| From | Message |
B
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/24/2005
13:40:35
|
 Subject: 4x4 conversion
IP: Logged
Message:
Does anyone have any thoughts of converting a 2003 v8 2wd Dakota into a 4x4? I know it sounds rediculous, and I should just trade it in, but ignoring all the obvious, does anyone have any thoughts, or good advice? Or even a front diff laying around? Thanks for any help!
Brian
|
Kowalski
GenIII
3/24/2005
13:44:54
|  RE: 4x4 conversion
IP: Logged
Message:
Not worthwhile - you'd be much better off to trade it.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
|
scott1981
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/24/2005
13:52:30
| RE: 4x4 conversion
IP: Logged
Message:
i know a guy who did it on a NISSAN and another is about to do it on a ranger. the trick is to buy a cheap wrecked 4x4 of the same year and body style. then start swapping parts and sell what is left over back to a scrap yard. if you buy the pieces new or try to spend time aquiring them all you will either spend too much money or waste to much time.
|
Figols
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/24/2005
13:53:26
| RE: 4x4 conversion
IP: Logged
Message:
The frame is different. For starters the 2wd uses front coil springs while the 4wd has torsion bars. I think the only front end pieces that are shared is the upper control arms and brake hardware. Even the tranny is different. If you HAD to do it you would need to get a rolling 4x4 frame and put your body on it. I think that is the only way to go about it. I have to agree with Kowalski.....Not worth it, TRADE IT.
|
scott1981
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/24/2005
13:58:48
| RE: 4x4 conversion
IP: Logged
Message:
good point, i didnt even think about the different frames and front suspension components, now i agree better only swap over your body or sell and get a 4x4
|
mccamp4x4
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/24/2005
15:21:49
| RE: 4x4 conversion
IP: Logged
Message:
don't make it a 4x4 just lift it and put a locking differential in the back. You would have the same amount of traction or more than a non-locked (standard) 4x4....
|
scott1981
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/24/2005
17:19:34
| RE: 4x4 conversion
IP: Logged
Message:
umm not true. go take your locked 2wd to the beach with me and watch me run circles around you with my open diff 4x4 dakota
|
Crow318
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/25/2005
07:19:24
| RE: 4x4 conversion
IP: Logged
Message:
Mccamp has a good idea. While scott is right about the 4x4 thing, you can still make a badass prerunner. Put a real nice long travel suspension on it and haul ass everywhere.
If you did want the 4x4, the rolling chassis is the only way on the dodge.
I know you didn't want to, but tradin is the way to go. You should be able to take most of your custom stuff with you as long as you dont go too much older.
|
GraphiteDak
GenIII
3/26/2005
00:23:47
| RE: 4x4 conversion
IP: Logged
Message:
I noticed that my engine and tranny sits OFFSET under the truck rather than directly in the middle.
I wonder if a 2WD would be like that as well?
I agree you should just lock the diff or trade the truck.
However mine is also a open diff front and rear but would run absolute circles around a LSD or locked 2WD.
In the rain you could bust the two wheels loose in a 2WD and go sideways (which IS fun though). But with mine in 4HI I can not break traction stomping the pedal in the rain. Turning the front with the rear makes a BIG difference.
The only problem I've had with traction in 4WD is when I've come to the top of a steep hill I was climbing and turned at an angle where one front wheel and one rear wheel came off of the ground. It then would spin the wheels off the ground and I'd go nowhere until I touched the brakes. Then it would go again.
|
| | P 1 |
|
Post a reply to this message:
Username Registration: Optional
All visitors are allowed to post messages
|
