fuel pin and turned the fuel screw 3 turns(to the collar) , I have a 366 spring and plan to pull the pump apart and bump the timing, add the spring and remove the collar.

A good diesel shop will charge you around 400-500 to pull the pump off mod it then bench test it then reinstall and I may go that route and I use this truck every day and it needs to be as reliable as possible, plus a bench flow test and new seals while they pull it apart is always nice for piece of mind.

I had a 90 4x4 Dodge, that had a custom built high flow pump, s300 turbo, BIG injectors, 2nd gen inner cooler, ported head, 60lb valve springs, it was fast and pulled hard, it layed down ~400rwhp and over a 1000 ft/lbs I had alot of money in it, this one will stay a little more mild.


Didn't work on it last night but I picked up bottles for my torch so hopefully the 2wd stuff will disappear tonight. I'll post pics as I get stuff done.
 
I'll try and get some pics up tonight but last night after some quality time with the oxy torch all the 2wd crap is out, now I need to plate and gusset the engine crossmember then it's time to slide the 60 under and figure out brakes and steering...
 
Whacha doing for trans and t-case?
(Maybe I missed it.)
 
Whacha doing for trans and t-case?
(Maybe I missed it.)

Oops, I thought I covered this but I guess not.

For now, nothing. I'm about tapped out so the plan is do do this in 2 stages, get the suspension and axle hung and then after a few months and a chance to recoupe some costs I will pick up a t case and drivelines. The trans in the truck has less than 10K on a rebuild so I'm planning on just swapping out the 2wd over drive housing for a 4wd one. I picked up a rebuilt 4x4 over-drive housing on ebay a few weeks ago for a deal so now all I need a t case and drivelines but finding a 23 spline 205 is like finding hen's teeth. When they pop up they are expensive.
 
Can't believe I missed this one :doah:

Truck looks cool :waytogo: should look great with the new meats on it . I had a line on a dodge 205 a while back, I'll check this weekend and see if the guy still has it sitting around.

One of these days I need to get down your way and check out your rigs :D
 
Just a quick update! When I left Brandons a hour ago the front end is sitting on the ground and the new rear is in. This thing is looking SWEET!

I'm sure he will get pics going in the next few days!

Rick
 
Holy crap, it's ramsport59!

Gotta go get rootbreaker, it's a Pavementsucks reunion!
 
Yes sir...alive and kickin'. How ya been man? And old rootbreaker is hiding here too?! Small world brings people back together! Didn't even remember joining here ages ago but my user id and password worked!

Rick
 
Not bad. Good to see you're around. I've had about uhm...rough count...6 or so 4x4's since I sold that Ram in 2003. Back to Chevy's now (well, one's a Chevzuki).

Rootbreaker's on here. Same name and all. Has a whole long detailed thread about his journey trying to get his truck NJ legal.
 
I sold that black ram I had around 04 and said I was done. Well that lasted a year, bought a 01 cummins and have a 94 jeep zj(now on tons and 40s). Blew up my cummins and bought a $400 chevy truck while.my cummins was down. Which is when I joined here I bet. Ended up sellin the chevy for double my $ to a guy on ps.com. I'm gonna have to hunt rootbreak down and what's up with him.

Back on topic, brandon got the rig on all fours tonight. Ill swing by tomorrow and get some pics. He just live around the block from me. This is going to be one bad @$$ rig when he's done.

Rick
 

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