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steveo27
Dodge Dakota
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3/27/2004
21:46:17
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 Subject: i figured out how to drop a 4wd.
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iv head you can lower a gen 1 or 2 with 88-98 c1500 chevy drop shackles. and as of today, i think this true. i looked at a 89 c1500's rear suspension, and did some measurings. ive found out,
-the springs are the same width between the dakota and chevy.
-the stock shackle on the dakota is 4 inches from center of bolt hole to bolt hole, the chevy is 4.5. then add 2 inches to it since it is a 2 inch drop shackle, resulting in 6.5 inches.
- the end that bolts to the spring on the dakota is 2 5/8 inches wide to the inside, while the chevy is 3 inches to the inside. so with a washer or 2, the chevy shackle will fit the dakota. these measurements dont include the bushings, they may make the parts wider.
- the end that bolts to the hanger on the dakota is 2.5 inches wide, while the chevy is 2 3/8 inches wide, so with a washer or 2, the chevy shackle will one again fit the dakota. these measurements dont include the bushings, they may make the parts wider.
i will try to post a few diagrams of what im talking about soon hopefully, if i can get it to work.
also i will try this, soon as payday come alongs i will order a set and try it out, and ill post pics of it hopefully.
-steve
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six pack
Dodge Dakota
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3/27/2004
22:49:35
| RE: i figured out how to drop a 4wd.
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????? why do you want to decrease ground clearance on an off road vehicle
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steveo27
Dodge Dakota
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3/27/2004
23:52:34
| RE: i figured out how to drop a 4wd.
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JUST BECAUSE IT IS 4WD, DOESNT MEAN IT IS AN OFFROAD VEHICLE. tell me its dumb to lower a 4wd is like sayin it is dumb to lift a 2wd. works both ways.
dodge made the gen 1s and 2s with way too much wheel gap. and i only use the 4wd in the snow here in PA. so lower the rear 2 inches to make it look good.
once i get my new rims this summer (17s with 255/55/17s) it will look rediculous with an 9 inch gap between the top of the tires and fender. im not tryin to turn it into a low rider, but im tryin to level it out a bit.
dont say crank the torsion bars to level it either, b/c the front will look as bad as the back, i had like that the past year and i hated it every day.
so hey, its MY truck, i dont tell you how to mod yours.
and im not the only one out there who has thought of this. there are many other posts like this too.
so dude, say what ya want, i want MY truck to look nice.
steve
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ray
Dodge Dakota
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3/28/2004
00:05:02
| RE: i figured out how to drop a 4wd.
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steve-o thats great how can i lower the back of a gen 3 im thinking de arched leaf springs maybe?
its a 4x4 i live in ny and it snows all the time i never take it off road so its only for the snow i figured out the front, torsion bars but the back is a different story any help would be great
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six pack
Dodge Dakota
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3/28/2004
09:34:51
| RE: i figured out how to drop a 4wd.
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Sorry only asked a question did not offer an opinion had no idea you would go off on me if you dont offroad it makes perfect sense
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steveo27
Dodge Dakota
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3/28/2004
19:29:36
| RE: i figured out how to drop a 4wd.
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six pack,
only reason i went off was that everyone is an @sshole towards us guys who want to do this, and it pisses me off. no offense to you tho. i just get that question everytime i post somethin dealin with lowerin a 4wd, and usually some stupid comment with it.
but hey, im glad you see it makes sense. why not take advantage of havin a nice truck, and one that can handle the snow. its best of both worlds all rolled into one. but ya, sorry dude.
hey ray, im not familiar with the gen 3s. the chevy shackles may work, but i dont know.
ill try to walk you through this tho.
-you would just have to measure the width of your spring and compare it to what the chevy is. (2.5)
- figure out how length between the center of the bolt hole on the spring and the hanger on the stock shackle. the chevy is 4.5 between bolt hole and bolt hole, and with the dropped shackle, it is roughly 6.5 if im not mistaken.
-figure out how long wide to the inside of the shackle end that mounts to the spring is. the chevy is 3inches to the inside, and 3.5 to the outside.
-find out how wide the end is that bolts to the hanger on the frame. the chevy is 2 3/8inches wide.
-compare everythin and see how it matches up.
one more thing. the beltech shackle are part number bel6400. they are listed as the same part number for 88-98 chevy 1500s, 94-up rams?, and and 94-up fords?
so best thing i could tell you is compare your suspension between a newer dodge ram and if everythin is the same, it should work.
dont quote me on any of this. this is what i think tho. im not sure.
good luck
steve
ps. if ya need anythin else, ask.
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ray
Dodge Dakota
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3/29/2004
04:05:48
| RE: i figured out how to drop a 4wd.
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hey thanks ill measure and see what gives and that was the first apoligie i have ever seen on this forum and it brought a tear to my eye lets see more of that
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steveo27
Dodge Dakota
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3/29/2004
15:39:42
| RE: i figured out how to drop a 4wd.
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haha ya, and ya. thats the best i could tell ya. but hey atleast im not the only insane one out there that wants to do this.
here is a link with the shackles...
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=BEL%2D6400
so take a good look and do the measuring...
i personally would go with the beltechs, however summit sells there own brand, which looks similar, but the beltechs have a lifetime warrantee, and summits are only 90 days.
good luck
steve
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chris
Dodge Dakota
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3/29/2004
21:32:18
| RE: i figured out how to drop a 4wd.
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Hey steveo,
Thanks for the help! (Nice to know everyone on here isn't an a$$hole) Will try when I have the $$. Let me know how it works for ya.
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steveo27
Dodge Dakota
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3/29/2004
21:41:28
| RE: i figured out how to drop a 4wd.
