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rcamp197
Dodge Dakota
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7/09/2005
14:34:17
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 Subject: straight axle conversion
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Anybody know what it would cost to have a straight axle conversion done to a 97 dakota?
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Guam
Dodge Dakota
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7/10/2005
07:17:51
|  RE: straight axle conversion
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probably dang near what a 97 is worth. well not quite but thousands. for that kind of money, you gotta love your '97. you might be better off investing that pile of money in another vehicle.
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Walt_Felix
Dodge Dakota
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7/10/2005
17:18:58
|  RE: straight axle conversion
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It’s been done a couple of dozen times (by last count). It’s a real hard thing to estimate because of the number of variables but plan on spending over $4000 or more depending on what axles you use and who does the bulk of the fabrication work.
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Walt Felix
http://www.Walt-n-Ingrid.Com
http://dodgetruckworld.com/waltfelix
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Leviticus
Dodge Dakota
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7/11/2005
02:01:43
| RE: straight axle conversion
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I still think it would be possible for someone to engineer a (mostly) bolt-on solid-axle lift conversion kit for the Dakotas. They have similar bolt on kits for jeeps and toyotas. This would be cheaper than custom conversions and there seems to be a decent sized market for something like this. Especially now that you can get 97-99 Dakotas and Durangos for pretty cheap.
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Walt_Felix
Dodge Dakota
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7/11/2005
09:43:09
| RE: straight axle conversion
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Message:
It’s possible but there are a number of factors that make it unrealistic. First off, it would never be a bolt in kit. This isn’t a conversion that’s going to be done by a novice; it’s going to require someone with advanced mechanical skills. The way the suspension is in these trucks, any conversion is going to require cutting and welding which will immediately take 99.9% of your target customer base out of the equation. Many people get squeamish at the idea of cutting the frame and even more don’t know how to weld.
Second, by the time you develop the design, fully test it, correct any problems encountered and then factor in the parts and materials required, not to mention the cost of the legalities such as patenting, liability insurance, etc.. and then also factor in marketing, packaging and shipping, the cost of the kit will be so high there will be no Return on Investment. Literally, a kit would cost you more to develop and produce then you could ever make selling it. When the average Dakota owner balks at the $1500+ price tag of a bolt in IFS lift, they’re not going to be willing to shell out a few grand for a kit that’s going to require them to seek professional help in the installation of.
One thing I’ve always told people about lift kits is to take the cost of the kit itself and add 50%. The total is the minimum number you should be prepared to spend before you even open you’re toolbox. And that’s only if you do the work yourself. If you’re paying someone to do it for you, the labor alone will cost you more than the parts. In the developing of a solid axle swap kit; figure the kit will end up costing a little more than $2500 if the buyers supply their own axles. If the kit is bundled with axles, $5000 to $6000 easily. Once you factor in the labor to install such a kit, you see why it’s unrealistic.
__________________
Walt Felix
http://www.Walt-n-Ingrid.Com
http://dodgetruckworld.com/waltfelix
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Dean
Dodge Dakota
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7/14/2005
20:19:29
| RE: straight axle conversion
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I agree with Walt. This is not a chore for a novice, I have done 2 of them an 88 and a 93 one with leaf and one with coil and neather is a weekend job. But I can say this it was much easyer to make a solid axle dakota from a 2wd with coils then it was to do leafs. Heres the problem that comes up in this covert. The front of a dakota (much like all cars today) was designed to bend in an accident "crumple zone" When you hang a leaf spring on the truck you have to fab a pearch and that pearch hangs right out on the front of the frame, where its ment to bend so you have to buck the frame up to do it right iin my opion. With a 2wd and coils your still using the factory mount for the spring, their for youe still putting the force of the suspension where it was ment to be
Dean
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mitch
Dodge Dakota
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8/31/2005
11:29:31
| RE: straight axle conversion
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Message:
hey i just put dana 60's in my 97 dak and it is a tough job but then again im puting a 383w/650hp in it too. my choice if i were to do it again would to build another truck or buggy for driving off road.
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cory
Dodge Dakota
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9/07/2011
00:00:31
| RE: straight axle conversion
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Message:
i have a question i have a 98 dakota sport reg cab 4x4 i want
to do a dana 44 and 9" rear axle swap with coil springs and i
havent started yet bet i wanna do it and how is it gonna be
that hard cuz ford buckets will weld right on and im gonna put
ladder bars on but how hard do u think itl b i dont wanna ruin
my truck cuz it has 20k on it and its in ment condishion whats
your apinyon plz email me cory.francis92@yahoo.com thanks
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