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Joe
Dodge Dakota
 Email

8/29/2001
23:17:02

Subject: Mr. Walt Felix, are you out there?
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Message:
Hi there,
I have a question for you. My 1990 Dak, 2wd has 5 inches of lift. A 3in body and a 2in susp. lift. I am barely clearing 31x10.50's. I run them on 15x7 Amer. Racing Nitros. I have tried to trim the wheel wells out but it made little difference, well the tires don't rub now. Anyways, I was told you are the Gen I dakota man so please drop me a line.
Also, I found a lift kit from Chassis Tech that is 3in total. It comes with upper control arms and 3in coils. How would installing this effect my tire size. Or if need be, I could buy CT's long travel 3in kit that has all of the above but also lower A arms. What I want to do is install the CT 3in kit and put my 2in spacers above that for a 5in total suspension lift. But I know that is pushing the limits.(Pit arms etc. would have to be replaced)Well, Thanks for the help.



Dakota
Dodge Dakota
 Email

8/30/2001
08:39:39

RE: Mr. Walt Felix, are you out there?
IP: Logged

Message:
You can reach Walt at Walt@WALT-N-INGRID.COM
I will tell him to get in touch with you if he doesnt respond by the time I see him.

His Site has some good stuff on it as well: http://www.walt-n-ingrid.com/

-Dakota
Http://dakota2.4mg.com
3" Body Lift
Jet Chip Stage 2
Quick D Intake
Dynomax Race Magnum Exhaust



Joe
Dodge Dakota
 Email

8/30/2001
15:44:35

RE: Mr. Walt Felix, are you out there?
IP: Logged

Message:
Thanks man, I really appreciate your help.



Walt Felix
Dodge Dakota
 Email

8/31/2001
17:10:40

RE: Mr. Walt Felix, are you out there?
IP: Logged

Message:
You have to remember, it’s a 2wd. It, by design, sits about 2-3 inches lower than a stock 4x4. Five inches of lift on a 2wd, doesn’t achieve the same clearance as five inches on a 4x4. Look at your rear axle. A 2wd has the axle is mounted above the rear springs and a 4x4 has it below. Back before I did the suspension on my ’88 4x4, I had the 3” body lift and cranked torsion bars for a total of about 5” of additional height in the front. 31” tires fit, but I did have some minor rubbing during suspension articulation. Your 2wd is going to be 2-3 inches lower meaning a 31 is going to be that much tighter.

Another major factor is the offset and/or backspacing of rims. Rims with less backspacing will have more lateral movement within the wheel well when making turns. Rims with a neutral offset will pivot on a vertical plane within the space they occupy for the pivot point is in the center. As you decrease the backspacing, you increase the amount of negative offset thus increasing the amount of space is required to pivot that rim. It’s kind of hard to explain so the best way is to show you. Take a horizontal business card and draw a straight line from each top corner to opposite diagonal lower corner. Where the two lines intersect, that is the center of the card. Let’s imagine that’s a rim and tire, looking down at it from above. Now on a blank piece of paper draw a straight horizontal line, place the card where the two opposite corners are on the line and mark vertical lines on the paper where two opposite corners of the card are. Place the point of the pencil on the center point and pivot the card. You’ll see that the corners of the card never laterally move past the vertical marks on the paper. Now center the card between the two lines again and simulate a rim with negative offset by moving the point of the pencil towards the top center of the card and pivot the card again. You’ll see the lower corners of the card now pivot past the vertical lines on the paper. Less back spacing = More lateral movement. This is something many don’t consider when selecting rims and tires that fit on the stock rims now rub on the fenders when turning. Even if you have the lateral space on level ground, remember, the suspension also travels up and down.

Getting back to your question, I can see how 31” tires will rub on your 2wd with 5” of lift. You may be able to get closer to a 31” tire by using a narrow tire on a rim with more positive offset. As far as lifting the truck anymore, it sounds like you’re at the limit without fabricating something on your own.

Good Luck,


Walt-n-Ingrid's Dakota


Walt-n-Ingrid's Ram


Walt-n-Ingrid's Barracuda







Joe
Dodge Dakota
 Email

8/31/2001
19:06:17

RE: Mr. Walt Felix, are you out there?
IP: Logged

Message:
Hi Mr. Felix, Thank You for responding. I have heard from many people that you are the Dakota expert. Thats why I turned to ya. Anyways, about my dak, I think I am going to let those 31's run down alittle before I try to lift her anymore. I am in the process of trying to find a shop who could fabricate so lift spindles for me. I contacted a man in Cali. who runs a shop called California Custom Motor Sports. He said that he could make spindles, expensive of course but he would have to have the truck there. But I live in Florida so that will not work. But I am hoping to find someone here to do this.
Here is something else for you to respond to. I have found a 3in susp. lift , I think I mentioned this before, with upper A cars and new coils, if I installed this is there any way to place a spacer above the spring to lift ya up another 1in or to. It seems to be the same situation as putting a spacer on stock supsension. My local shop said the linkages would be able to handle it. Please Comment. Well, thanks for your help. Goos luck with your truck. (Just gotta tell ya, your site is saved on the top of my "Favroits" list on my computer. I look at it all the time!!! Thanx..



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