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no prob dude..
im just tryin to help. im not sure as of yet if this will work for sure, but it deffinately looks like it. im gonna hopefully order the shackle once i finish payin off my new subs and amp (2 L5 10s and hifonics bx1000d). that should be within the next 2 weeks.
what year is your truck?
mines an 87.
what other mods do you have / have planned?
and guys, keep these posts flowing so we can show everyone out there who thinks this is f*cked up, its really not and there are alot of people who want to do this.
steve
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chris
Dodge Dakota
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3/29/2004
22:55:33
| RE: i figured out how to drop a 4wd.
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My truck is a Black 2000 sport. So far I've put on a k&n intake, a tornado fuel saver, dual exhaust with 3" stainless tips(flowmaster muffler), I just put in autolite platinum plugs, o yeah i also took off the rubber guard rite inside the grill to let more cool air in.
I would like to add a supercharger, I'm still waiting for the 4.7l model, msd ignition, thought about some yr getting a crate engine(hemi) :-)
What all have you done to yours?
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steveo27
Dodge Dakota
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3/29/2004
23:46:56
| RE: i figured out how to drop a 4wd.
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well so far...
almost a full system:
-pioneer head
-RF coaxils
-2 kicker L5 10s
-Hifonics bx1000d amp
-4 guage wire kit
...need to get a 4 channel to power coxails, capacitor, and finish fiberglassing my kickpanels and get a set of components for them.
engine
-plugs and wires
-K&N 14x3 airfilter
-40 series flowmaster (single in / dual outs)
(swapping for 318 eventually, however that hemi crate would be nice)
interior
-black dyed dash pad (originally maroon)
-in the process of covering custom door panels in either black tweed or vinyl
-red painted trim peices (need to finish)
-dyed other trim peices black
...need to find buckets and makes a console, recover headliner
body
-smoothed front bumper
-custom airdam
-chrome tube grille
...planned - AAR R/T hood, roll pan, stillen front spoiler, gts headlight / taillight blackouts, razzi ground effects, 17" eagle alloys 203s with 255/55s, repaint bright red and add a superbee style stripe to the bed.
and lower it 2 / 2... once i get the shackles.
-i have the front cranked down already.
so i got alot planned, now i just need to find the cash.
im pretty much just tryin to clean the truck up and make it look good. around here you dont see any older daks with any mods. so im gonna do it to be different, everyone drives a lil s10 or a ricer.
steve
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chris
Dodge Dakota
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3/30/2004
00:18:53
| RE: i figured out how to drop a 4wd.
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Thats cool, I don't see many older kotas fixed up.
I know what you mean about the s10's & rice burners...lol. I'm so sick of hearing lawn mowers on crack racing around town, but whatever.
I'm in the process of redoing my system. For now I have the mtx enclosure under my rear seat with a jbl power valve 300.1 powering them. Going to do away with that(and the back seat), I'm building a custom enclosure to go the whole way across the back to hold my 4 10" kappa perfects, to power them I'm getting a jbl powervalve 1200.1, and of course I'll be hooking up my C.A.P.
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steveo27
Dodge Dakota
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3/30/2004
19:44:05
| RE: i figured out how to drop a 4wd.
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thats cool. im sick of the cracked out weedwhackers my self.
my one friend has 2 perfect 12s in his neon, and they slam. id love to see what 4 10s would do.
i must say, look into the hifonics amps tho. they are amazing. i take it that the powervalve 1200.1 puts out 1200rms at 1 ohm right? how much $$ is it?
you can get a hifonics bx1500d for about 360$ at onlinecarstereo.com with free shipping. it puts out 1500 rms at 1 ohm and its a class d.
just some word of advice. it seems to be the best bang for the buck.
but, hey. jbl is nice too. but if you are lookin for more RMS and dont want to spend a ton, hifonics seems to one of the good choices.
good luck.
steve
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chris
Dodge Dakota
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3/30/2004
21:02:20
| RE: i figured out how to drop a 4wd.
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Yeah the 1200.1 puts out 1200rms at 1ohm. Its onsale now at sounddomain.com for $299.95.
I'm not sure if I could use an amp that's 1500rms. The perfects are rated 350rms max. 1500 would put me to 375rms. The 1200 puts me at 300. That gives me alittle room to play. But thanks for the the word of advice.
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steveo27
Dodge Dakota
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3/31/2004
15:46:26
| RE: i figured out how to drop a 4wd.
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hey no prob..
just here to help.
steve
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locorider
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2004
22:32:08
|  RE: i figured out how to drop a 4wd.
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PICS PICS PICS PICS need to see pics
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steveo27
Dodge Dakota
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4/13/2004
01:38:18
| RE: i figured out how to drop a 4wd.
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workin on it dude.. im a little strapped for cash at the moment...
but soon enough
steve
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steveo27
Dodge Dakota
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4/13/2004
01:38:20
| RE: i figured out how to drop a 4wd.
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workin on it dude.. im a little strapped for cash at the moment...
but soon enough
steve
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randy
Dodge Dakota
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4/13/2004
01:54:39
| RE: i figured out how to drop a 4wd.
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i have a 01 dakota lets say i lowered it with de-arched leafs and torsion bar lowering could 22's fit with out rubbing if so i think it would be a nice look
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steveo27
Dodge Dakota
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4/13/2004
22:41:21
| RE: i figured out how to drop a 4wd.
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couldnt tell ya, i only know the gen Is and IIs.
ill try to help.
what size tires are on it now, and what size do you plan on runnin? how much of a gap is there between the center of the axles and the fenders (front and back)? and whats the back spacing of current rims and new ones?
how much are you plannin to lower the rear? i know the older daks you can get about 2 inches outta the front. so, if i were you i would go with a 2 / 3 or 2/4 drop to level it out.
so lemme know what i asked and ill look into it.
-steve
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